Alexander Kravchenko

Alexander Kravchenko was born on 21 April 1971 in Arkhangelsk, Soviet Union (now Russia). He is a professional poker player based in Moscow, Russia.

Kravchenko made a huge impact at the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP). He cashed six times, including a fourth-place finish in the $10,000 World Championship No-Limit Hold'em Main Event, earning $1,852,721. In the same year, he won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo Split 8 or Better event, taking home $228,446. This made him the first Russian citizen to win a WSOP bracelet. He also made the final table (finishing fifth) in the inaugural WSOP Europe £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event.

As a result of his 2007 performance, Kravchenko passed Kirill Gerasimov to become the all-time leading money winner among Russian players at the time. Overall, he has 32 WSOP cashes, 7 final tables, and total WSOP winnings of $2,661,909.

In 2007, Kravchenko finished third in the Moscow Millions Main Event, which featured the largest ever prizepool for a tournament held in Russia. He also has multiple cashes in European Poker Tour (EPT) events, with 12 money finishes, and six World Poker Tour (WPT) cashes. As of 2014, his live tournament winnings exceeded $4,000,000. his total live earnings are $4,310,282 (or $4,310,281 in some sources).

On 27 September 2010, Kravchenko won Event #61 of the World Championship Of Online Poker (WCOOP), the $10,300 8-Game High-Roller event. The field consisted of 133 players, and he claimed his first WCOOP bracelet along with $345,800 in prize money.

Kravchenko is known for a tight-aggressive style. He excels in deep-stack play, patiently waiting for high-probability opportunities and using his strong reading skills to make precise decisions. He is adept at controlling pot sizes and using deception when appropriate. His calm demeanor under pressure is a hallmark of his game.

Alexander Kravchenko is regarded as a pioneer and icon in Russian poker. He has been referred to as the "Russian poker godfather" and helped popularize the game in his home country. Beyond his playing career, he has shared his knowledge through coaching and strategy articles, contributing to the growth of poker in Russia.