Poker Pro Gus Hansen Suffers Massive Downswing Throughout 2009

There is no doubt that Gus Hansen is a top poker player having made over $7,400,000 from live tournaments, including a record 3 WPT open titles.The ‘Great Dane’ was also in good form in 2008 and managed to notch up almost $2 million in tournament wins including a second place finish at the Five-Star World Poker Classic (WPT Championship) for $1,714,800.
However, 2009 could have been better and so far his tournament success has come from a 9th place finish at the 40th Annual World Series of Poker $50,000 buy-in for a pay-out of $123,895 and a runner-up position at the Late Night Poker Finals for $100,000.
Whereas few would dispute his tournamnet credentials, it is his cash game antics at Full Tilt which have drawn much attention to his play over the past year. In 2009, Gus finds himself in the middle of a massive $6 million downswing stemming from his online cash games, particularly at the highest Pot Limit Omaha and Mix Limit games.
Hansen’s statistics, according to  www.highstakesdb.com, show  that he had lost nearly $730,000 in 2007 and almost $620,000 in 2008. Early 2009 started well for Gus as he got off to a $3.21  million start by March, after which he couldn’t seem to book a consistent win and by October he was in the red $3 million representing a downswing in his profits of over $6 million.
It is also claimed Gus has also been responsible for attracting sharks to the Full Tilt high stakes action and Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond previously commented:
“To call Gus a fish is a little bit strong because he is a good player. But he is losing money. Again, I could be proven wrong, but he’s the reason that most of the games run right now.”
Gus has come under criticism in the past by fellow pros, as he has been known to in buy in at a minimum of $16,000 at 200/400 NL maximum buy-in $40,000 tables, wait for a good hand a shove. One online conversation with online pro Ilari Sahamies “Ziigmund” early in the year went like this:
Ziigmund: anytime anywhere hu omaha or no limit…..mr great dane….gus just wanna play shortstack.no skills for real poker.
Gus Hansen: thats true I BETTER QUIT
Ziigmund: yup
Ziigmund: that s first good decision in your poker career
Whatever the case may be, Hansen will continue to be a big draw for Full Tilt Poker, and there should be little chance of him going broke as he is a Full Tilt Pro and as such has a lucrative contract in place as a part owner of the site. Gus Hansen would seem to be more focused on analysing and improving his game and, remarking on his downswing, said: 
“There is nothing worse for a poker player than fear of your own shadow. Over the years, I have made plenty of money against tight, predictable and frightened opponents. Now that the tide has turned, I have to make sure I don’t fall into the same patterns, but still keep my composure and play good solid poker.”