Ottomar Ladva

Born in 1997 in Tallinn, Estonia, Ottomar Ladva first gained fame as a chess prodigy. At just 13 years old, he became the youngest player ever to win the Estonian Chess Championship, a title he would go on to claim four times. He earned the rank of Grandmaster in 2016, demonstrating elite strategic thinking and calculation skills that would later serve him well at the poker table. Like many top chess players, Ladva was drawn to poker's deep strategy and complex decision-making, and he began playing around 2019.

Ladva made a smooth transition from chess to poker, leveraging his ability to analyze situations deeply and remain calm under pressure. He started by playing online tournaments, quickly finding success. In 2021, he won the $25,500 Super High Roller Bowl Online for over $525,000, one of his first major online titles. That same year, he cashed in the WPT Montreal Main Event and the WPT World Championship Online, earning more than $85,000 from those events alone. His disciplined approach and strong fundamentals allowed him to move up stakes rapidly.

Ladva's first breakout live result came in September 2024 at EPT Barcelona, where he won the €25,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $487,734. This victory put him on the map as a serious contender in European high rollers. Later that year, he continued to accumulate cashes at events like the World Series of Poker, where he has 43 career cashes (as of 2026) and over $347,000 in WSOP earnings. He also has three WPT cashes, including a deep run in the WPT Montreal Main Event in 2021 for $10,214. By late 2025, he added a BSOP Super High Roller title in Brazil, winning $321,000.

Ottomar Ladva's career reached an explosive new level in early 2026. In February, he won the $25,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event at the Onyx High Roller Series in Cyprus, defeating poker legend Patrik Antonius at the final table to take home $1,150,000. Just weeks later, he captured the €100,000 Super High Roller at EPT Paris for $1,145,686, giving him two million-dollar scores in the same month. These victories propelled his live tournament earnings past $6.6 million and solidified his reputation as one of the most dangerous players in high-stakes poker. He also cashed in the $10,000 GGMillion$ event at the 2026 WSOP for $19,999 shortly after.

Ladva is known for a solid, patient style that emphasizes value betting and well-timed aggression. He excels in deep-stack situations and late-stage decision-making, often outlasting opponents through superior hand reading and positional awareness. His chess background gives him an edge in mental endurance and logical precision, allowing him to maintain focus during long tournaments. He is particularly dangerous in high roller fields, where his ability to calculate complex scenarios quickly sets him apart.

Ottomar Ladva is currently ranked second on Estonia's all-time money list, trailing only Vladimir Korzinin. He has become a role model for aspiring poker players, especially those coming from other mind sports. His success demonstrates how skills from chess—such as pattern recognition, risk assessment, and emotional control—can be translated into poker excellence. Despite his rising fame, Ladva maintains a low public profile, letting his results speak for themselves. With his rapid ascent and multiple seven-figure scores, he is poised to become a dominant force in the poker world for years to come.