Introducing the Kazakhstani national Match Poker team, for their participation in the upcoming 2021 Nations Cup qualifiers:
Gulbanu Sapabekova (female)
My name is Banu (full name is Gulbanu Sapabekova). I am 47 years old and I am an economist by profession. I’ve been playing poker since 2011. I am the first woman to win a tournament in Portugal – Vilamoura. I also have wins at various tournaments and a lot of final tables on my account. At the moment I do not play as often as before, but I hope to improve my game in the future and achieve good results. It is a great honour for me to participate in such a prestigious tournament. Our team will try to show their best side. Thanks for the invitation and good luck to us!
Zhenis Abenov
Full Name: Abenov Zhenis Makhsutovich
Age & Profession: 36 years old, crypto investor
Zhenis started playing poker in 2007 and was one of the first Kazakhstan poker players.
He won many official tournaments in Kazakhstan including latest Central Asia Championship, King Of Poker Championship and Tournament of the Champions. With more than 20 trophies in live tournaments, the thing he likes most in the Game is the competitive spirit and fast changing pace of the game in tournaments. After poker became illegal in Kazakhstan, Zhenis started his online poker career which he continues to this time. In spare time, he likes to do research and invest in prospective new crypto projects. Married, happy father of 3 children.
Daniar Aubakirov
I was born on 06.05.90 and started playing poker at the age of 19. Started participating in local tournaments, won prize places.
I also participated in big world tournaments (WSOP, EPT, etc). Won WPT Amsterdam in 2017. What I love about poker is that everything depends on you. Married, have 1 daughter.
Ermek Alymbekov
My name Ermek, I am 54 years old and I am a philologist by profession.
I started playing poker in 2007 and I have wins at location tournaments and a lot of final tables on my account.
Skhirtladze Lasha
I was born on 26/03/1976 and I have been playing poker for over 20 years. I have played in local tournaments, won first and prize places. For me, poker is a game of intellect, skills, where the presence of luck is of no small importance. I work as a Chief of Restaurant. Experience 25 years.
Roman Lopatenko
38 years old, journalist and secretary of Kazakhstan Sport Poker Federation. In 2007 started playing poker and organising tournaments. Captain of national team in international competitions. Doing a lot of work for the promotion of poker as sport in Kazakhstan. Playing poker online, also like chess and backgammon.
Introducing the Mongolian national Match Poker team, representing The Mongolian Free Poker Federation:
Mongolian national team members
Name: Buyanjargal Bold
Age: 38
Profession: Germanistik
Bio: He started playing poker in 2005. From 2006 to 2010, he worked as a dealer in a casino. He re-started playing poker in 2013 and won the 2014 Asia-Pacific Red Dragon main event in Macao, beating 995 players. ‘For me, poker is an intellectual sport that requires psychological combat, endurance and self-control. Having competed in many competitions and experienced joys and sorrows, I will love this sport and play it to the death.’
Full Name: Tsognaadorj Tegshjargal
Age: 33
Profession: Human Resources Manager
Bio: When I first started playing poker, my goal was to become a good athlete who made a name for Mongolia and the world.
Hobby: Playing chess, checkers, billiards, basketball.
Full Name: Gantugs Namsrai
Age: 23
Profession: Mechanical Engineer
Bio: In 2018, I became interested in poker. I first learned to play at a cash table on a Mongolian site. In addition, poker, which is associated with chess, was considered an intellectual sport and was practiced in the future. In his spare time, he enjoys playing poker.
Full Name: Battulga Janag
Age: 32
Profession: Accountant
Bio: I’ve been playing poker since 2012. Also i’ve had running poker course since 2017. My most interesting subjects are astronomy and philosophy. It’s like I could discuss those subjects 24/7 with anyone.
Full Name: Ankhzaya Chindegsuren
Age: 35
Profession: Journalist
Bio: I have been interested in playing poker for more than ten years. I’m a mother of two and like to play all kinds of online games. I’m also interested in growing and caring for plants.
Full Name: Anujin Khadkhuu
Age: 21
Profession: Student of the National University of Mongolia
Bio: I have been watching professional players since I was 17 then I started playing poker myself at the age of 19. I am very dedicated to this sport and looking forward to make my team the best of all.
Full Name: Erdene-Bayar Boldbaatar
Age: 44
Profession: DRIVER
Bio: I’ve been interested in poker for over 5 years, and I started playing poker because I was interested in playing cards. In my free time, I usually play online poker.
Hobby: Shooting sports and volleyball
Full Name: Chinbaatar Maamuu
Age: 34
Profession: Tourism Management
Bio: Been playing poker since 2006, what I love about it is that it is a mind sport and can be played by anyone irrespective of age and gender.
