Boris Kolev

Boris Kolev, from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, has dedicated years to mastering the complex rules of tournament poker. He began to emerge in the mid-2010s, accumulating a substantial bankroll through outstanding performances in both live and online tournaments. His path to success is renowned for its remarkable perseverance; in 2024, he reached the final table with only six big blinds, ultimately winning the $437,000 EA Poker Tour Grand Finals in Cyprus. This "never give up" spirit has transformed him from a local talent into one of the most feared Bulgarian poker players in the world.

Kolev is known for his calm and dominant playing style, especially when he has a chip lead. He is often considered a short-table No-Limit Hold'em specialist, where his ability to consistently pressure opponents is most prominent. During his journey to win the million-dollar jackpot in 2025, he was praised for his ability to systematically destroy the final table and win pots in succession. Despite playing at high stakes, Kolev maintains his sense of humor, jokingly saying that winning a million dollars would only bring him "more trouble."

According to Hendon Mob, Kolev's total live tournament winnings exceed $6.6 million, making him a perennial winner on the world poker stage. His biggest career prize came at the 2025 Merit Poker Classic in Cyprus, where he won the $10,400 buy-in Merit Millions event, taking home a massive $1 million. This victory was historic, as he became the first player in the tournament's history to win a seven-figure prize. Kolev is also a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion. He won his first bracelet in 2021, taking home $511,184 in a $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas. Notably, this was also the last bracelet awarded at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas for that event. In 2023, he won his second bracelet at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, taking home $424,550 in a $3,000 buy-in six-handed event. Boris Kolev (Photo credit: PokerNews photographer Eloy Kabakas)