Kirill Gerasimov – Russia’s Top Poker Player
At a young age of 35, Kirill Gerasimov has reached a level of popularity that many aspiring poker players have dreamed of. This young ptbola player was born in Moscow and used to be an insurance salesman. Whether or not that day job had any bearings on his poker skills, it is clear that Gerasimov is one of the more well known members of the poker world.
Gerasimov’s success as a poker player is nothing short of phenomenal. In his own country, poker is not the popular game it is in the US. However, he became interested in poker and is now probably the only “real” professional poker player in all of Russia. Perhaps the most instrumental thing to have influenced his interest and success in poker was when he read Super/System by Doyle Brunson. I am sure that this poker Hall of Famer would be glad to know how he influenced another to become one of the most famous young poker players of today.
After reading this classic poker book, the young poker enthusiast’s skill just shone. Whether it was because of the book or he was simply talented, Gerasimov showed that he had what it takes to be a successful poker player. He claims that his greatest strength as a poker player lies in his ability to read people. Indeed, this is one of the best talents that any poker player can possess. As one poker great once said, poker is a game of people played using cards. If you have the ability to read people and how they will behave, then you have a definite advantage over the other players sitting around the table.
However, Gerasimov continues to say that though he has this edge, it means nothing when he plays online. True enough, the dynamics of the game changes totally when you play online. Though there are still ways in which you can read players, the interaction is just so different that one simply cannot apply the same principles online as those one uses when playing face to face poker. Gerasimov acknowledges this and in fact praises online poker as it has helped improve his other skills. For those who prefer to play only one form of the game and not the other, you might want to ponder on Gerasimov’s statement that online poker has helped him develop his game to produce a more robust all around game.
Gerasimov started playing in poker tournaments all over Europe in 2001. It wasn’t till 2003 when he made his first final table at the World Series of Poker. In the following years, 2004 and 2005, he made final tables and won money as well. However, he has yet to win a WSOP bracelet. He has also made final tables and money finished in the World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour though he does not have titles in either. Being at the young age he is at present, it would not be far from reality for him to earn a bracelet or a title in the near future.