Ciprian Hrisca

Ciprian Hrisca was born and resides in Romania, where he developed an early interest in poker. He began his career playing online, honing his skills in the digital felt before transitioning to live tournaments. His steady approach and meticulous study of the game allowed him to build a solid foundation, eventually leading to participation in major European Poker Tour events.

Hrisca's defining moment came in October 2008 at the PokerStars.com EPT Budapest Main Event. The €4,000 buy-in tournament attracted 532 entrants, generating a prize pool of €2,128,000. Hrisca navigated through the field to reach heads-up play against England's Will Fry. In the final hand, Hrisca's J♠J♦ were no match for Fry's A♥K♣ when the board brought a king, and he was eliminated in second place, earning €342,608 – his largest career cash to date. This result accounts for the majority of his $452,045 in total live earnings and places him 39th on the Romania All Time Money List. He has also recorded multiple cashes at the World Series of Poker, though he has not yet won a WSOP bracelet.

Known for a tight and patient style, Hrisca relies on position and careful hand selection to exploit opponents' weaknesses. He is comfortable adjusting post-flop, particularly in deep-stacked situations where he can maximize value or execute well-timed bluffs. His mathematical approach helps him avoid marginal spots and manage variance. Fellow Romanian players have nicknamed him "the silent killer" for his quiet demeanor at the table paired with decisive action. He is also known to share hand analyses and study methods within the poker community, emphasizing bankroll discipline and systematic learning.

While Hrisca's live tournament output has been relatively limited compared to some peers, his deep run at EPT Budapest put him on the map as one of Romania's early poker success stories. He inspired a generation of Romanian players to pursue live events, proving that a sound, disciplined strategy could yield major results. Though his public presence has been low-profile, his consistent performances in smaller events and online have maintained his status as a respected figure in the European poker scene.