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| YVGENY KAFELNIKOV |
| Arguably the greatest Russian tennis player ever, Yevgeny enjoyed a stella tennis career winning over 40 tournaments and becoming the first Russian to win a Grand Slam singles title and achieve the rarified status of World No. 1. |
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Born: 18/02/1974
Height/Weight: 6’3” / 185 lbs (84kg)
Current status: Professional poker player |
| One of the most naturally gifted players of his generation, his all-court game brought him a level of success in both singles and doubles that few have matched, let alone bettered. French Open Champion in 1996 and Australian Champion in 1999, his proudest achievements came whilst representing his country, winning a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics and the Davis Cup in 2002. |
| Unsurprisingly, Yevgeny is revered in his home country, not just for his tennis but for his modesty and generosity off the court. After winning his fifth straight title in Moscow in 2001, Kafelnikov donated his $137,000 winner’s cheque to the victims of a plane crash near his hometown of Sochi. |
In 2004, after a decade at the very top of the game, Yevgeny swapped the green grass of Wimbledon for the green baize of professional poker. He has been at the forefront of the phenomenal growth in the coverage of poker on television and the internet, displaying his characteristic steel and nerve to win the Korona Russian Poker Championships in October 2004. A new chapter of success appears to be just beginning…
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