Full Name: Bat-Erdene Erdene-Bayar
Age: 31
Profession: TV Director
Bio: Began playing poker in 2010, I have been participating in sports competitions for 5 years. I like to play with human psychology and read cards. I’m playing to improve my skills now.
Full name: Enkhmaa Myangat
Age: 28
Profession: Journalist
Bio: Poker has been one part of my life for a few years. But I have huge goals and dreams. So the championship would be a big chance to improve myself and my poker career.
Team Lithuania have had a bit of a roller coaster ride in IFMP events so far!
2019 European Nations Cup in Kyiv saw them miss out on the top 6 (which would have secured their Nations Cup spot) but they managed to do it the hard way by winning their place after a tough battle with the bottom 7 teams to win the Nations Plate and a spot in the finals.
2020 Nations Cup Finals, which had to be held virtually, was contested by 12 qualified nations from Asia and Europe. Lithuania battled hard and made sure they weren’t completely out of it at any point of the event. Finally they had an incredible session and managed to finish in 3rd place overall, winning bronze medals and certificates for their efforts!
They have stuck to the same team, with one addition in Paulius Vaitiekunas.
Paulius Vaitiekūnas – Professional poker player, 27 years old. Started playing at the age of 14 with friends and fell in love with the psychological aspect of the game, grinds High Stakes spin & go tournaments while studying in the UK. Sunday Million winner, WSOPC winner, 100s Spin & Go Jackpot Winner. Currently playing mid/high stakes MTTs and oversees Spin stable.
Skirmantas Tomkevičius – the president of National federation of Poker of Lithuania. I will be playing just in case its needed.
Erikas Zukas – He is the youngest member of our national team, eager to learn and understand other players – once Erikas has won tournament without even looking at his own cards!
Arūnas Valentavičius – he was born on 1975/09/25. Retired solder of Lithuanian army. Plays only in federation tournaments.
Dainius Ulkė – he was born in Biržai, but since early days lives in Vilnius, works in IT sector since 1994. One of the most stable players in federation.
Mantas Urbonas – poker professional from Panevėžys, now resides in Vilnius. Mantas also a football’s team Top Kicker’s owner and manager. He started to play poker 10 years ago, and his best achievement is 4th place of Battle of Malta winning 120000 EUR. Ranks 31st in Lithuania by live earnings. Mantas was born on 1987/06/22.
Laimutis Kalvelis – He was born on 1970/06/26. He is pretty successful in federation tournaments, has won two of them since 2012. Works as a CEO in company taking care of houses in the city. Was born and lives in Vilnius.
Diana Dvelienė – she was born on 1976/11/09 in Kaunas. She lives there and together with her husband, who is also a poker player in the federation, they run their own plants growing business. Does not play often in any live tournaments, but if she does, finishes ITM.
Edvinas Šulskis – non playing team member, he will be an analyst for the Lithuanian team.
A relatively inexperienced Match Poker nation, Chinese Taipei have quickly risen to the top of the rankings and established themselves as a serious contender! Making their Match Poker debut in Dublin in 2019, followed by a nail biting 2nd place finish on home turf at the Asian Championships, and most recently coming 5th in the 2020 Nations Cup Finals, this team is one to look out for!
Team Captain – David, Hsing Hsiung Tai
Profession – CTP Poker Club CEO and Assistant Professor for Vanug University
Bio – Never though that by not playing poker still make poker as my full time job, as I run poker business in Taiwan. The first time I know the game was at Macau, immediately I feel the game will be very popular in the future and decided to promote it in Taiwan, since then CTP Poker Club was born. I play poker for leisure but still put a lot of effort learning the strategy of the game, poker had brought me a lot of joy.
Team Vice Captain – Ross, Wen Po Chun
Profession – Executive Tournament Director for CTP Poker Club
Bio – Knowing poker since 2015 and been in poker industry since then, I love playing poker as the excitement and poker strategy give me lots of fun. I’d been lucky to involve in the business together with David, and the work as Tournament Director give me another level of excitement, seeing players satisfaction is my daily enjoyment.
Team Coach – Nevan, Chang Yu Chung
Profession – Professional Poker Pro
Bio – My first contact to Texas Hold’em was in 2016, never stopped playing poker since then. Starting from 2017, I’ve been playing poker professionally online for cash and tournament and study and learn strategy everyday for 8 hours, I am now a professional Poker Player and a Poker Coach.
Team Consultant – CJ, CHI JEN CHEN
Profession – CEO, Software Company
Bio – Poker is all about balance. The quest for balance in the game is an endless struggle. If you are not feeling the pain. You are not fighting hard enough. The journey is tough. Yet, fulfilling.

