Bulgaria Continues Stellar Year in Professional Poker

This year has been stellar for Bulgaria's professional poker players, with strong performances in major international events such as the 2024 World Series of Poker Tour. Alex Kulev, Boris Angelov, and underdog Martin Alcaide have each garnered considerable praise in the poker community this year, an impressive feat when considering Bulgaria's relatively small population.

Bulgaria's Thriving Poker Scene

There are 16 regulated casinos located across four cities in Bulgaria, with most card rooms situated in Varna. The unique gambling culture has helped to develop major stars in the global poker circuit, including Dimitar Danchev and Ognyan Dimov, both of whom have amassed millions in tournament winnings.

The nation's regulated online market has also helped to train the new generation of talent, whether through online poker rooms. When live casino gambling, users can not only access online slots but also virtual and real dealer poker games to hone their skills. Boris Angelov, who found recent tournament success. attributes online gameplay to his mastering of the game.

The Up-and-Comer: Boris Angelov's WSOP Run

After earning his stripes through online play, Boris Angelov transitioned to live tournaments after the pandemic. Influenced by Alex Kulev, he debuted in the European Poker Tour (EPT) of 2022. It wasn't until this summer, though, that Angelov achieved considerable success. At the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, Angelov made it to the final table.

He came fifth, securing nearly $270,000 in cash. In August, Angelov secured his first career tournament win at the EPT Barcelona, winning the €10,200 Mystery Bounty event. His run won him a total of €185,400. This has brought his lifetime haul to over $3.7 million,...