Zoe has covered major poker series across Asia, including APT and the Players Series. With solid experience as a live reporter, she now joins SoMuchPoker to deliver in-depth coverage and share her insights from the tables.

Updated: 2026.03.08

Alex Keating is a highly successful American professional poker player who has become a staple of the high stakes tournament scene. Originally from Saratoga, California, and now living in Austin, Texas, he is famous for his distinct look, his giant beard, and a personality that brings a lot of life to every table he joins. With a career that spans nearly twenty years, Keating has proven he can beat the best in the world, finally securing his first major world title in 2023. He is known as a player who truly enjoys the game, often seen laughing and chatting with his opponents even when millions of dollars are on the line.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Alex Keating has won over $5.2 million in live tournament earnings. His career best score happened in 2023 when he won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet. He took down the $5,000 8-Handed No Limit Hold’em event in Las Vegas, outlasting a tough field of 813 players to win $701,688.

Keating is a consistent deep runner in some of the world’s most famous events. In 2016, he finished 3rd in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic Main Event for $423,890 and took 35th in the WSOP Main Event that same year. He is also a winner on the European tour, taking 1st place in an EPT Barcelona side event in 2023 for over $390,000. Most recently, in late 2025, he finished as the runner up in the WSOP Paradise Super Colossus in the Bahamas for $333,000. In early 2026, he has already posted deep runs at EPT Paris, including a 44th place finish in the Main Event for nearly $20,000.

Alex Keating poker — Alex Keating (photo credit: PokerNews photographer Eloy Cabacas)

Biography & Poker Background

Born in 1987, Alex Keating grew up in California and discovered his love for poker during the mid 2000s boom. Before he was a live superstar, he was a massive winner in the online poker world under the screen names “mistakooll” and “kadabra”. He built his initial bankroll by winning major online titles, including a SCOOP championship on PokerStars and an FTOPS title on Full Tilt Poker. Keating is often mistaken for the high stakes cash game player Alan Keating, but the two are not related. While Alan is known for massive televised cash games, Alex has built his legacy through years of grinding the international tournament circuit and proving he can win at the highest level of competitive play.

Play Style & Strategy

Keating is known for a fearless and analytical style that often keeps his opponents guessing. He is a master of “reading the room” and isn’t afraid to take unconventional lines if he thinks his opponent is off balance. His strategy is built on a high level of aggression, but it is always backed by the technical skills he developed during his years of playing online. He is also famous for his deliberate and slow approach to big decisions, often using all the time he has to make sure he is making the right move. This patient style has allowed him to survive the long, grueling days of major championships like the WSOP Main Event, where he has multiple deep runs.

Want to follow Alex Keating as he continues his 2026 run in the EPT, WSOP, and major US events? You can track his latest stats and tournament cashes here: