Maxim Lykov

Maxim Lykov

Like many of the new generation of poker players, Maxim Lykov took up the game while studying at university, in his case at an engineering establishment in Moscow. It was 2005, and he first saw poker as a bit fun, but soon decided if he took it seriously he could make a lot of money. He’s only ever made two $40 deposits, and from that starting point he’s gone on to amass a very healthy bankroll, and become one of Russia’s biggest earners in live tournaments.

Things really took off for Maxim in 2009 when the big results starting coming. First up was a tournament win at the Red Sea Poker Cup, good for $69,797, and then a final table at the WSOP* in Vegas, narrowly missing a bracelet when he finished 3rd in a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout event for $145,062. Then came the high profile win that sent Maxim on the road to poker stardom. As the European Poker Tour visited Kiev in Ukraine for the first time, Maxim was there with 295 other runners with his eyes on the prize. He played brilliant poker to reach the final table and once there secured the victory and $468,504 in prize money, putting him straight into the big leagues. Since then he’s made further cashes on the EPT, including a 4th place finish at San Remo in 2011. He also won a side event at the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), good for another $100,000, and scored a 3rd place finish in the $25,000 High Roller tournament at the 2011 PCA for $369,490. The World Series of Poker* brought Max his next big score, when he took down a $1,000 No Limit Hold’em event for his first bracelet and a huge $648,880 in cash. There have also been huge results online, including a win in the Sunday Warm-Up in 2013, worth $110,780.

Now that he’s joined the best team in the business, Maxim is keen to keep proving himself on the biggest stage. He’s targeting more EPT glory and World Series of Poker* bracelets. A look at his career highlights table shows that he’s a player that can close out tournaments, and more titles are on the way. Maxim Lykov is a member of Team PokerStars Pro and you can find him online using the screen name ‘Maxim Lykov’.