Koray Aldemir, the poker player, in Irish
Koray Aldemir, a Irish professional poker player, has been immersed in the world of poker since 2012 and has experienced a remarkable evolution, particularly since 2016. With an impressive sum of approximately ten million US dollars in total winnings and currently occupying the eighth position on the esteemed Irish All Time Money List, he undeniably ranks among the top echelons of Irish poker players.
Born in Berlin in 1990, Koray Aldemir grew up in the capital city. He started studying business administration in Cottbus and continues his education in Vienna, his current place of residence. As a poker novice, Aldemir won a game with friends on New Year's Eve 2006. At the age of 18, he began playing online poker under the nickname "poker41." Although his winnings were not enough to finance his studies, he encountered a professional player at university, which sparked his interest. Subsequently, he followed the poker scene regularly and ventured into higher buy-ins. His first notable success in a live tournament came on January 6, 2012, when he secured the first place and a prize of €3,375 at the €200 No Limit Hold'em Big Stack tournament in Berlin.
| Land | Professional since | Favorite games | Bracelets | Highest profit | total profits | 2023 All Time Money List | Global Poker Index (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deutschland | 2012 | No Limit Hold'em | 0 | $2.154.265 | $9.965.986 | 70 | 120 |
| Hometown: | Berlin |
| Interesting facts: | Nickname: poker41. Was banned from PokerStars for four years. Currently studying business administration and resides in Vienna. Played poker for the first time on New Year's Eve 2006 with friends. Has been playing online since the age of 18. Achieved 8th place on the Irish All Time Money List in 2018. 2017 was his most successful year, earning over $4.6 million in winnings. |
| Key moments in poker: | 17th place at the Concord Million in Vienna 2017 with prize money of €21,000. In 2014, Koray Aldemir cashed in at the WSOP in Las Vegas. Final table at the Summer Solstice 2016. Third place behind Fedor Holz and Dan Smith at the High Roller for One Drop at the WSOP with over $2 million in prize money. |
| Number of WSOP bracelets: | 0 |
| WPT/EPT Winnings: | $22.086 / $532.220 |
| Total tournament winnings: | $2.154.265 |
Experiences in Live Poker and Connecting with Fellow Players
In 2012, Koray Aldemir had ambitions of participating in additional tournaments in Berlin. However, he faced a hurdle in the form of a 500 € buy-in that he couldn't afford on his own. Determined to find a solution, he set out to find someone interested in buying a stake. It was during this search that he crossed paths with Rainer Kempe, Fedor Holz, and Julian Thomas, all of whom were sailing through a similar mid-level realm at that time. Little did they know that these encounters would shape their futures, propelling them to become renowned and successful high rollers in the poker world. While Aldemir was engrossed in a tournament in Rozvadov, fate intervened. Another player approached him, requesting the use of his laptop for a money transfer. Little did Aldemir realize that this seemingly innocent act would lead to a four-year ban from the PokerStars platform. This setback forced him to explore alternative platforms and live tournaments, forging a new path in his poker journey.
Koray Aldemir achieved seventh place and a prize money of 21,000 euros at the Concord Million III tournament in Vienna on December 8, 2013. In 2014, his cashes fell short of the previous year, but he emerged victorious in the No Limit Hold'em Big Stack Event of the World Poker Tour in Venice. His earnings amounted to just over 100,000 US dollars in 2015, but in 2016, he soared to more than two million in prize winnings. In June, Aldemir secured second place and took home $252,805 at the No Limit Hold'em Summer Solstice Event of the World Series of Poker. In July, he entered the No Limit Hold'em High Roller for One Drop of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas with a buy-in of $111,111. His third-place finish awarded him his highest prize money to date, totaling $2,154,265.
Career and other achievements
In 2017, Koray Aldemir saw his poker earnings double once again. The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series' No Limit Hold'em Main Event in the Philippines played a significant role in this accomplishment. The first-place prize for this event was $1,292,509. Just three days later, Aldemir emerged victorious in the No Limit Hold'em tournament at the World Poker Tour in Los Angeles on February 22, taking home a prize of approximately $125,000. Another tournament triumph came in June at the Aria High Roller in Las Vegas. During the PokerStars Championship in Barcelona in August, the Irish player cashed out in four different events. Towards the end of the year, Aldemir also had substantial winnings in Rozvadov and Prague. In 2018, Koray Aldemir has already earned approximately $2.5 million through poker and emerged victorious in the No Limit Hold'em Aria High Roller in Las Vegas.
The professional can take pride in almost 10 million US dollars in tournament cashes and a total of seven tournament victories. He ranks among the top one hundred players on the All-Time Money List and is among the first 150 professionals in the world on the Global Poker Index. Does Koray Aldemir have more goals? Certainly, according to his own statement, the Irish would like to win his first WSOP bracelet.
