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One of the beautiful aspects of poker is that you do not need to be a full-time pro to have your life positively impacted by the game. Sharing how his dream of playing in the World Series of Poker Main Event brought him light in one of the darkest times in his life, Italy’s Diego Caserio told the WSOP Media Team his inspiring story and his plans for the 2025 WSOP.

Las Vegas, Nevada (April 18, 2025) - Discovering the game of poker in 2011, Italy’s Diego Caserio is an avid fan of the game, but he will be the first to tell you how he also finds fulfillment away from the poker table.

An adventurous motorist who has ridden a motorcycle across the United States twice and undergone 16 trips on a Harley Davidson in the states, if Caserio isn’t on a Harley or at the poker table, he can be found boxing, lifting weights, and spending time with family and friends he greatly cherishes.

While Caserio has made multiple trips to Las Vegas for the WSOP over the years, Caserio’s biggest poker trip yet is set for the 2025 World Series of Poker. In his return to the WSOP, Caserio plans to not only play his first Main Event, but live out a dream that has provided him light during some of his darkest days.

Diego Caserio after his 1st place finish at the Italian Series of Poker in 2017.

In 2023 while Caserio was riding his motorcycle in Trieste’s city center, a drunk driver skidded on a curb and struck him.

Waking up five days later in the hospital, Caserio made the harrowing discovery that he had lost his left leg in the accident.

“I woke up after 5 days in hospital, after opening my eyes and understanding where I was I immediately realized that I no longer had my left leg,” Caserio recounted. “I did nothing but cry, cry and cry.”

An incredibly fit cyclist who has participated in triathlons and Iron Man races, in a cruel twist of fate Caserio’s accident took much more from him than the average man.

Losing one of the most cherished parts of his life along with the hardships that come for any person sustaining such an impactful injury, Caserio remembers his month-long stay in the hospital being one of the worst periods in his life.

Caserio has not let his accident in 2023 stand in the way of maintaining his physical fitness and spirit.

“My body is so important to me, and finding myself stuck in a hospital bed without a leg, with the knee of my right leg broken and my left hip broken was a total nightmare,” Caserio said. “The depression! Crying for many days was normal for me. So many medications, so many drugs, so much phantom limb pain. I had many nights without sleep.”

Even with the dramatic pains and obstacles of his new reality, Caserio recounted how he made sure to remain strong for his wife Giada and their young daughter.

“Giada is a fantastic wife who has always been close to me and who makes me happy in everything,” Caserio said. “I tried to hide it when my daughter, little 5 year old Désirée, came to visit me. For her everything was normal, calling me ‘Daddy’ as she always does.”

Along with his family, Caserio highlights the immense support he received from his close group of friends as he continued to recover from the accident.

“My dearest friends have come to visit me, including my four most faithful ones from the trips to Vegas,” Caserio said. “Fausto, who is like a brother and father figure to me, called me three times a day as I tried to manage my darkest and saddest period.”

Diego Caserio pictured with wife Gadia and their daughter Désirée

Discovering poker in 2011, Caserio was drawn to the competition that came with the game. Along with a number of trips to Las Vegas during the WSOP, Caserio is also a frequent participant in tournament series around Europe, including WSOP Europe. 

In 2017, Caserio claimed his lone Italian Series of Poker (ISOP) title when he won the €120 no-limit hold’em event at the 2017 ISOP for €10,000.

Grappling with his new reality in the hospital following his accident, after some time Caserio requested his wife bring him his laptop. Logging into PokerGO and watching the entire coverage of the 2023 WSOP, not only was Caserio provided a much needed distraction, but an idea to live out one of his lifelong dreams.

“After a night full of pain and nightmares, in the morning I called my wife and told her that I dreamed of playing in the WSOP Main Event with my good friend Fausto,” Caserio said. “She already understood everything. Without asking anything she said ‘Yes, go!’”

After talking with his wife, Caserio immediately called Fausto.

“My first call was to Fausto, who immediately said ‘okay, let’s go!’”

Committing with Fausto to make their Main Event debut at the 2025 WSOP, Caserio assembled his entire poker crew and began studying in preparation for the biggest poker tournament of his life.

With hotels and flights booked for the upcoming WSOP, Caserio has been hitting the books and preparing for the Main Event with poker coach Enrico Mosca.

“Enrico and I met during a tournament,” Caserio said. “I made a good bluff against him and showed it out of respect. That is when our friendship began.”

Along with playing in the WSOP, when in the U.S. Caserio loves riding motorcycles around the country and taking in the sights with his friends.

With friends Fausto, Gaspare, Matteo, Antonello and Claudio assembled for another trip to the WSOP, Caserio has more than just poker planned for the group this summer.

Looking to break in his new Harley Davidson Freewheeler, Caserio and company will be embarking on a two-day trip to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley to create even more lifelong memories with each other.

“The trip has been organized and paid for and my new Harley Davidson has been ordered,” Caserio said. “All that's missing are the customized shirts I'm designing for the Trip of Trips!”

While he is certainly looking forward to experiencing the open road, Caserio is most excited to live out his dream of playing in the WSOP Main Event.

“I happily await the United States National Anthem before the start of the Main Event. It will be thrilling and very exciting.”

Diego “The Bionic Poker Player” Caserio

Thankful for the chance to live out his dream of playing in the WSOP Main Event, Caserio values the love and support he has received from friends and family most of all.

“I want to thank my friends Angelo, Matteo, Gaspare, Lorenzo, Lollo, Giorgio, Diego, Carmen, and Giangia. Also to my family, Marta and Marco, my wife's brother, my grandpa Eligio and grandma Patrizia, my mother as well as my aunt Lilli. Thank you to all of my friends and family who called or wrote to me.”

Showing how the game of poker can provide solace through life’s trials, above all Caserio’s story is a testament to how support from loved ones can help us navigate even the hardest of times.

On behalf of the WSOP Media Team, we express deep gratitude to Diego Caserio for sharing his inspiring story with us and the poker community. Best of luck in the Main Event Diego! We are excited to see you in Las Vegas.