Fedor Holz

Fedor Holz, is a German professional poker player born on July 25, 1993, in Saarbrücken, Germany. He gained international fame for his exceptional talent at a very early age. Holz started his journey with online poker, rising through the ranks with a strategic and analytical mindset.

Holz’s big breakthrough came in 2014 when he won the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) main event. His offline poker career took off after winning the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he earned over $4.9 million and secured his first bracelet.

Early Life and Background:

Fedor Holz grew up with his siblings near Saarbrücken, Germany. As a child he used to play chess, and qualified for the German Championships. Holz passed his Abitur at the age of 17 from the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium in Sulzbach. He then began studying media informatics at Saarland University, but dropped out after two semesters.

At the age of 16, he was introduced to poker by two close friends. In the beginning of his poker journey, he used to exchange ideas a lot with senior players, and on internet forums. On February 10, 2013 he won his first major live tournament at the Lebanese Poker Tour in Cyprus. By the end of 2013, Holz had earned nearly $150,000 in live tournament prize money.

Poker Career Beginnings:

In February 2013, Holz won his first major live tournament at the Lebanon Poker Tour, and followed it up 9 days later with a 10th place finish at the World Poker Tour (WPT) at the Austrian Poker Festival.

In August 2014, Holz cashed in five times at the European Poker Tour (EPT) in Barcelona, including the High Roller Main Event. He had won €100,000 in just 11 days, the same amount he had won in the entirety of 2013. In late September 2014, he won the World Championship of Online Poker on PokerStars, earning $1.3 million USD.

In June 2015, Fedor Holz, who was 21 now, was allowed to compete in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. He cashed four times in the series on his debut. On July 1, 2016, Holz hit the jackpot, winning the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop, the most expensive event at the 2016 WSOP. He bagged his first gold bracelet and $5,000,000.

Major Achievements and Career Highlights:

Fedor Holz is known for his dominance in high-stakes poker tournaments, online events, WSOP, and WPT events. Here’s a table summarizing his top 10 event wins and earnings:

Personal Life, Influence and Legacy:

In 2013, Fedor Holz left home, traveling the world, and playing poker. He ended up in Vienna, where he lives with his partner Annelina Waller, who’s a food blogger and influencer.

Beyond poker, Holz is passionate about self improvement, mindfulness and entrepreneurship. He co-founded ‘Primed Mind’, a mindset coaching app, reflecting his interest in mental optimization. He has become a mentor to aspiring players, and takes a balanced approach towards life and poker.

Conclusion

Fedor Holz has established himself as an accomplished and respected poker professional. His meteoric rise at an young age, and establishment as a dominant force in live tournaments, make him one of the best active poker players in the world.

Fellow poker legend Erik Seidel once said about Holz, ‘Fedor’s understanding of the game at such a young age is exceptional. He plays with maturity well beyond his years.’ Holz’s ability to read opponents and adapt to any situation is testament to his strategic genius.