As well as amassing live poker tournament earnings of more than $12 million, Kurganov has proved himself to be talented online as well as live, playing for many years as 'lechuckpoker'.
From today, like other members of Team PokerStars Pro, he will exchange his infamous online name for that of his real life persona and will play as 'IgorKurganov'.
Kurganov has been a regular fixture of the European high stakes poker circuit, a constant threat playing high roller tournaments that cost as much $100,000 to enter.
During Season 8 of the European Poker Tour in 2012, Kurganov beat now fellow Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu to the title of the €25,000 High Roller for a €1,080,000 ($1,425,874) payday.
Negreanu had tweeted that "The kid was tough." It was his third six-figure score. Since then, he's scored a further 18.
Raising the stakes Kurganov, who is an ambassador for the charity Raising for Effective Giving (REG), through which he donates a portion of his winnings to charity, said, "I'm as active in the game as I've ever been, so I'm excited to work with PokerStars on their future plans. They have undoubtedly been, and will continue to be, the driving force in the poker market and the company that I believe provides the best poker experience for a wide range of players.
Additionally, PokerStars are going to be supporting some of our plans with REG this year, which makes me really happy." Eric Hollreiser, Vice President of Corporate Communications for PokerStars, said, "With all the talk of artificial intelligence and poker, we're proud to bring someone with such profound human intelligence as the newest member of PokerStars Team Pro.
Igor's mathematical poker mind and passion for giving back to society represent some of the best traits in poker. We're eager to have Igor contribute his talents to our brand and to our business. As an outspoken advocate for online and live poker players, he'll contribute to our products, our policies and our promotion of live and online poker in Russia, Germany and serve as a global ambassador for poker as a member of Team Pro."
Those that follow poker social media closely will know that the pro player is also Liv Boeree's partner, a poker power couple who have combined live poker winnings in excess of $15 million and are as likely to be caught paddling down rivers as raising them.
Source: GMB / PokerStars
