Alek Stasiak

Alek Stasiak, playing under the screen name "astazz", burst onto the global poker scene during the 2020 World Series of Poker Online on online poker. He made history by becoming the first player to win two bracelets in the 2020 online series, a feat many thought impossible given the massive field sizes.

First Bracelet: Event #33 – $1,111 Every 1 for Covid Relief

Stasiak won his first WSOP bracelet on July 26, 2020, in Event #33, a $1,111 buy-in tournament benefiting Covid relief. Remarkably, he earned his seat through a $10 satellite, turning a minuscule investment into a $343,203 first-place prize. The tournament attracted over 1,800 entrants, and Stasiak outlasted them all to claim his first gold bracelet.

Second Bracelet: Event #52 – $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em

Just two weeks later, on August 6, 2020, Stasiak struck again. Event #52 drew 2,006 entrants, creating a $1,095,700 prize pool. Stasiak navigated a star-studded field that included notables like Ryan Riess, David Peters, Chris Moorman, and Mohsin Charania, all of whom failed to reach the final table.

Stasiak entered the final table as one of the short stacks with only 1.26 million chips, but he gradually climbed the leaderboard. A pivotal hand came with four players left: Stasiak's A♥5♥ outdrew Denis Peganov's pocket queens, spiking an ace on the flop to seize the chip lead. He then eliminated Dejan Kaladjurdjevic in third place, setting up a heads-up battle against Kunal "Alex_52" Bhatia of India.

Despite Bhatia briefly taking the lead, Stasiak regained control and finished the tournament on a dramatic river card. With the board showing 3-8-7-3-King, Stasiak's K-Q overtook Bhatia's A-4, earning him the $273,505 top prize and a $12,000 WSOP Europe package.

• First player in WSOP history to win two online bracelets in a single series (2020 WSOP Online).
• Total WSOP Online earnings for 2020 exceeded $600,000.
• Both wins came on online poker, the official platform for the 2020 WSOP Online.
• Known for his calm demeanor and ability to overcome short-stacked situations at final tables.

Stasiak's success story is a testament to the power of satellite entries and disciplined tournament play. He demonstrated exceptional composure under pressure, often starting final tables with a below-average stack but leveraging his strategic patience to outlast opponents. His double-bracelet achievement inspired many recreational players and highlighted the opportunities in online poker during the pandemic.

Although public information about his early career is limited, Stasiak's 2020 performances have firmly placed him among the notable Canadian poker talents. He continues to be a respected figure in the poker community, primarily known for his historic WSOP Online double victory.