Things you might not know:
- Katchalov moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York at the age of ten. His family was trying to escape the remnants of communist Soviet Union and their heavy handed influence in the Ukraine.
- Katchalov focused on his education graduating with international business and finance degrees from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
- Katchalov didn't start playing poker until his early 20's.
- After graduation, Katchalov first tried day trading, but determined that poker could be more profitable than his business opportunity and decided to turn pro in 2003.
- Katchalov's first live tournament cash was a fifth place finish at the 2004 Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas, and the subsequent World Poker Tour event.
- Katcholov made his biggest impression in 2007, beating the likes of Raymond Davis and Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliot on his way to the WPT title. At the time, it was the fastest final table in WPT history, only 51 hands.
- Katcholov, after his big 2007 wins, established his own small hedge fund.
- Katchalov has had a successful online career as well winning over $831k, playing as MyRabbiFoo.
- Katchalov won the 2009 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker heads-up event for $140k.
- Katchalov took second and $131k in the PCA NLHE 6 Max High Roller. The event lasted a marathon 21 hours to complete.
- Katchalov was one of the first five challengers against Viktor Blom in the SuperStar Showdown, losing around $50k in the 2,500 challenge.
- Katchalov took 14th in the 2011 NBC National Heads-Up Championship, defeating Faraz Jaka and Patrik Antonius before losing to David Oppenheim in round three for a mi-cash of $30,000.
Eugene Katchalov was recently named as the newest member of Team PokerStars Pro and will know play as E. Katchalov.
Katchalov commented "It is the largest and, in my opinion, the best-run poker site in the world, with a great team of pros. I look forward to continuing my great run in poker and helping PokerStars successfully expand and evolve within the ever-changing world of poker.”
Katchalov video interview after his PCA win, some coverage of his EPT third place, and a chip and a chair story from the WSOP:
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