Koray Aldemir (born 1990) is a German professional poker player of Turkish descent, born in Berlin and now residing in 2️⃣ 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 2️⃣ friend's house on New Year's Eve in 2006. He began by playing freerolls on PokerStars and had his first recorded 2️⃣ live cash in January 2012 in a €200 tournament held in Berlin.[2] While playing a tournament in Rozvadov, Czech Republic 2️⃣ in 2013, Aldemir allowed another player to use his computer to send money on PokerStars and had his account locked 2️⃣ on the site for the next four years. He moved to Vienna soon after to study psychology in university.[3]
Prior to 2️⃣ 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 2️⃣ High Roller at the 2024 World Series of Poker.[4] That same year, he finished runner-up to Adrian Mateos in the 2️⃣ 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 2️⃣ 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 2️⃣ Event, Aldemir began the final table with the chip lead and went heads-up against George Holmes. On the 223rd hand 2️⃣ of the final table, Holmes moved all in with K♣ Q♠ on a board of 10♥ 7♠ 2♥ K♠ 9♣ 2️⃣ and Aldemir called with 10♦ 7♦ for two pair to win the tournament.[9] The victory moved him pastR$20 million in 2️⃣ career earnings and into fourth place on Germany's all-time money list.[10]