In early 2025, KKPoker was delighted to offer another opportunity to our online poker community looking to expand on their live poker chances for less expenditure!
The brand-new OLA Poker Tour launched in Europe in June 2025 at the popular King’s Resort, and the excitement spread to Asia in December 2025, with OLA TAIPEI taking place from December 17–22 at the Asia Poker Arena.
As an official partner of the event, KKPoker gave our players the chance to qualify for the OLA Poker Tour Main Event with poker packages worth $720 and $1,020 — for as little as $3!
One of the players who turned that dream into reality was Abat Nagimetov from Kazakhstan, a long-time online grinder who arrived in Taipei with over a decade of experience and a story shaped by persistence, heartbreak, and finally, perfect timing.
KKPoker reached out to Abat to learn more about his path to qualifying, his experience facing new live poker regulars, and what it truly feels like to step from the online streets onto a major live poker stage.
From Near Misses to a Perfect Breakthrough
For Abat, qualifying for OLA TAIPEI was not a lucky one-off — it was the culmination of years of trying, failing, and coming heartbreakingly close.
“I’ve been playing on KKPoker for many years, ever since the platform launched. I try to regularly participate in KKLIVE qualifiers. In previous years, I had several heartbreaking ‘bubble‘ moments in satellites, where I came very close to winning a package but fell short.
“In 2024, $3,000 packages for KKLIVE Japan were available. But I lost heads-up, and just missed out on the prize. However, my most painful elimination happened in 2023, competing for a $12,500 VEGAS DREAM package. I busted just one place short of the coveted prize, leaving me without a ticket to play live poker’s biggest Main Event. Emotionally, it was one of my worst nights! 🥲
“But this time, for OLA TAIPEI, everything worked out perfectly! I managed to win a $720 Main Event ticket for just $3. What’s more, a couple of weeks later, I was lucky enough to win a second ticket! So, I flew to Taipei with two entries!”
That journey — from near-misses to finally securing not one, but two Main Event seats — is exactly what KKPoker’s satellite system is built for: giving more players real access to live poker events through low-cost, high-opportunity pathways.
Tales from the Taipei Tables
Abat had the opportunity to play live poker in Asia for the first time, and what struck him immediately wasn’t just the poker—it was the people.
“The atmosphere was incredible! There were many Europeans and Brazilians, as well as players from the US, Canada, and the major countries of Southeast Asia. I managed to make many connections and exchange contact information with players from all over the world.
“The organization of the series was top-notch. I was amazed by the technical setup: literally every poker table had shot clocks to track players’ actions, so the game proceeded at a fast pace without long delays.
“There were no lines for tournament registration either, as everything was handled instantly via a QR-code system. Furthermore, the organizers held a daily ‘Lucky Kuji Wheel‘ raffle for players to win cash prizes and official merch like caps, hoodies, poker masks, and power banks.
“It’s the kind of detail that elevates a live series from ‘just another stop’ into a true destination event.”
As for the important poker action, Abat, of course, had two Main Event tickets, but with a full tournament schedule over six days, he had the chance to play a variety of tournaments and achieved an overall performance in Taipei that proved he belonged on the stage.
“The series was a success for me overall. I played 10 tournaments in total, cashing in four of them and reaching one final table. A 40% ITM rate is considered quite good, although the sample size in a single tournament series is, of course, ultra-short.
“I didn’t manage to cash in the Main Event. However, being on a feature stream table was again a thrilling experience. I’ve competed on streamed final tables in various European series in the past. I’d love to do it again, but it didn’t work out this time.”
For a player stepping into a new regional poker ecosystem, that kind of consistency speaks volumes.
As for specific hands, Abat had one in particular to share!
When Even Kings Aren’t Enough
Of course, no great poker story is complete without a brutal — yet comical — cooler.
“There was a funny hand in one of the low-stakes satellites that I remember vividly. Another KKPoker player and I were sitting at the same table, in adjacent seats. I was dealt Pocket Kings and went all-in. Preflop, the KKPoker player and another strong player called me, and they also committed their stacks.
“I yelled ‘KKPoker!’ and tabled my Kings, hoping they would hold in a three-way all-in!
“But imagine my surprise when, right next to me, the other KKPoker player also yelled ‘KKPoker!’ and turned over his Pocket Kings! Can you imagine? Two people in neighboring seats, both connected to KKPoker, were dealt all the Kings in the deck preflop!”
“And of course, an Ace hit right on the flop. We both ended up with no outs and were simultaneously eliminated by the third player, who had AQ. If that hand had happened online at KKPoker, we would have at least won a ticket to the ‘KK Avengers’ freeroll for losing with Cowboys 😅!”
It’s these sorts of moments only poker can produce!
A Breath of Fresh Air
Abat arrived in Taipei with extensive experience across Eastern Europe—and immediately noticed a contrast in playing styles.
“To be honest, I was surprised by my opponents and their playing style—it was unlike anything I’d seen before.
“In recent years, I’ve been active in Eastern Europe, living in countries like Georgia, Slovakia, and Romania. I found the playing style in Europe to be drier and more solid. Regulars there tend to stick to GTO principles, or ‘textbook poker.’ Compared to that academic style, the game in Taipei felt like a breath of fresh air! The pros in Asia play more cheerfully and recklessly.
“You never know what a Taipei regular has when he fires a third barrel on the river out of position—is it a complete bluff or the absolute nuts? 🙈”
It’s precisely this kind of unpredictability that makes international poker so fascinating, and why KKPoker continues to dedicate our platform to helping players experience poker in new environments and strengthen their love and understanding of the game.
Discovering Taipei — and Asia
For Abat, Taipei was more than a poker stop — it was the fulfilment of a long-held dream.
“Yes, I’ve long dreamed of visiting Asia, and thanks to KKPoker, I finally got the chance. My week in Taipei was unforgettable!
“I was joking that I hoped to find Chiang Kai-shek’s gold, but instead, I gained something far more valuable: the smiles of new friends and the discovery of a new culture!
“I liked Asia even more than Eastern Europe. I felt comfortable and at home on the streets. I was surprised that some locals even mistook me for Taiwanese, or sometimes Japanese or Korean. I noticed that some Taiwanese people look quite similar to Kazakhs, so we have more in common than you might think!” 😉
And the food? Just as memorable.
“The Taiwanese people are incredibly hospitable! I was invited to local restaurants several times, so I made many culinary discoveries.
“What I remember most was the variety of exotic fruits. For the first time in my life, I tried durian, guava, and wax apples. We don’t import these in Kazakhstan, so seeing and tasting them for the first time was magnificent!
“I also visited the Shilin Night Market many times. I’d never seen anything like it. I ate fried octopus on a stick and drank bubble tea served from a local grandmother’s ladle. Even though it was a humble street stall, the flavor was truly authentic and rich. I’ve never tasted bubble tea like that, even in the finest cafes in Dubai or Europe.”
Online Roots, Live Adaptation
Despite his growing live experience, Abat remains, at heart, an online player — and one who continues to use KKPoker as his daily battleground.
“I’m still primarily an online player and only started playing live in the last couple of years. Even during the Taipei series, I’d come back to the hotel at night and find an extra hour to complete online missions on KKPoker right from my bed. Needless to say, throughout 2025, I participated in almost every High Roller event on KKPoker.
“Playing live is very different from online. First and foremost, you have to play without a HUD (statistics). To quickly identify player types, you have to be very observant, picking up on the smallest details. You also have to calculate pot sizes, bets, and stack depths yourself. No one displays those numbers on a screen for you! 😁
“My favorite online game is Flash-NLH, which is dynamic with opponents changing every hand. Online, you might see 210-220 hands per hour, whereas live poker is 7-8 times slower—only about 25-30 hands per hour. I have to adjust to that slower dynamic. At first, I wanted to play every hand and be aggressive, but I had to constantly restrain myself and remember: this is live, not online.”
Advice for Aspiring Live Players
For players dreaming of making the same leap Abat did — from online to major live events — his advice is refreshingly grounded.
“It may sound paradoxical, but before you can start playing successfully offline, you need to put in serious playing volume online.
“Reading live tells and faces is useful, but it’s not the most important skill in poker. Without playing hundreds of thousands of hands online to learn how to navigate different board textures, you won’t achieve significant success live. Only online can you quickly build a solid foundation.
“So, crush Flash-NLH on KKPoker first, and only then try your hand at live poker. I know many strong online regulars who successfully transitioned to live, but I don’t know a single strong live player who found the transition to online poker easy.”
What’s Next for Abat?
Abat’s poker journey is far from over — and Asia may only be the beginning of his next chapter.
“I haven’t returned to Almaty yet. I plan to live and play in Southeast Asia for a while longer. I’m currently in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, playing at the Queenco Poker Club.
“We’re playing a new, popular game called ‘Squid Game.’ It’s a great mental game that teaches you how to play aggressively with any two cards. I hope Squid Game will be available on KKPoker someday!”
Your Path Starts on KKPoker
Abat’s story is a perfect example of what’s possible through KKPoker’s satellite system — where a $3 buy-in can turn into a seat at a major international live event.
With the OLA Poker Tour set to return in 2026, players across the globe will once again have the chance to qualify online and take their shot on the live stage.
🎯 Stay tuned for details on upcoming OLA Poker Tour events — and your chance to be next.
