Jonathan Karamalikis

Jonathan Karamalikis is an Australian professional poker player from Adelaide who has built a reputation as one of the country’s most consistent and aggressive competitors. With live tournament earnings exceeding $4.8 million and 114 recorded cashes, he has excelled both in Asia-Pacific events and on the international stage. Known online as “xMONSTERxDONGx,” Karamalikis combines a fast-paced, pressure-based style with deep tournament runs across live and online formats.

Karamalikis began playing poker with friends in his hometown of Adelaide. He continued playing through his first year of university before deciding to pursue poker full-time. He quickly found success on the Australian and New Zealand live tournament circuit, earning early cashes in events like the 2008 Aussie Millions and the 2009 Joe Hachem Deep Stack Series, where he won a shorthanded shootout for AU$32,400. At age 21, he was already recognized as a tournament specialist, with two substantial live cashes at the 2009 and 2010 Aussie Millions.

2010 was a breakthrough year: Karamalikis won the APPT Sydney Main Event for US$454,304, added an Aussie Millions side event win for US$113,247, and took down an ANZPT High Roller for US$108,273. He also cashed in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, finishing 446th. In 2012, he captured the ACOP High Roller in Macau for US$478,292, and placed 5th in the same event the following year for US$105,411. 2017 proved exceptionally profitable: he finished 2nd in the $3,500 Deepstack Extravaganza at The Venetian for US$429,611 and 2nd in a $10,400 Bellagio Cup event for US$523,343.

In October 2019, Karamalikis continued his hot streak at the Victorian Poker Championships in Melbourne, placing 6th in a AU$1,100 event before winning the 422-entrant AU$2,300 Main Event for AU$136,604. Shortly after, at the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Sydney, he finished 20th in the AU$5,000 Challenge and then took down the 53-entrant AU$20,000 High Roller for AU$258,350, earning his first WSOP Circuit ring. His most recent cash is $8,170 on February 6, 2025.

Karamalikis has consistently performed in high buy-in events. His top live cashes include:

• 2nd place, 2017 Bellagio Cup XIII ($523,343)
• 1st place, 2012 ACOP High Roller ($478,292)
• 1st place, 2010 APPT Sydney Main Event ($454,304)
• 2nd place, 2017 Venetian Deepstack ($429,611)
• 1st place, 2019 WSOP Circuit Sydney High Roller (AU$258,350)
• 1st place, 2019 Victorian Poker Championships Main Event (AU$136,604)

Playing under the screen name “xMONSTERxDONGx,” Karamalikis achieved significant online success, including a US$157,000 score as runner-up in an FTOPS X NLHE 6-max rebuy event. His online prowess earned him a sponsorship deal with Full Tilt in April 2010, making him a Full Tilt Pro until the site’s shutdown in 2011. He remains one of Australia’s top online earners and is known for his aggressive online play.

Karamalikis is described as a “bulldozer” who applies relentless pressure, often using large bets and frequent bluffs to push opponents to the wrong side of the rail. He combines fast-paced online decision-making with strong live table reads, adapting between aggressive and conservative play as the situation demands. This versatility has made him a tough opponent across all formats, from high rollers to deep-stack tournaments.

With consistent results spanning over a decade, Jonathan Karamalikis has cemented his place among Australia’s poker elite. His ability to perform in high-stakes tournaments, both live and online, continues to inspire aspiring players in his home country and beyond. As of 2025, his live earnings exceed $4.8 million, and he holds multiple major titles, including an APPT Main Event and a WSOP Circuit ring.