Ossi Ketola

Ossi Eemeli Ketola is a Finnish gambling entrepreneur and high-stakes poker personality better known by the nickname “Monarch.” He became prominent outside poker as the public figure behind CSGOEmpire, a Counter-Strike skin-gambling platform, and later Duel, a crypto-casino brand. Ketola says he began building CSGOEmpire from his bedroom in 2015 with an €11,000 loan, a business partner, and several freelancers.
Before becoming a familiar face on poker broadcasts, Monarch was already well known in the Counter-Strike gambling and streaming communities. His content has included case openings, gambling-related entertainment, Just Chatting, and gaming streams. His outspoken, confrontational approach to promotion has also made him a controversial figure, helping build a recognizable public persona far beyond the poker table.
Ketola is best described as a businessman who plays high-stakes poker. He has openly said that he has limited poker experience, studies only casually, and does not expect to become an elite technical player. Instead, he views his major poker appearances as entertainment, personal competition, and a way to create content and promote his businesses and the Monarch brand.