Where Is Fedor Holz Now? The Journey of Poker’s Young Prodigy

Fedor Holz: An Unprecedented Rise in High-Stakes Poker

Fedor Holz, a name synonymous with high-stakes poker, captivated the poker community with his incredible tournament performances and meteoric ascent to the top. The German’s story is one of overcoming obstacles with determination, breaking multiple records as he carved out his position among the game’s elites. Despite his announcement of early retirement in 2016, Holz’s presence has continued to shape the poker world, both at the tables and beyond.

Early Years and First Forays into Poker

Born in 1993 in Germany, Fedor Holz faced challenging circumstances growing up, raised by his mother alongside two sisters. After high school, he pursued informatics at university, excelling academically but feeling uninspired and searching for a deeper passion.

His life changed when he discovered poker. Fascinated by the strategy and competition, he began playing local home games. Early losses only fueled his resolve, leading him to intensely study the game and network with more experienced players. Eventually, Holz made the pivotal choice to leave university and embrace poker professionally, dedicating himself to both study and play.

Finding His Footing Through Online Poker

At age 18 in 2011, Holz entered the world of online poker, attracted by the learning potential and fast-paced improvement possible in a digital environment. Adopting the screen name “CrownUpGuy,” he became known for his prowess in multi-table tournaments (MTTs), steadily climbing the stakes despite starting with a modest bankroll.

Success didn’t come overnight, but Holz’s relentless work ethic and resilience in the face of setbacks paid off. He put in countless hours, often playing long sessions to gain experience. The online grind built a foundation that would power his rapid ascent in the live tournament arena.

The Breakthrough: From Online Phenom to Live Poker Star

Image: World Poker Tour/Flickr

Fedor’s poker career reached a turning point in 2014 when he relocated to Austria, fully immersing himself in professional poker. That year, he captured the prestigious PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event title for $1.3 million under his “CrownUpGuy” moniker.

Transitioning to live tournaments, Holz quickly adapted to the psychological and social demands of in-person poker. By late 2015, he was already a regular in high roller events, a domain reserved for top professionals.

December 2015 marked the start of Holz’s historic run. He won the $100,000 buy-in WPT Alpha8 High Roller event, pocketing nearly $1.6 million, followed weeks later by another multimillion-dollar win at the Triton Super High Roller Series. 2016 became a banner year for the young German, as he amassed over $11 million in tournament prizes within just a few months. His victory at the $111,111 WSOP High Roller for One Drop, earning nearly $5 million, was a career highlight, along with his first World Series of Poker bracelet.

He continued with major wins, including the 2016 EPT High Roller in Barcelona, bankrolling $1.47 million, becoming seemingly unstoppable on both live and online fronts.

A Surprise Pause: Holz’s Initial “Retirement”

At the height of his success, Fedor Holz stunned the poker community in 2016 by revealing his intention to retire from full-time professional poker. While skepticism abounded, given his age and talent, Holz clarified that he only intended to reduce his playing volume, not abandon the game altogether. Instead, he sought space to focus on new challenges outside the relentless tournament grind.

Life After Professional Poker: Pursuing New Ventures

Fedor Holz’s primary reason for stepping back was to launch Primed Mind, a platform providing mindset coaching for individuals—including poker players—looking to improve their mental game. Teaming up with renowned coach Elliot Roe, Holz built a service grounded in his personal experiences and competitive insights.

Primed Mind quickly gained traction, helping users manage stress, cultivate positivity, and optimize their focus. While poker players were a core audience, the platform’s broader applications made it widely accessible.

Nevertheless, Holz’s passion for poker remained undiminished, and he soon returned to the scene, proving that his withdrawal was temporary.

Image: Twitter/EdgarGerik

Back to the Felt: Continuing Success on the Tournament Circuit

After a short break, Holz was back competing in top-tier events by early 2017, making deep runs at the Aussie Millions and a runner-up finish at the PokerStars Championship in Macau for $868,000. Rather than losing his edge, Holz picked up where he left off—challenging the world’s best and adding to his resume.

In July 2018, he scored his largest single tournament cash to date. Participating in the Big One for One Drop and finishing second to Justin Bonomo, Holz still netted an incredible $6 million.

Though he didn’t return to the volume of his pre-retirement grind, Holz continued to secure major results, showing that true passion and talent never really fade.

Evolving Portfolio: Business, Training, and the Pokercode Community

Holz has been anything but idle off the felt. Building on the success of Primed Mind, he launched Pokercode—a comprehensive poker training site aimed at ambitious tournament players. Together with pros like Matthias Eibinger and Simon Ronnow, Pokercode offers top-tier coaching as well as an engaged community for players at all levels.

His projects focus not just on teaching poker strategy, but also on fostering a network of like-minded enthusiasts committed to improvement and mutual support. Holz’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive his efforts to innovate and give back to the game.

Image: YouTube

Recent Competitive Highlights and Noteworthy Challenges

Despite playing fewer live events in 2019, Holz was active again in 2020, turning his attention to online poker due to global circumstances. He joined GGPoker as a brand ambassador and participated in marquee online tournaments.

One of his 2020 highlights was winning the WSOP Online $25,000 Heads Up event, outlasting Brazilian pro Brunno De Albuquerque and securing $1,077,000.

Holz also engaged in high-profile heads-up battles, including a much-talked-about match against Wiktor “Limitless” Malinowski. The challenge, with added entertainment value as Malinowski played while drinking, played out on GGPoker’s digital felt. Against expectations, Holz emerged victorious, again demonstrating his adaptability and competitive edge.

Image: YouTube

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Poker’s Prodigy?

Fedor Holz stands out not just for his tournament winnings—now topping $32 million—but also for his evolving interests and ongoing impact on the poker landscape. Whether he’s mentoring rising stars, building businesses, or battling at the highest stakes, Holz remains a dynamic figure eager to tackle fresh challenges.

With his contract at GGPoker and an ever-expanding portfolio of projects, Holz shows no sign of stepping away or slowing down. If the past is any indication, poker fans—and the broader gaming world—can count on Fedor Holz to keep innovating and inspiring in the years to come.

Lead image: World Poker Tour/Flickr