Ottomar Ladva, a chess grandmaster from Estonia, has made headlines by securing nearly two million euros over recent poker tournaments, marking a significant achievement in his career shift from chess to poker. In early February, he triumphed at the Onyx High Roller Series in North Cyprus, earning a prize of 1.15 million US dollars, which is approximately 980,000 euros. This win not only showcases his skill in poker but also confirms his potential to compete at high stakes in this field.

Following his success in Cyprus, Ladva continued to demonstrate his prowess by winning another major tournament in Paris. The 100,000 US dollar buy-in Super High Roller event brought him another 1.14 million US dollars, roughly equating to 970,000 euros. These back-to-back victories have significantly enhanced his career earnings in poker, which now total approximately 6.9 million US dollars, or about 5.86 million euros. This is a remarkable feat for someone who has made a relatively recent transition to the poker scene.

Notably, Ladva is also a four-time national chess champion and holds the title of grandmaster. Despite his accomplishments in chess, he has shifted his focus primarily to poker in recent years. His success in high-stakes tournaments highlights not just his talent in poker but indicates a growing interest and investment in this sport within Estonia. It will be fascinating to see how his career evolves as he balances his chess background with his emerging poker identity.