Igor Kurganov biography
Igor Kurganov was born on May 5, 1988, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and immigrated to Germany at a young age, where he holds citizenship. He has since lived in Munich, London, and Austin, Texas. Kurganov built one of the largest high-stakes tournament resumes in poker, surpassing $18.5 million in live earnings, highlighted by a $1,425,874 win at EPT Monte Carlo in 2012 and a WSOP bracelet from the 2017 Tag Team Championship.
Beyond the felt, he co-founded Raising for Effective Giving (REG) in 2014, an organization promoting effective altruism that has raised more than $14 million for charity, and has collaborated on philanthropic coordination efforts with high-profile figures. He married fellow professional poker player Liv Boeree in 2025.
Career summary
German-Russian high-stakes specialist who has won over $18.5 million and co-founded a major effective-altruism charity with his tournament winnings.
Igor Kurganov poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | WSOP $10,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em Championship | 1st | $273,964 |
| 2012 | EPT Monte Carlo Super High Roller | 1st | $1,425,874 |
| 2013 | Aussie Millions | Multiple Final Tables | $1,000,000+ combined |
| 2013 | Guangdong Asia Millions | 6th | $1,000,000+ |
| 2010 | PokerStars Caribbean Adventure | 119th | $20,000 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $18,500,000+, plus 1 WSOP bracelet.
Igor Kurganov playing style
A disciplined, analytically-driven high-stakes tournament specialist who focuses heavily on select Super High Roller events.
Cash games
Plays high-stakes online cash games under the alias "lechuckpoker"; limited public data on live cash game volume.
Business & sponsorships
Co-founded Raising for Effective Giving (REG), a charitable foundation that has raised over $14 million for effective altruism causes since 2014.
Igor Kurganov Net Worth
As of November 2026, Igor Kurganov net worth estimates range from $15 million to $25 million.
Verified live tournament earnings account for $18.5M of prize money. Sponsorships, business ventures and cash games, covered above, make up the rest of the picture. Tournament prize money is not the same as profit: buy-ins, staking deals and taxes are not deducted, so all net worth figures are estimates based on public reporting.
Why Igor matters
The high-roller philanthropist who has funneled millions of his poker winnings into effective altruism causes.
FAQ about Igor Kurganov
What charity did Igor Kurganov co-found?
Raising for Effective Giving (REG), which has raised more than $14 million for effective altruism causes since 2014.
Is Igor Kurganov married to another poker player?
Yes, he married British poker pro Liv Boeree in 2025.
How much has Igor Kurganov won playing poker?
Igor Kurganov has won $18,500,000+ in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does Igor Kurganov have?
Igor Kurganov has won 1 WSOP bracelet.