Yevgeny Kafelnikov

One of the rising Russian poker stars is actually a familiar face in the sports world, but with a tennis racket in his hand.

Former world #1 tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov has sworn off serving aces in favor of begging to be dealt aces in his quest to become a professional poker player.

In an interview with London’s The Independent Kafelnikov is quoted as saying: “You need guts in poker, as in tennis. And if you don’t believe in your ability, you don’t win. In tennis I believed in myself, that’s why I had so much success.”

Part of the allure of poker is that he finds it exciting “Because you win not with the cards but with your skills. With body language you can win a game, but also you can lose a game.”

While the US has more than a few famous celebrities who regularly play at poker tournaments (including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Tilly, James Woods, Jerry Buss, and Tobey Maguire), most readily admit that while fans of the game, they have no allusions of becoming a poker professional.

Kafelnikov, however, seems to be serious about his dedication to the game, as he’s reportedly put many hours in at high-stakes cash games in Moscow. He’s won nearly $50,000 playing in tournaments in the US and in Russia, including money finishes in 3 different events at the 2005 World Series of Poker, as well as multiple money finishes in the Korona Russian Poker Championships in 2004.

Only the future will tell if Kafelnikov can duplicate his success on the tennis courts at the poker tables, but he seems to be bringing the same focus and dedication that made him the world’s best tennis player, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all to find him serving up aces to the world of poker as well.