High stakes cash game legend Matt “ADZ124” Marafioti has reportedly committed suicide at the age of 32. News broke on Twitter at the weekend that the Canadian had finally succumbed after a lifetime of poor mental health.
It is likely, but not confirmed, that controversial early 2010s poker pro Matt “ADZ” Marafioti has committed suicide in New Jersey, near NYC.
RIP
Story: https://t.co/s306mukSWw
— Todd Witteles (@ToddWitteles) August 14, 2021
“A distraught man jumped to his death Friday morning from the 28th floor”
Todd Witteles, posting on his pokerfraudalert forum, linked to a news report from Manhattan, New York City, which detailed a suicide he was convinced matched Marafioti’s description.
“A distraught man jumped to his death Friday morning from the 28th floor of a Bergen County high-rise overlooking Manhattan. The 32-year-old jumper at Winston Towers 200 in Cliffside Park landed near the pool at 100 Winston shortly after 11 a.m.”
This report was dated soon after Marafioti posted a distressed Instagram update where the claims to have been about to be kidnapped:
View this post on Instagram
He posts a photo of a man who he says is going to make him “go missing” from the same apartment block.
Matt Marafioti – A Poker Player We Will Never Forget
Matt Marafioti was one of the original online high-stakes legends. Back in the day, when the $25/$50 cash games on PokerStars were where the best regularly did battle, he would be found on almost every table running.
He was absolutely fearless, and many of today’s legends looked up to him as one of the players to beat.
“I pulled up stars and sweat the 25/50 games. ADZ would be playing all of them, total boss”
I really hope it’s not true. When I first learned about poker when I was 18 I would pull up stars and sweat the 25/50 games. ADZ would be playing all of them, total boss. I dreamed of 1 day playing those games. Hope it’s not true, but if it is ill always remember this legend. https://t.co/StipCYMJ0h
— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) August 15, 2021
Doug Polk tweeted how he was star struck as an 18-year-old when watching Marafioti in those games, and he will always remember those times.
Could More Have Been Done to Help Matt Marafioti?
This story will have many thinking they saw the ending coming many moons ago. Five years ago, Marafioti disappeared without trace for 45 days when his mental health was already suspected as being close to breaking point.
Social media posts about the illuminati and the mafia showed just how detached from reality the young man had become, with many fearing the worst.
In the end, when he resurfaced he claimed he has just been on a camping trip with friends and there was nothing to worry about.
One poster was clearly unhappy that this story continued without any intervention.
“Got into a deep dive on his story when he dissapeared five years ago and it makes me angry how many warning signs there were and how he couldnt get any help, something is wrong with the mental health laws and healthcare”
If this story is officially confirmed, we send our condolences to the Marafioti family and his friends.
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