Ontario born Alexander Puchalski is a poker professional who has been playing for almost a decade. The 29-year-old Canadian though has focused mainly on cash and online games. In 2022, Puchalski transferred residence to Thailand where most cash players are based. This decision led him to try his luck at live tournaments hosted in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

Alexander Puchalski warmed up first at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour Manila events with very moderate success. A few months later though, Alexander Puchalski was put in the limelight for a series of firsts. Puchalski became the very first winner in Asia Pacific Poker Tour history to win the PokerStars golden shard trophy at the maiden 2022 APPT Cambodia Main Event. It was also Puchalski’s first live tournament title and his prize money of $ 96,028 was a first significant cash.

Alexander Puchalski crowned first ever APPT Cambodia Main Event champion

In the few live tournaments he played, his previous best cash was back in the 2020 World Poker Tour Fallsview, Niagara Falls amounting to $ 17,959. The win in Phnom Penh gave Puchalski momentum for a deep run at the Asian Poker Tour Da Nang VSOP 2022. In 2023, Puchalski would return to his roots in Canada to claim second prize at the Main Event of the World Poker Tour Global October Millions, Kahnawake and bank a career best live cash of $ 143,797. This pushed his total live earnings past the $300,000 mark.

Alexander Puchalski is back in Asia, having just competed at the U Series of Poker Da Nang as of this writing. Although his live tournament portfolio is thin, having competed in less than 20 tournaments in nine years, it remains to be seen if the Canadian will shift gears, buoyed by the achievements in the past few years at the live felt action.

*Profile by Mike Alcazaren

Event	Buy-In	Prize	Place	Entries
U Series of Poker USOP Danang: Part I Vietnam 2024 Main Event 2024.03.28 - 2024.03.31			58
PokerStars LIVE APPT Cambodia 2023 Main Event 2023.11.21 - 2023.11.24