Mikalai Pobal

Mikalai Pobal was born on June 15, 1984, in Belarus. He studied international relations and resides in Minsk. Pobal began his poker career online, playing from October 2007 to April 2015 under the nicknames "leanod" on PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and partypoker, as well as "m0l0t" on TitanPoker. During this period, he amassed over $1.5 million in online tournament earnings, establishing himself as a formidable force on the virtual felt. His online success provided the foundation for his transition to live tournaments.

Pobal made his first live cash in April 2012 at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event in Berlin, finishing 104th for €7,500. Later that year, at the EPT Barcelona Main Event, he defeated a field of 1,081 players to win his first EPT title, taking home €1,007,550. This victory marked his major breakthrough in live poker. He followed up with cashes at the same event in 2013 (79th for €12,700) and 2014 (85th for €13,900). In between, he also cashed in the EPT Sanremo High Roller in 2012, placing 10th for €20,600. His consistent deep runs in EPT events demonstrated his skill in high-stakes tournaments.

Over seven years after his first EPT win, Pobal became only the second player in history—after Victoria Coren-Mitchell—to win two EPT Main Events. At the 2019 EPT Prague Main Event, he navigated a field of 1,154 entries to claim the top prize of €1,005,600. This victory cemented his legacy as one of the most successful players in EPT history. In total, Pobal has accumulated $2,539,940 in live tournament earnings with his two EPT titles accounting for the vast majority. He also had a cash in the €2,200 EPT National High Roller at the same 2019 Prague festival, finishing 116th for €3,890.

Pobal is known for an aggressive, dynamic style that serves him well in both online and live settings. His ability to adapt to different player types and deep stacks has been key to his success in large-field events. While he maintains a low public profile, his achievements on the European Poker Tour have earned him respect in the global poker community. As a representative of Belarus on the international stage, Pobal has inspired a generation of players from Eastern Europe. Despite limited live results outside EPT events, his two Main Event titles place him in an elite group alongside only Victoria Coren-Mitchell, Mike Watson, and a handful of others as multiple EPT champions.

Pobal entered the 2019 EPT Prague Main Event as a PokerStars qualifier, having won his seat via an online satellite. At the start of the final table, he was the chip leader with 4,740,000 chips, representing over 41% of the chips in play. He then triumphed over a field of 1,154 entries to take the €1,005,600 first prize. This victory made him only the second player in EPT history to win two Main Event titles, joining Victoria Coren-Mitchell.

According to the Global Poker Index, Pobal's GPI rank was 247,901 as of his 2019 win. Despite a relatively low volume of live cashes, his two EPT Main Event titles have made him a well-known figure in the poker community. Online, he continues to be recognized by his screen names "leanod" and "m0l0t", under which he earned over $1.5 million in online tournaments between 2007 and 2015.

Pobal is widely regarded as a pioneer for poker in Belarus. He is the first and, as of 2020, the only Belarusian player to win an EPT Main Event. His success has inspired a new generation of players from Eastern Europe, and he remains one of the most accomplished poker players from the region. His two EPT titles place him in a select group of multiple winners, highlighting his skill on the international stage.