Alexander Kostritsin

Alex Kostritsyn

The recent years have seen a sudden boom in the proliferation of Russian poker players attempting to make their mark in the world of tournament poker. 21-year-old Alexander Kostritsin is determined to prove himself one of the new Russian "young guns."

Although doing extremely well for some time in the local high stakes cash games, he started out in tournaments unassumingly enough, cashing a few tournaments in his native Moscow. Alexander placed 5th in a $500 no limit hold'em event at the East Europe Poker Championship and 9th in the $300 limit hold'em event at the Partypoker.com Saint Petersburg Poker Open. However, when he placed 10th at the $500 no limit hold'em event at the 2006 Russian Poker Championships, Alexander probably began to feel like he was really on his way.

Still, even in 2006, Russian poker was not yet exactly "booming," and the small fields did not provide the kind of challenge that a player of Alexander's caliber was seeking. Once he turned 21, he decided he would truly challenge himself by attacking the 2008 Aussie Poker Millions Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

That decision would change his life. Before Australia, the biggest live poker tournament Alexander had ever cashed in had barely over 100 people. This tournament had nearly 800. Still, Alexander was confident that his aggressive style and reading skills could carry him through any field, no matter how big, no matter how tough.

Erik Seidel achieved fame when he made it to heads up with the vaunted Johnny Chan at the main event of the World Series of Poker in 1988. Seidel fell short but went on to achieve fame for his poker skills anyway. Now it was Seidel's turn to be the old master as Kostritsin navigated through a field of International pros and Australian stars to find himself heads up with Seidel with about 1.5 million dollars on the line.

If Kostritsin was intimidated by facing a player of Siedel's character, he didn't show it. He was happy to raise Siedel pot after pot, coming over the top of him on several occasions.

After many hands with the chips going back and forth, the critical hand came at blinds of $50,000 and $100,000. Seidel raised to $300,000 and Kostritsin called with 8d 9d. The flop came Ah 8c 4d and the action went check-check. On the turn, a king came out. Kostritsin checked, Seidel bet $250,000 and Seidel called.

After a 7 on the river, Kostritsin led out for 1.75 million. Kostritsin's image served him well, as Seidel called, but could not beat the pair of 8s with 9 kicker. Kostritsin went on to win the tournament and the roughly 1.5 million.

Kostritsin followed this by attacking the World Series of Poker, cashing in an unprecedented five championship events. No doubt, this is only the beginning for this newest member of the Russian poker wave. 

Facts about Alex Kostritsyn

Started Playing Poker

2005

Professional Since

2005

Marital Status

Single

Favorite Poker Game

Cash Games, Live and Online

Poker Accomplishments

July 2008, Las Vegas, 39th WSOP $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship, 84th, $64,333

June 2008, Las Vegas, 39th WSOP, $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Split World Championship, 27th, $22,090

June 2008, Las Vegas, 39th WSOP, $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha, 11th, $69,433

June 2008, Las Vegas, 39th WSOP $10,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold’em World Championship, 29th, $21,657

June 2008, Las Vegas, 39th WSOP $10,000 Seven Card Stud World Championship, 3rd, $163,372

January 2008, Melbourne, 2008 Aussie Millions, $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event, 1st, $1,450,396

Photos of Alex Kostritsyn

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