Alexander Lakhov

Alexander Lakhov is a Russian professional poker player whose name appears in live poker records under several transliterations, including Aleksandr Lahkov, Aleksandr Lakhov, Alexander Lahkov, Alexander Lakhou, and Alexandr Lakhov. He is part of a generation of Russian players who have made their mark on the international tournament circuit, and he is often counted among the leading figures of the Russian poker scene. Known for a calm, unemotional style and a reputation for solid fundamentals, Lakhov has built a decade-long career in live events that has seen him cash more than 300 times across buy-in levels ranging from modest side events to the richest championship tournaments in the world.

Lakhov's live tournament career is defined by steady, consistent results. He has recorded 318 in-the-money finishes, a figure that places him among the most active Russian tournament grinders. His success spans many venues and formats, with repeated appearances at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, on the World Poker Tour, and at European poker festivals. His recorded live earnings total $4,198,514 across those cashes, with a most recent cash of $1,680 on October 9, 2024. The long stretch between his early results and his 2024 cash is evidence of both longevity and a disciplined approach to tournament selection.

The defining moment of Lakhov's career came at the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event. In one of the largest Main Events ever staged, Lakhov survived thousands of entrants and made a deep run into the money, eventually being eliminated in 15th place. For that finish he collected approximately $269,000, one of the biggest paydays of his career. While he fell short of the official nine-handed final table, the result was widely reported and helped introduce him to a broader international poker audience. It remains his strongest overall WSOP Main Event performance and a highlight of Russian poker's presence in Las Vegas.

Beyond the Main Event, Lakhov has enjoyed success in a variety of major tournament series. He has made several World Series of Poker final tables in other events and has won a WSOP Circuit ring, showing his ability to close out tournaments outside the annual summer series as well. He also appears in the official list of World Poker Tour title winners by country; his single WPT title places him alongside Russian players such as Alexey Badulin, Dmitry Gromov, Alexander Kuzmin, Andrey Pateychuk, Alexey Rybin, and Maxim Sekretarev, all of whom have earned WPT victories. These accomplishments give Lakhov a rare combination of results across both the WSOP and WPT brands.

Lakhov is usually described as a tight-aggressive, or TAG, player. Rather than chasing every pot, he prefers to wait for favorable spots and applies pressure when he has a solid read or a positional advantage. He is particularly effective in post-flop play, where careful hand reading and disciplined bet sizing allow him to maximize value and avoid expensive mistakes. His attitude toward risk is conservative, but he is willing to make large bets when the situation calls for it. Bankroll management and patience are central themes in his play, and he is most dangerous in deep-stacked tournaments where he can use his stack and position over many levels.

Lakhov has earned the nickname "Russian Poker Machine" because of his consistent results and his mathematical, almost mechanical, decision-making process. He has participated in high-stakes cash games against several world-class players, including fellow Russian Ivan Soshnikov, and his success has made him a respected figure at home and abroad. In his spare time he studies poker theory and gets involved in educational activities for the Russian poker community, helping younger players understand concepts such as bankroll management, hand analysis, and tournament pace. His career is often used as an example of how discipline and patience can lead to long-term profitability, and he remains an influential voice in the development of Russian poker.