Player Background
Viktor Blom is one of the most iconic and well-known poker players in the world. He is famously known by his nickname Isildur1. His identity was not always revealed to the public. So originally, he was an anonymous phenomenon who dominated high-stakes games in the late 2000s. It has been more than 15 years since his identity was revealed to the public, but he still remains as one of the most important figures in live poker tournaments.
Interesting Facts about Viktor Isildur1 Blom
Viktor Blom is only 35 years old, but he has been playing poker for more than 20 years now. These are some interesting facts that make the persona of Blom more intriguing and truly underline why he has been so influential for so long:
- He was introduced to the game of poker by his brother. He was only 14 at that time. He played no-limit Texas hold’em heads-up for a few days with his brother, then he taught the game to some of his friends. After a while, more and more of the people Viktor knew at school started to play the game. He quickly transitioned from playing with friends during school lunch breaks to micro-stakes online.
- Coming to an online word of poker: Once he turned 15, he and his brother decided to deposit funds to an online poker site. That’s where his winning streak started. By that age, he had already built a bankroll of over $275,000. But he lost it all before rebuilding it through high-stakes matches.
- His debut was in September 2009. He debuted on Full Tilt Poker, and for over a year, he played with the nickname of Isildur1 so his identity remained a secret while he participated in the ten largest pots in online poker history.
- Revelation of his identity: In December 2010, it was announced that Isildur1 had joined Team PokerStars Pro. Blom’s identity was revealed by PokerStars on 8 January 2011, at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Playing style
Blom became famous not only because he was winning, but also because his playing style was distinctive and unique. He is known for his super-aggressive playing style, since he is famous for playing multiple tables of “nosebleed” stakes simultaneously against the world’s best.
However, it is not always about aggression and pressing when it comes to his style. Blom is also intuitive and a bit unpredictable. Unlike many modern-day players, who solely rely on (GTO Game Theory Optimal), he is known for having a natural mathematical mind and also an ability to recognize patterns and to pay attention to small details.
And finally, he is a player of high volatility games. He has a nature of winning and losing millions in a single session, which, of course, affected his reputation as an ultimate “hot and cold” player.
Major Achievements and Titles
| Year | Event / Tournament | Place | Prize (USD) |
| 2024 | WSOP $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 3rd | $1,311,091 |
| 2012 | PCA $100,000 Super High Roller | 1st | $1,254,400 |
| 2013 | SCOOP $10,300 Main Event (Online) | 1st | $1,096,200 |
| 2024 | WSOP $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 3rd | $951,727 |
| 2018 | partypoker MILLIONS Germany Main Event | 1st | €850,000 (~$1.05M) |
| 2025 | WSOP Paradise $10,000 Super PLOSSUS | 2nd | $406,000 |
| 2020 | SHRB Online Event #14: $25,500 Super High Roller | 1st | $407,500 |
| 2025 | WSOP $50,000 High Roller (8-Handed) | 6th | $349,068 |
| 2020 | SHRB Online Event #09: $10,300 High Roller | 1st | $213,750 |
| 2025 | WSOP $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship | 2nd | $188,295 |
| 2012 | SCOOP #2-Med: $215 No-Limit Hold’em | 1st | $247,200 |
Key Events and Tours Attended
Blom is a regular participant of WSOP. In 2024 and 2025 he played nearly every Championship and High Roller event at WSOP Las Vegas. In 2025 he finished second in Super PLOSSUS in WSOP Paradise.
He also frequently attends Triton Poker Series whenever his schedule allows him to do so. He focuses on highest-stakes PLO and NLHE events. Occasionally he also enters the European Poker Tour, often playing the €25k and €50k High Rollers.
However, he is the most frequent participant of PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, where he takes part in PGT Mixed Games and the Super High Roller Bowl.
Career Earnings and Rankings
| Category | Rank / Value | Context |
| Total Live Earnings | $7,610,341 | Primarily from WSOP and High Roller circuits. |
| Sweden All-Time Money List | 3rd | Only trails Martin Jacobson and Niklas Astedt. |
| Global Poker Index (GPI) | #184 | His ranking fluctuates based on his heavy high-roller schedule. |
| All-Time Money List (World) | 264th | His massive 2024–2025 seasons jumped him up ~200 spots. |
| Best Live Cash | $1,311,091 | 3rd place in the 2024 WSOP $100k High Roller. |
| Online Earnings | $5M+ (Net) | Estimated; excludes untracked private high-stakes games. |
Strengths and Weaknesses at the Table
Viktor Blom’s major strengths at the table include:
- His fearless and aggressive nature of play: He is famous for his willingness to put opponents to a decision for their entire stack at any moment. In many cases where GTO may suggest a more conservative play, Blom applies pressure.
- Pattern recognition: Blom is very good, even too good in identifying betting patterns and timing tells. This allows him to make legendary “hero calls”.
- Volumes of his play: He is capable of playing 20-hour sessions across multiple tables online or offline. He even does that on multiple day marathons without noticeable changes to his gameplay and decision-making.
But as all of us do, Blom has some weaknesses too, while playing poker:
- Extremely volatile play: Historically, when a session doesn’t go as planned he has a well-documented tendency to chase losses. He does that by increasing his aggression.
- Bankroll management: This doesn’t happen much today, but in his early career Blom has lost millions of dollars and treated the bankroll as the play money.
Career Snapshots
| Category | Details |
| Online Nicknames | Isildur1 (Full Tilt/PokerStars), blom90 (PartyPoker) |
| Key Tours | WSOP, EPT, WPT, Triton, PokerGO Tour |
| Strengths | Fearlessness, high-pressure decision-making, multi-tabling |
| Weaknesses | Bankroll management, tendency to “tilt” during long sessions |
| Sponsorships | Current ambassador for Phenom Poker; former Team PokerStars Pro |