Koray Aldemir (born 1990) is a German professional poker player of Turkish descent, born in Berlin and now residing in 🏀 Vienna, Austria. In 2024, he won the World Series of Poker Main Event forR$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 forR$2.1 million when he finished in third place in theR$111,111 One Drop 🏀 High Roller at the 2024 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 2024 forR$1.3 million.[6] In 2024, he finished third 🏀 in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure forR$481,000.[7] He also won an event at the 2024 U.S. Poker Open.[8]
At the 2024 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 pastR$20 million in 🏀 career earnings and into fourth place on Germany's all-time money list.[10]
