Olivian Balint

Olivian Balint is a professional poker player from Romania. While not among the most famous names in the game, he has made appearances in major tournaments, most notably the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE). His play has been documented in live reporting from the series, and he has been referenced in broader poker culture, such as in connection with the nickname "Liv B" on Poker After Dark.

Balint participated in the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe, an event held at King's Casino in Rozvadov. During the tournament, he was involved in several key hands. In one instance, he called a short-stacked all-in from Werner Scharnagl with pocket sixes, but Scharnagl doubled up after hitting a pair on the river. Later, Balint raised from position and forced a fold from Vincent Moscati, then eliminated Darren Delahunty when his A-T held against Delahunty's pocket nines. The board ran out with a ten on the flop and blanks, sending Delahunty to the rail. This hand was reported by PokerNews, highlighting Balint's aggressive play in the middle stages of the event.

From the limited data available, Balint appears to favor an aggressive, tight-aggressive (TAG) style. In the WSOPE hand, he raised preflop with A-T from position and continued betting on favorable boards. He is also willing to call shoves with medium pairs, as shown in the Scharnagl hand. His decision to call with sixes indicates a willingness to gamble in marginal spots, but overall he seems to maintain a disciplined approach.

Olivian Balint shares the nickname "Liv B" with poker pro Olivier Busquet. This coincidence was noted in a Poker After Dark article, which humorously commented that the nickname "could be appropriated by another well-known player, Romania's Olivian Balint." This shows that Balint has enough recognition in the poker community to be mentioned in passing in a major poker feature.

Although Balint does not have a long list of major cashes (his career earnings are estimated around $172,000 according to his bio), his participation in the WSOPE and his mention in poker media demonstrate that he is a competent player who has competed at the highest levels. For up-and-coming players, his trajectory shows that even without a bracelet or huge scores, a disciplined game can lead to meaningful tournament runs and recognition.