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Max Neugebauer is an Austrian professional poker player and the 2023 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event Champion. Standing at 6’8″, the former professional basketball player made one of the most successful athletic-to-poker transitions in history, capturing one of the game’s most prestigious titles in only his second year as a professional. Currently ranking 5th on Austria’s all-time money list, he is recognized for his elite technical composure and his rapid ascent into the high-stakes European circuit.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings surpassing $3,015,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Neugebauer is one of the most successful Austrian players of the modern era. His career reached a historic peak in November 2023 when he won the WSOPE Main Event in Rozvadov for a career-high $1,604,228 and his first gold bracelet.
Neugebauer has maintained a high-level presence through 2025 and into early 2026. His recent highlights include:
- December 2025: 12th place in the WSOP Paradise Championship for $145,000.
- October 2025: 4th place in the EPT Cyprus $10,200 Mystery Bounty for $82,300.
- June 2025: 31st place in the WSOP $10,000 Secret Bounty for $21,032.
- May 2024: 1st place in the WPT Prime Cyprus $5,000 High Roller for $96,400.
His sustained dominance in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and EPT circuits contributes to an estimated poker net worth of over $4 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in Vienna, Austria, Neugebauer was a professional basketball player in the Austrian Bundesliga before a series of knee injuries forced him into early retirement. He pivoted to poker, applying the same elite discipline and competitive drive to the felt. His breakthrough came in spectacular fashion; after only a few months of mid-stakes grinding, he qualified for the 2023 WSOPE Main Event and defeated a field of 817 entries, including a dramatic final table where he outplayed seasoned veterans with clinical precision.
Neugebauer is often cited as part of the “New Wave” of Austrian poker, characterized by heavy use of analytical solvers and a stoic, athletic-minded approach to variance. Known for his height and calm demeanor, he has become a fixture of the European Poker Tour (EPT) high-roller scene. Now a resident of Vienna, he continues to climb the Global Poker Index (GPI) rankings, representing the technical evolution of the Austrian poker community alongside stars like Matthias Eibinger.
Play Style & Strategy
Neugebauer is renowned for a “highly clinical, solver-based, and aggressive” play style. Drawing from his professional sports background, his strategy focuses on mental endurance and “staying in the moment,” a trait that allowed him to make an incredible hero call with third pair to secure his WSOPE title. He is a master of Game Theory Optimal (GTO) applications, particularly in deep-stacked “Main Event” structures.
His strategy revolves around:
- Athletic Discipline: Utilizing physical fitness and routine to maintain peak cognitive performance over 12-hour tournament days.
- Modern Technicality: A deep understanding of range construction and polarized bet-sizing, a hallmark of the high-stakes Austrian school.
- High-Pressure Composure: A proven ability to make “non-standard” winning plays under the bright lights of televised final tables.
Social Media & Online Presence
Follow the Austrian “Giant” as he continues to add to his legacy and hunt for his second WSOP gold bracelet:
