Ivo Donev a.k.a. TheChessmaster

Background and Poker Experience

Hello, poker enthusiasts!

My name is Ivo Donev. I graduated in 1987 from National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” in Sofia, Bulgaria as a chess coach. Chess and poker have numerous features in common. In both games, you need to be disciplined in the first place to succeed. Also, logical thinking and an analytical mind are crucial in both.

With more than 30 years of experience with the game of chess, I managed to use my skills and apply them successfully in poker. I am a former professional chess player with the prestigious rank of International Master.

When it comes to poker, I usually play on the mid-to-high stakes limits and have mostly live tournaments for 20+ years now. With more than $2 000 000 total winnings from live tournaments, I am ranked third in Austria All Time Money List, as well as a holder of a bracelet from WSOP 2000 $1 500 + 70 Limit Omaha Event.

I’ve played in some of the most prestigious live tournaments worldwide and ranked 4th at the most famous WSOP event for 2017 – The Poker Players’ Championship with a buy-in of $50 000. During the tournament, I managed to bust the notorious poker player and media star Daniel Negreanu. I’ve faced many other world-class opponents throughout my poker career and played against players such as Phil Ivey, Phil Helmuth and many more.

My expertise covers everything related to poker, but mostly hands analysis, extensive coverage of the No Limit Hold Em and Pot-Limit Omaha format of the game, and live tournament analysis.

Mix Game Specialist

Besides the most popular game formats, I’m also experienced in more variants such as:

• Limit Holdem
• Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
• Limit 7 Card Stud
• Limit 7 Stud Hi/Lo
• Razz
• Deuce-to-Seven Poker.

I can help you with any of these if you need advice and coaching on how to succeed against your opponents. I have experience in some of the most prestigious live MIX GAME tournaments worldwide in destinations like Las Vegas, London, Rozvadov (King’s Casino in Czech Republic) and many more.

Poker Coaching Experience and Methods

I’m a universal poker coach who can work successfully with players from all levels (beginners, poker pros including high-rollers). I’m experienced in Multi-table tournaments, cash games and heads-up for different poker variants.

In addition to teaching the different poker concepts, I am also a great mental coach and I can teach you how to handle the psychological part of the game, which is extremely important in live games.

I was also a trainer at Poker Strategy where I helped numerous students improve their poker game and boost their bankrolls.

One of them is Nikolai Senninger who won $454,002 for a 3rd place finish in EPT London Main Event. Another student of mine became 2nd from an enormous field of  8202 participants in the most famous online poker tournament “Sunday Million” to win $180,444. Dimitar Petkin is another successful student who won a SCOOP Title from the 2020 Spring Championship of Online Poker on Poker Stars. For his impressive win, he won $57,195 after a 4-way deal in the $ 109 NLHE 8-Max Mini Super Tuesday Event 79-L.

If you want to become the next student of mine with such big winnings no matter on the live or online poker scene, I can help you reach that level!

Exclusive GTO Training with Powerful Software

During the last few years, I’m working exclusively with the most powerful and effective GTO programs. Therefore, I can definitely help you with different simulations and detailed explanations when it comes to GTO Poker.

I own an enormous collection of poker sims (self-made GTO calculations) along with poker books and educational videos useful for players from all levels.

Book Author

In 2020, I published the book “The most important ideas in Texas Holdem” in German. In it, I review important concepts including:

• How to play preflop optimally
• The 50 ultimate starting hands you should play
• Optimal poker tournament strategy
• How to play AK correctly
• Probability calculations
• Small stack strategy
• How to play 6-Max tournaments optimally
• Exclusive: How I won $420 000 from the 2017 WSOP Players Championship (busting Daniel Negreanu from the final table).

You Can Request Coaching in the Following Languages:

• English;
• German;
• Russian;
• Serbian;
• Bulgarian.

Hot Offers:

• Custom price for beginners – contact me and I will give you a special lower price along with many additional poker materials for free!