CJ Chen
Team Member – Fan Chih Wei
Profession – Professional Poker Player
Bio – I’ve been playing poker since 2017, in 2019 I began playing poker professionally, I like playing poker because it brings me excitement of matches and it is a mental sport, I really enjoy the game.
Team Member – Licen, Chao Ting Cheng
Profession – Professional Poker player
Bio – 2009 was my first time playing poker at GGC platform, then I turn to play at Pokerstars and play poker until today. Given that the growth of live tournament scene in Taiwan, I decided to resign my job after 4 years of working and turn myself as a professional poker player. Poker is very attractive and I like it a lot, I will keep learning the game and put all my effort in poker.
Team Member – Huang Chang Hau
Profession – Financial
Bio – I first came into contact with poker in the United States in 2000, since then I have fallen in love with this game. Poker’s competition and intelligence are what attracts me. The combination of travel and poker allows me to travel around the world with many friends to join in tournaments.
Team Member – Liu Shu Ting
Profession – Freelance
Bio – A friend brought me into the game, and it sparked my interest. It wasn’t until I came across CTP in the past year that I met many more friends who are into poker, and taught me all I know about tournament poker. My love of poker comes from the many connections I’ve made over the game. I hope to meet many more friends who are into poker, and improve together.
Team Member – Lin Hua Wei
Profession – Poker player
Bio – I’ve been playing poker since 2016 and am really passionate about poker until today. I am also live streamer in N8 and commentator for live tournaments in Taiwan. My partner and I also had FB and Youtube channel “WiNPokerCouple”, mainly focus in promote poker strategy and poker surrounding business.
Team Coach – Pete, Yan Han Chen
Profession – Poker Player
Bio – Hello I am Pete. I’ve played poker for many years and I am Natural8’s Team Hot now. I am very willing to share my poker tips and experiences.Welcome to subscribe my YouTube channel “Pete’s Poker World” and “Pete’s Poker Class”
Team Consultant: Raymond, Kun Kiet Wong
Profession: CEO of GPI Asia and professional in managing Poker Events
Bio: My first contact with poker was back in 2006 in New Zealand, it was introduced by my friend who works in a casino, and since then I’d been in love with the game because of the strategy, observation, challenge and patience when you play in a poker tournament. As I love the game so much, I’ve decided to put myself in the poker industry to help grow and promote Poker in Asia and it started in 2012. Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with the best companies like WPT, and now partnering with GPI to promote GPI Asia in Taiwan.
The Hungarians have been an active participant in IFMP events since 2011! Participating in The Table, the 2012 European qualifiers in Vienna, the 2013 European Nations Cup in Cyprus, and most recently the 2019 European Championships in Ukraine.
The national team is raring to go and is ready for the 2021 Nations Cup qualifiers! The team is as follows:
Gabor Gortvay – Co-Founder of the first Hungarian sport poker club ‘Maverick’. He has played poker since the end of the 80’s. Draw and Hold’em cash game expert. Favourite card combination the famous Jackson Five.
Péter Gál – The first time he was introduced to Texas Holdem poker was in 2005. At the beginning he worked as poker dealer, then became a floorman and a professional leader. He had his own poker club, and has helped other clubs to improve. From 2010 to 2018 he was the floorman in the first poker club of Hungary. A recreational poker player who just treats poker as a hobby. In 2012 he played Match Poker for the first time in Vienna as a member of the Hungarian team, and then in Cyprus in 2013 when he was a member of the Hungarian team and again in Ukraine in 2019.
Laszló Bréda – The doyen of the Hungarian team. Fixed member of the Hungarian poker scene since 2006. Royale Master winner. Online and live poker player. He was with the team in Vienna and from the start has been an integral member of the Hungarian Match Poker team. Born tournament player. One of the best amateur score table. Strong skills and intuition.
Judit Zsoldos – An original member of the Hungarian Match Poker team. Played in The Table and in Cyprus. Hungarian Ladies Open winner. Cash game and Omaha 4 cards player.
Gergely Tatár – The president of the Hungarian Poker Association since 2007. Founded poker clubs in Hungary and Slovakia. Played poker in USA, England, Cyprus, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Austria, Poland, France, Slovakia, Rumania.
Andras Sütő – Olympic candidate ex gymnast and active football referee. He keeps in touch with the sport. Poker and Darts are his hobby but Andras is a maximalist and playing this sports on high level too. One of the best and first Match Poker players of Hungary. He was the member of the first Match Poker European Championship in Vienna and Cyprus.