Alexander Ivarsson

Alexander Ivarsson began his poker journey online, sharpening his skills on PokerStars. He amassed a strong track record in major online series, earning him a reputation as a skilled player before transitioning to live tournaments. His first significant live cash came at EPT Prague in 2014, where he finished 12th in the €10,300 High Roller for a substantial payout. Around the same time, his friend and fellow Swede Anton Siden (then playing as Anton Bertilsson) finished runner-up in the EPT Prague Main Event for €582,720; Ivarsson owned a piece of Siden's action, which boosted his bankroll and allowed the two to travel together and play the best EPT stops.

The highlight of Ivarsson's live career occurred at the 2019 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona. He entered the €2,200 EPT National High Roller, which attracted a massive field of 1,491 entries. Ivarsson navigated through the field and reached the final table, where he faced formidable pros such as Ari Engel and Anthony Zinno. In a pivotal three-way all-in, Ivarsson held king-queen suited and rivered a flush against Engel's flopped straight and Zinno's overpair, eliminating both and taking a monstrous chip lead. He later described this hand as "very lucky" but crucial. He then defeated Kuwait's Raed Alawadhi heads-up to win the title and the first-place prize of €498,520 (approximately $553,493). This cash alone more than doubled his previous lifetime live earnings. The final table also included Joonas Helin (3rd, €201,210), Max Deveson (4th, €149,030), Sorin Flutur (5th, €117,350), and others. Ivarsson followed this victory by deep into the €5,300 Main Event, bagging a stack among the final 16 players and guaranteeing at least €71,400. He expressed confidence, saying, "Obviously, coming from a win then straight into the Main Event, and everything went smooth from the beginning, so I’m playing very confident and I believe in myself." He added, "I think I have a pretty good clue about what other players are doing so I’m just gonna do my thing."

Prior to his Barcelona win, Ivarsson had a strong showing at the 2015 EPT Malta Main Event. He held the chip lead after Day 4 with 16 players remaining and entered the final table third in chips with nine left. He five-bet shoved his last 41 big blinds with pocket queens against eventual runner-up Alen Bilic, who called with ace-king suited; a king on the flop ended Ivarsson's run in ninth place for €49,560. Ivarsson's total live tournament earnings amount to $1,574,080, with a best live cash of $555,689. He is ranked 1,854th on the all-time money list and 24th among Swedish players. Ivarsson is known for his aggressive and adaptable style, often describing himself as a recreational player despite his clear skill. He continues to be a prominent figure in the Swedish poker community, inspiring others with his journey from online grinder to live tournament champion.