Nicolas Chouity

Nicolas Chouity is a Lebanese professional poker player who has become one of the most recognizable figures in Middle Eastern poker. He first appeared on the international tournament radar as a PokerStars qualifier, playing European Poker Tour events for two seasons before his breakthrough. In the season leading up to his biggest score, Chouity finished inside the top 50 at the EPT Grand Final for €31,000 and took 124th place at EPT Berlin for €8,000. These results helped establish his presence in Europe's elite tournament scene and laid the groundwork for a remarkable career. His early live cashes show a steady progression from mid-sized multi-table tournaments to high-stakes championship events. Over the years, he has built a live tournament record that includes 82 recorded cashes, reflecting his consistency at every level of the game.

Chouity made poker history in March 2010 when he won the €10,600 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Grand Final, earning €1,700,000 (approximately $2.2 million at the time). The win came after he had qualified via PokerStars, putting him in the spotlight as one of the first Lebanese players to capture a major international title. It remains the defining achievement of his career and propelled him to the top of Lebanon's all-time live money list. Chouity is ranked #1 among Lebanese players in live tournament earnings. The victory also earned him a place in poker history as the champion of one of the most prestigious stops on the European Poker Tour, with a final table that featured many of the game's top professionals.

Chouity has also delivered strong performances at the World Series of Poker. In 2011, he finished sixth in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event for $115,477. He has made multiple WSOP final table appearances over the years, adding to his reputation as a deep-run specialist. In June 2019, Chouity was the runner-up in the $3,300 Merit Mediterranean Poker Cup, earning $184,555. His career live tournament earnings now exceed $5.7 million, with 82 recorded cashes. His recorded earnings stood at $5,175,548 as of late July 2024, with a $3,650 cash on July 29, 2024 as his most recent result at that time. A subsequent victory would push that total past $5.8 million, reflecting his enduring success on the live circuit. His cashes span multiple countries and series, from the WSOP in Las Vegas to prestigious European stops.

In August 2025, Chouity added another major title to his resume by winning the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi in North Cyprus for $460,000. The event was part of the Merit Poker series and was described as the "Sweet Life" edition. The victory, which occurred on August 9, 2025, reinforced his status as an active and still-dangerous tournament player more than fifteen years after his EPT win. Merit Poker, a major tournament host in Cyprus, presented the event as a highlight of the summer, and Chouity outlasted a large field to claim the title and the six-figure first prize. This result demonstrates that he remains a threat in high-stakes tournaments well into his second decade of professional poker.

Away from the live felt, Chouity is known by the online screen name "niccc." He has built an impressive online resume, including a victory in the PokerStars Sunday 500 for $87,000. He has also captured three Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) titles. His first came in 2012 in the $109 PLO Cubed Turbo event. In 2015, he won two more: the $700 NLHE Six-Max with Variable Level Times and Ultra-Deep format, and a $27 No-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event. That final Omaha Hi/Lo tournament drew 2,353 players and had a prize pool of nearly $60,000, with Chouity taking home $9,244; the final table itself featured players from nine different countries. His online success demonstrated his adaptability across poker variants and formats. The 2015 SCOOP season saw several veteran professionals, including Jason Mercier, win multiple titles, and Chouity was recognized as part of that old-school wave of successful online players.

While some observers characterize Chouity as a loose-aggressive player, he is also known for solid strategic adjustments and disciplined bankroll management. In live settings, he combines aggressive pressure with careful position play and hand reading. He has become a trailblazer for Lebanese poker, inspiring a new generation of players in the Middle East. As Lebanon's #1 all-time earner, he has set a high standard for poker in the region. Beyond his tournament results, Chouity has actively engaged with fans and supported charitable initiatives, making him a respected ambassador for the game. Described as one of the pioneers of poker in Lebanon, he has helped grow the game in his home country over the past two decades. As of August 2025, he remains ranked among the world's top tournament players and continues to compete at the highest levels. His career is a model of longevity, transitioning from a PokerStars qualifier to a multi-million-dollar champion in both live and online arenas.