Dominik Nitsche

Childhood

Nitsche grew up in a family fond of card games, which introduced him early to the rules of various card games. Initially aspiring to become a professional footballer, he later realized his strengths lay elsewhere, particularly in mathematics. At the age of 16, he downloaded his first poker software and began playing online under his mother’s name, marking the start of his poker journey.

Career

Dominik’s poker career began online in 2006, where he quickly amassed winnings exceeding $3 million. His first live tournament appearance was in 2009 at the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where he won the event and earned $381,000. This victory marked his breakthrough in live poker.

In 2012, Nitsche significantly impacted the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas by winning his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event. He outlasted a field of 4,620 players and earned $654,797. That same year, he also won a World Poker Tour (WPT) title in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nitsche continued to build on his success, winning two more WSOP bracelets in 2014: the $10,000 WSOP National Championship and another $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event. At 23, he became the youngest player to win three WSOP bracelets, a record previously held by Phil Ivey. He also made the final table of the WSOP Europe Main Event in 2013, finishing third.

His most lucrative victory came in 2017 at the WSOP Europe, where he won his fourth bracelet in the €111,111 High Roller for One Drop event, taking home €3,487,463 (approximately $4,064,000), the largest prize of his career. As of 2018, Nitsche’s live tournament earnings exceed $14.6 million, and his online tournament cashes amount to over $7 million, playing under the screen names "Bounatirou" on PokerStars and "JustLuck1337" on Full Tilt Poker.

Personal life

Dominik relocated from Germany to Edinburgh, Scotland, primarily due to the high tax rates in Germany, which he was unwilling to accept, as it would have taken a significant portion of his earnings. He is known for dedicating about 70% of his time to studying the game, emphasizing continual learning and improvement. Nitsche enjoys the competitive nature of poker, the thrill of winning bracelets and trophies, and the opportunity to travel and meet new people through the game.

Revenue

Throughout his career, Dominik Nitsche has accumulated over $19.1 million in lifetime earnings, combining his live and online winnings. His live tournament winnings alone exceed $14.6 million, with his largest single cash being over $4 million from the 2017 WSOP Europe High Roller event.

Interesting facts

Nitsche is the youngest player to win four WSOP bracelets, achieving this feat before the age of 27.

He began playing online poker at 16 years old using his mother’s name.

He postponed university to focus on his poker career after early successes in live tournaments.

In 2015, he joined the 888poker team, further cementing his status in the professional poker community.

Legacy

Dominik Nitsche’s rapid rise and consistent success have made him a prominent poker player. His record as the youngest player to win multiple WSOP bracelets sets a benchmark for aspiring poker professionals. His approach to the game, combining rigorous study with competitive play, exemplifies the modern professional poker player’s mindset. Nitsche’s career inspires younger generations to pursue poker seriously and professionally.