Andrey Shatilov

Andrey Shatilov was born on July 11, 1986 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. He graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics at Nizhny Novgorod State University. During his fifth year at university, a friend introduced him to poker. He started playing online using $50 in free money from PokerStrategy, playing $1 SNG and gradually moved up to higher stakes. His online nickname “AzEsmTzar” was inspired by the Soviet film Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession. Early on, he played 5-max turbo on the Ongame network, then switched to PokerStars where he focused on HU and 6-max hyper-turbo. In 2012, he reached PokerStars Supernova Elite status.

Shatilov’s first live tournament cash came in 2010 when he finished 21st in the GSOP Main Event in Malta, winning €3,000. In April 2012, he won the GSOP Live Grand Final in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, earning $108,000 – his first six-figure payout.

His most impressive live results come from the European Poker Tour (EPT):

• 2016 EPT Barcelona: 3rd place in the €25,500 NLH Single Re-Entry 8-Handed event for €684,876 (approx. $684,876), his career-best score.
• 2017 Caribbean Poker Party Main Event: 2nd place for $650,000.

At the WSOP (World Series of Poker), he has 15 cashes and 3 final tables, totaling $898,902. Key WSOP results include:

• 2016 WSOP $1,500 6-max event – 83rd ($3,233)
• 2016 WSOP $888 Crazy Eights 8-max – 309th ($2,568)
• 2017 WSOP $1,000 30-minute levels – 190th ($1,503)
• 2017 WSOP $3,000 6-max – 105th ($4,789)
• 2017 MSPT Venetian Main Event – 137th ($4,491)

He also has results at other EPT stops: 2016 EPT Barcelona Estrellas Main Event – 352nd (€1,770), and 2016 PCA Main Event – 61st ($12,880).

Shatilov is known for his aggressive online high-stakes style, especially in 6-max turbo and hyper-turbo games, typically playing buy-ins from $500 to $2,000. In live tournaments, he displays a tight-aggressive style, making good use of position and applying pressure. According to his own account, it took him three years to move up from $1 SNG, half of that time spent studying and only a small fraction actually playing – highlighting the importance of combining theoretical study with practice.

• Shatilov once stated that poker started as a hobby; when he realized his poker earnings exceeded his regular job income, he decided to go full-time.
• As a child, he enjoyed playing chess and participated in tournaments, which later benefited his poker thinking.
• His total live earnings, according to records, are $3,260,470, placing him 24th on the all-time Russian money list.
• Although he has not yet won a WSOP bracelet, he has shown strong competitiveness in numerous large events.
• He is relatively low-key on social media but has a decent following.