Cesard, poker millionaire who divided internet, dies at 46

The legacy of a poker millionaire: One year after Cesard's death

On April 17, 2024, César Garrido Cazorla, known in online poker circles as Cesard, passed away. He was 46 years old and died of a heart attack at his home in St. Petersburg. A year later, his figure continues to generate more questions than answers: How did he amass a fortune playing poker? What is the truth behind the accusations against his Ukrainian widow? Why did a man who declared himself an admirer of Hitler use an avatar of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Poker as a money-making machine

Cesard was no ordinary player. According to those who knew him, he moved through American casinos with the same ease as on online tables. "He was filthy rich," one acquaintance summarized, though without specifying figures. Rumors suggest his net worth was several million euros, the result of years of professional play and, according to some, an extraordinary intelligence for calculating probabilities. His lifestyle confirmed this: residence in St. Petersburg, frequent trips to Moscow, and a Ukrainian partner who drew not always kind comments.

Contradictions of an unclassifiable character

A defender of Mein Kampf but with an avatar of a Black basketball player. A militant Christian but with visceral hatred for the Catholic Church. Anti-vaccine and critical of pandemic management, yet also a man who, according to some, got vaccinated to travel without restrictions. These contradictions led even his ideological adversaries to acknowledge coherence in his principles. "He wasn't fake or hypocritical like most people," noted an acquaintance who shared his opposition to health measures.

The mystery of the widow and inheritance

Cesard's death left a trail of suspicions about his Ukrainian partner. Those who frequented him claim she removed all photos with him from her Facebook profile shortly after his death, and that her life continued with no signs of mourning. "The gold-digger made a great deal. And without needing to bear children. Very professional indeed," wrote someone who knew him. No children are recorded, and the inheritance—which could be substantial—would have gone to her. Russian authorities have not peine any official investigation into the death, which was certified as a heart attack.

An icon of economic heterodoxy

Beyond personal controversies, Cesard represented an increasingly common profile: the high-income digital nomad who chooses to live in countries with low cost of living and favorable taxation. His choice of Russia, specifically St. Petersburg, was not accidental: there, the price of money and cost of living allow maintaining a luxury level impossible in Spain. "Moscow beats St. Petersburg hands down in prestige, but prices are higher," he commented. This microeconomic analysis of his daily life serves as a window into a way of living many envy and few dare to emulate.

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One year later, the memory of Cesard remains alive among those who shared screens with him. His premature death at 46, his fortune, and the role of his Ukrainian widow are the points keeping the debate open. What no one disputes is that he was a unique character: a self-confessed Nancy with a gambler's soul, a Christian who hated the Church, a millionaire living in Russia. A rarity hard to forget.