Dimitar Danchev

Dimitar Danchev, born in 1985, is a Bulgarian professional poker player who competes under the online alias 'pokernoob'. Despite the ironic handle, he quickly established himself as a formidable force in the poker world. His early career was marked by consistent success in online tournaments, laying the groundwork for his transition to live events. Danchev's deep understanding of No-Limit Hold'em and his ability to adapt to different formats have been key to his longevity.

Danchev's most significant live tournament victory came in January 2013 when he won the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $10,000 Main Event. Outlasting a large field, he claimed the top prize of $1,859,000, which remains his career-best score. This triumph put him on the map as one of Bulgaria's top poker talents. Prior to that, he had already shown promise with a runner-up finish in the 2011 EPT Sanremo €4,600 High Roller, earning $827,232.

Danchev is a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner. His first bracelet came in 2022 when he won the WSOP Online Heads-Up Championship, taking home $327,668. He added a second bracelet in 2026 by winning the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship at WSOP Las Vegas, earning $800,000. The victory was particularly impressive as he survived a grueling three-hour championship match against Russian runner-up Nikita Kuznetsov. Beyond his bracelet wins, Danchev has numerous deep runs in WSOP events, including a 42nd-place finish in the 2026 $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed for $50,587, and a 871st-place finish in the 2026 $10,000 Main Event for $20,000. He also cashed in the 2025 WSOP $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed (25th, $53,371) and multiple $3,000 and $5,000 events. His overall WSOP record includes 203 cashes and 15 final tables across all series.

Danchev has also made his mark on the Triton Poker Series, known for its high buy-in events. In March 2024, he won the $40,000 Mystery Bounty 7-Handed event at Triton Jeju for $804,000, edging out a field of 124 players. He also finished 8th in the $100,000 Triton Main Event at the 2024 WSOP Paradise for $475,000. Other notable Triton results include a 16th-place finish in a $30,000 event at Triton Maestral (May 2024, $62,300), a 19th in a $30,000 8-Handed at Jeju ($65,500), and cashes in the $100,000 Main Event at Jeju 2025 (41st, $163,000) and the $25,000 WPT Global Slam (38th, $52,000).

Danchev has been a consistent performer on the European Poker Tour (EPT) and other major circuits. He finished 2nd in the 2026 EPT Paris €25,000 Super High Roller Warm Up for €184,400 and 2nd in the €10,200 Mystery Bounty for €62,700. At EPT Monte-Carlo in May 2022, he took 3rd in a €25,000 High Roller for $452,177. He also recorded a 4th-place finish in the 2024 EPT Cyprus $25,000 SHR Warm Up ($150,500), a 5th in the 2025 EPT Prague €10,200 Mystery Bounty (€14,280), and a 6th in the 2025 EPT Malta €25,000 Super High Roller Warm Up (€62,200). In 2024, he came 16th in the EPT Paris €5,300 Main Event for €53,000. Danchev's deep runs extend to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and other stops, showcasing his versatility across buy-in levels and formats.

Danchev is known for a tight-aggressive style, emphasizing positional play and hand reading. He remains composed in high-pressure situations, a trait that serves him well in heads-up and final table scenarios. His online background gives him a strong foundation in multi-tabling and mathematical decision-making, while his live experience allows him to adjust to table dynamics. Danchev is considered a role model in Bulgarian poker, inspiring a new generation of players. His career live tournament earnings exceed $11 million, with a peak GPI rank of 200th. He continues to compete at the highest levels, frequently appearing in major series around the world.