Alexandre Vuilleumier

Born on July 22, 1982, Alexandre Vuilleumier developed a passion for chess at a young age, achieving the title of FIDE Master in 2005 and International Master in 2008. His peak Elo rating of 2402 came in July 2006. Vuilleumier played for the Club d’Echecs de Genève, winning the Swiss Team Championship in 2012, 2015, and 2019. He also competed in the French Top 12 league for C.E. de Bois-Colombes. His chess background is often credited with instilling in him the patience and concentration necessary for high-stakes poker.

Vuilleumier’s first live poker cash came at the 2018 World Series of Poker, where he placed 1,554th in the $565 Colossus event for $873. He gradually built his resume with small cashes in WSOP and EPT events. His first major breakthrough occurred in July 2022, when he finished second in a $1,100 event at the Wynn Summer Classic for $160,000. Later that year, he nearly won a European Poker Tour (EPT) title, taking third place in the EPT London Main Event for £296,150 (approximately $334,784).

In February 2023, Vuilleumier won his first live tournament at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), taking down a $10,150 six-handed event for $237,700. His biggest achievement came in June 2023 at the 2023 WSOP, where he won Event #2: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. He defeated a field of 207 players, including poker elites, earning $1,215,864 and his first WSOP bracelet. In a post-win interview, Vuilleumier attributed his success to chess-honed concentration, stating, “After nine hours of concentration, I think I’m still at 90% of my capacities, while everyone else is maybe at 60%.”

Online, Vuilleumier plays as “GiannisParios” on GGPoker, where he had accumulated nearly $140,000 in tournament winnings by September 2022. His live earnings now exceed $2.36 million, making him one of Switzerland’s most successful players.

Vuilleumier’s top five live cashes, per the Hendon Mob, are:

He also cashed in multiple WSOP and EPT events in 2024, including 75th in the EPT Cyprus Main Event ($13,820) and 53rd in WSOP Event #99 ($4,266).

Vuilleumier is described as a disciplined, exploitative player who capitalizes on opponents’ weaknesses. His chess training gives him an edge in endurance and focus, particularly in long tournaments. He tends to employ a tight-aggressive style online but adapts live based on table dynamics. His ability to maintain high concentration over extended sessions is a key component of his success.

Though relatively new to the live poker spotlight, Vuilleumier’s 2023 WSOP bracelet victory elevated his status. He is recognized as a skilled all-rounder, combining online proficiency with deep live runs. His chess background continues to be a talking point, drawing parallels between the two mind sports. Vuilleumier remains active on the tournament circuit, with consistent cashes in 2024.

Vuilleumier began playing on GGPoker under the screen name "GiannisParios" in January 2022. By September 2022, he had accumulated nearly $140,000 in online tournament winnings, primarily in No-Limit Hold'em events.

In addition to the cashes mentioned above, Vuilleumier recorded several other in-the-money finishes in 2024:

• 157th in WSOP Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty ($3,923)
• 184th in WSOP Event #14: $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty ($1,506)
• 57th in EPT Cyprus €1,100 Eureka Main Event ($5,030)
• 554th in EPT Paris €1,100 FPS Main Event (€1,890)

These results demonstrate his consistent presence in major tournaments worldwide.