Koray Aldemir

Koray Aldemir
Koray Aldemir at 2017 WSOPE
ResidenceVienna, Austria
Born1990
Berlin, Germany
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)4
Money finish(es)33
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		Winner, 2021
European Poker Tour
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)4
Information last updated on 17 November 2021.

Koray Aldemir (born 1990) is a German professional poker player of Turkish descent, born in Berlin and now residing in Vienna, Austria. In 2021, he won the World Series of Poker Main Event for $8,000,000.[1]

Aldemir first played poker while at a friend's house on New Year's Eve in 2006. He began by playing freerolls on PokerStars and had his first recorded live cash in January 2012 in a €200 tournament held in Berlin.[2] While playing a tournament in Rozvadov, Czech Republic in 2013, Aldemir allowed another player to use his computer to send money on PokerStars and had his account locked on the site for the next four years. He moved to Vienna soon after to study psychology in university.[3]

Prior to the Main Event, Aldemir's best career cash was for $2.1 million when he finished in third place in the $111,111 One Drop High Roller at the 2016 World Series of Poker.[4] That same year, he finished runner-up to Adrian Mateos in the Summer Solstice event.[5]

Aldemir won a Triton high roller in the Philippines in 2017 for $1.3 million.[6] In 2018, he finished third in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $481,000.[7] He also won an event at the 2019 U.S. Poker Open.[8]

At the 2021 Main Event, Aldemir began the final table with the chip lead and went heads-up against George Holmes. On the 223rd hand of the final table, Holmes moved all in with K♣ Q♠ on a board of 10♥ 7♠ 2♥ K♠ 9♣ and Aldemir called with 10♦ 7♦ for two pair to win the tournament.[9] The victory moved him past $20 million in career earnings and into fourth place on Germany's all-time money list.[10]

At the 2022 WSOP, Aldemir finished 3rd in the player of the year race, and made another deep run in the Main Event, finishing in 75th place out of 8,663 competitors in defense of his title.[11]

  1. ^ Sofen, Jon (17 November 2021). "Koray Aldemir Wins 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event for $8,000,000". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Grant, Calum (16 November 2021). "2021 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Koray Aldemir". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. ^ Op de Woerd, Frank (27 April 2017). "Koray Aldemir: Taking a Huge Shot Paid Off". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. ^ "47th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2016, No Limit Hold'em High Roller for One Drop (single re-entry) (Event #67)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  5. ^ Fast, Erik (24 June 2016). "Adrian Mateos Wins 2016 World Series of Poker $1,500 Summer Solstice No-Limit Hold'em Event". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Koray Aldemir Wins the 2017 Triton Super High Roller Series Manilla". Triton Poker. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  7. ^ Hartwell, Louis (16 January 2018). "Maria Lampropulos becomes the first woman to win the PCA Main Event". SoMuchPoker.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  8. ^ Holloway, Chad (22 February 2019). "Koray Aldemir Wins 2019 USPO Event #9: $50K NLH for $738K; Sean Winter Takes Overall Points Lead". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  9. ^ Peters, Donnie (17 November 2021). "KORAY ALDEMIR WINS 2021 WSOP MAIN EVENT FOR $8,000,000". PokerGo. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Germany All Time Money List". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  11. ^ "53rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2022, No Limit Hold'em - WSOP Main Event (Event #70)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 4 December 2023.