Aleksejs Poankovs is a professional poker player hailing from Latvia. Ponakovs is a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner and is number one on the Latvian all-time money list.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Background
Ponakovs is a private man who rarely gives interviews to the poker media. Instead, he allows his poker to do the talking. Ponakovs has online poker results dating back to 2010 but rarely stepped into the live poker world until after the COVID-19 error. Ponakovs exploded onto the live poker scene in 2022 and has established himself as a feared and respected foe.
Several foreign-language websites hint at Ponakovs formerly playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) professionally before turning to poker.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Twitter
Ponakovs does not post on X/Twitter.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Instagram
Ponakovs has an Instagram account, but he rarely posts photos or videos.
Aleksejs Ponakovs YouTube
Ponakovs does not publish content on YouTube.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Poker History
Aleksejs Ponakovs started playing online poker at age 18, mostly only PokerStars, where he is known as "APonakov." Ponakovs has over $1.8 million in cashes at PokerStars, including victories in the $1,050 Thursday Thrill PKO ($43,153), and the Big $215 ($24,855).
Ponakovs' best online poker result stem from his time grinding at GGPoker, where he plays under his real name. Although Ponakovs has not displayed his GGPoker results, PokerNews knows he has won more than $4.5 million and profited to the tune of $1.8 million in the site's Super MILLION$ tournament alone.
Ponakovs' first documented live poker tournament result came in May 2011, and he only cashed in two dozen events between then and 2019. His best result during that period was a 48th place finish in the 2016 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague Main Event, which netted him €17,200.
Like many professional poker players, Ponakovs spent the COVID-19-related lockdowns playing poker online. He almost became a WSOP champion in August 2021 when he finished second to Arthur Conan in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up Online Championship for $279,700.
Later in that series, Ponakovs came out on top in the $7,777 No-Limit Hold'em Lucky 7s High Roller online at GGPoker for $432,491 and his first WSOP bracelet.
Ponakovs began playing Super High Roller events once live poker returned to normality, and he took to this realm like a duck to water. A fourth-place finish in the €100,000 Triton Poker Series Madrid in May 2022 earned Ponakovs a then-career-best €888,000.
A month later, Ponakovs became a two-time WSOP champion after taking down the $100,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller 8-Handed event at the 2022 WSOP. Ponakovs denied Phil Ivey his 11th career bracelet. The Latvian padded his bankroll with $1,897,363, his first seven-figure haul.
Upon returning to Europe after his scintillating 2022 WSOP, Ponakovs attended the EPT Barcelona festival. He reached two final tables in €25,000 and €50,000 buy-in high rollers, taking home a combined €830,340.
Ponakovs helped himself to another seven-figure prize when he finished sixth in a $200,000 buy-in event at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in northern Cyprus, namely $1,350,000.
The Latvian's incredible form continued throughout 2023, with another 13 cashes worth over $100,000, including a career-best $2,540,000 prize for a fourth-place finish in a $262,500 buy-in event at Triton Poker Super High Roller Series London.
In February 2024, Ponakovs finished third in the PokerStars EPT Paris Main Event for €574,850. To date, Ponakovs has over $14.9 million in live poker tournament earnings.
Is Aleksejs Ponakovs Good at Poker?
While stating who is or is not good at poker is subjective, most people would consider Aleksejs Ponakovs to be an elite-level poker tournament player. Ponakovs' results speak for themselves, and the fact he holds his own in Super High Roller events against the best players on the planet shows he is a top poker talent.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Top 5 Cashes/Poker Results
| Date | Event | Rank | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | $262,500 Triton London | 4th | $2,540,000 |
| Jun 2022 | $100,000 WSOP High Roller | 1st | $1,897,363 |
| Sep 2022 | $200,000 Triton Cyrpus | 6th | $1,350,000 |
| Aug 2023 | $212,000 Triton London | 6th | $970,000 |
| May 2022 | €100,000 Triton Madrid | 4th | €888,000 |
Wealth – What is Aleksejs Ponakovs' Net Worth?
Ponakovs has never revealed his net worth, nor is it estimated on any celebrity websites. However, considering Ponakovs has won over $20 million from online and live poker tournaments during his career and he lives in Lativa, which has a low cost of living, it is fair to assume he is doing more than OK for himself.
How Did Aleksejs Ponakovs Make His Money?
Again, Ponakovs' reluctance to speak to the poker media poses a challenge to uncovering how he made his money. That said, Ponakovs' first recorded tournament result is from 2010, when he was only 18, suggesting Ponakovs made all of his money through playing poker.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Family, Wife, and Children
Ponakovs keeps his personal life private, but a little sleuthing has uncovered some details about his love life.
Aleksejs Ponakovs' Wife – Is Aleksejs Ponakovs Married?
Aleksejs Ponakovs is married to Anastasia Ignatieva, a self-proclaimed "travel and style enthusiast." Anastasia Ignatieva's Instagram account reveals she and Ponakovs married in November 2022 at The Ritz Carlton in Tenerife.
Does Aleksejs Ponkaovs Have Children?
It does not appear that Ponakovs is a father.
Aleksejs Ponakovs Controversies
Aleksejs Ponakovs has not been involved in any controversies related to poker or otherwise. He is considered an upstanding and respected member of the poker community.
Aleksejs Ponakovs FAQs
Is Aleksejs Ponakovs married?
Social media posts suggest Aleksejs Ponakovs and Anastasia Ignatieva married in November 2022 in Tenerife.
Has Aleksejs Ponakovs won a WSOP Bracelet?
Ponakovs has two WSOP bracelets. He won the first online at GGPoker in August 2021 and his second in Las Vegas in 2023.
Is Aleksejs Ponakovs a sponsored pro?
Surprisingly, despite his incredible results, Aleksejs Ponakovs does not have an online poker sponsor.
Did Aleksejs Ponakovs Play eSports Professionally?
It is thought Ponakovs was a talented CS:GO player before he turned to professional poker.
What is Aleksejs Ponakovs' largest tournament cash?
In August 2023, Ponakovs collected $2,540,000 to finish fourth in the $262,000 buy-in Triton Poker Super High Roller Series London.
