Igor Kurganov: From Math Enthusiast to Professional Poker Player

Igor Kurganov, a professional poker player, has a unique background that shaped his career path. Born with Russian-Jewish roots, Kurganov celebrates New Year instead of Christmas, a tradition he carried from his childhood.

Kurganov's family moved to Germany in 1992, where his parents, both engineers, had to find work unrelated to their degrees. Despite the challenges, Kurganov found joy in sports and intellectual competitions, such as math olympiads. His love for mathematics led him to consider becoming a professor, but he eventually realized that his passion lay in more practical applications.

During his university years, Kurganov started playing poker, earning around $1,000 per month initially. He soon realized that he could achieve more by focusing solely on the game, leading him to become a professional poker player. Kurganov believes in combining rational thinking with emotional intuition for decision-making, a philosophy that has served him well in both his personal and professional life.