Kai Herold

Kai Herold is a German poker professional who has been a consistent presence on the European Poker Tour (EPT) since 2012. According to WSOP.com, he has 6 WSOP series cashes totaling $69,615, while his overall live tournament earnings exceed $191,325. Herold is known for his disciplined approach and ability to navigate large fields, earning multiple six-figure scores without yet breaking through for a title.

Herold's most significant results come from EPT Main Events:

• 2012 EPT Barcelona Main Event – Buy-in €5,300, field of 1,082, finished 146th for €8,400.
• 2014 EPT Paris Main Event – Buy-in €5,300, field of 1,224, finished 187th for €9,900.
• 2014 EPT London Main Event – Buy-in £4,250, field of 675, finished 33rd for £11,400. This is his best recorded finish. According to PokerNews, he was eliminated in Level 32 (blinds 80,000/160,000) when his A♠J♠ all-in was called by Artur Koren's K♠Q♥, and the river failed to improve Herold's hand.
• 2014 EPT Prague Main Event – Buy-in €5,300, field of 1,107, finished 98th for €10,740.
• 2015 EPT Prague Main Event – Buy-in €5,300, field of 1,044, cashed but exact finish not listed. PokerNews reported a hand on Day 1a where Herold four-bet to 2,500 and then shoved on the flop for 7,875, forcing Joao Dos Santos and Natalie Hof to fold.
• 2024 EPT Prague Main Event – Buy-in €5,300, field of 1,049, finished 157th for €9,850.

He also cashed in a non-EPT event:

• 2014 APT Asian Poker Tour Seefeld Main Event – Buy-in €2,000, field of 203, finished 16th for €4,860.

Herold is characterized as a solid, conservative player. In a 2014 EPT Prague hand against Norbert Berent, he doubled up after getting all in preflop with A♠J♠ against Berent's A♦9♠, hitting a jack on the flop (according to PokerNews). In 2015 EPT Prague, he used a four-bet and then a flop shove to apply pressure, forcing folds from two opponents. His approach involves tight hand selection and controlled aggression when holding strong hands.

• 2014 EPT London – Final table bubble: Herold moved all-in for ~200,000 on a board of 6♠9♦K♥ with A♠J♠, but was instantly called by Artur Koren who had K♠Q♥ for top two pair. The turn and river did not help Herold, and he was eliminated in 33rd place.
• 2014 EPT Prague – Herold doubled through Norbert Berent when his A♠J♠ held against Berent's A♦9♠ on a board of J♥8♦5♠.
• 2015 EPT Prague – Herold four-bet to 2,500 preflop, then after a flop of J♣8♣3♦, he moved all-in for 7,875, causing both opponents to fold.

While Herold has not won a major title, his consistent deep runs in high-stakes EPT events establish him as a respected German pro. He continues to compete in live tournaments, with his most recent cash in 2024 EPT Prague demonstrating longevity.