Olena Nadtoka Brings Glamour & Grit to the Irish Poker Open 2025

Notable Results — Olena Nadtoka

(via The Hendon Mob)

Country	Buy-In / Event	Festival / Location	Place	Prize (€)
	€120 + €50 NLHE – Monday Knockout	Euro Poker Millions – EPM €2MILLION, Rozvadov	16th	€495
	€300 + €30 NLHE – Colossus #3	La Notte Degli Assi – One Plus One, Tirana	4th	€5,100
	€250 NLHE – Ladies Championship (Event #50) Entry restricted	Irish Poker Open 2025, Dublin	5th	€2,110
	€150 NLHE – Queens Ladies Event Entry restricted	Kings of Tallinn 2025, Tallinn	10th	€300
	€900 + €100 NLHE – WSOPC Main Event (Ring Event #5)	WSOP International Circuit, Sanremo	113th	€2,110
	€160 + €40 + €100 NLHE – WSOPC Mystery Bounty (Ring Event #2)	WSOP International Circuit, Sanremo	69th	€360
	€315 + €35 NLHE – WSOPE 2023 Opener (Bracelet Event #1)	WSOP Europe – WSOPE 2023, Rozvadov	246th	€1,005
	€130 + €20 NLHE – Big Tuesday	King’s Resort Recurring Tournaments, Rozvadov	7th	€499
	€130 + €20 NLHE – Bull Shark Win the Button Closer	Sharkbay, Rozvadov	1st	€4,131

Olena Nadtoka on the Irish Poker Open, her Mindset & Making a Statement

Hi Olena! To start with the Irish Open… what I remember was seeing a lady coming into the poker room in a latex jumpsuit. It caught everyone’s attention — dealers, floor staff, and more. What was the story behind that?

Yeah, my life has always been like this, and I’m the same way with poker. I like to try interesting things — in life, in my style, in my clothes.

And honestly, it’s funny, but dressing up actually relaxes me. If I dress too normally, I feel more stressed. I’m more comfortable when I’m in some kind of style or wearing something special.

Like at the Irish Open — come on! Every day I had a different look. I was a pirate one day, then a lady in a corset the next. Each day was something new. I even remember the massage girl came up to me and said, “Every day I wait to see what you’ll wear today!”

It creates this energy — positive energy. For me, that’s just cool.

Did you feel like it helped you at the tables?

I feel really comfortable like that. I remember one time I was playing in leather, and the next day, a guy came up to me and said, “Oh, I saw you yesterday in the leather outfit!”

He asked where I live, and I told him, “I’m from Ukraine, but I live between Kyiv and Berlin—and I travel a lot.” And he goes, “Ah, Berlin! So that outfit was for Berghain or KitKat?” You know, those famous Berlin clubs.

Then he said, “I couldn’t wear that — I’m just a normal guy.” And I laughed and said:

For me, feeling comfortable at the table and being more relaxed means being myself. This isn’t something I do once a year—it’s just how I live. I do it whenever I can.

It helps me. It really does.

You also made the final table of the Ladies Event, right? Can you walk us through this event and what your overall experience was at the Irish Poker Open 2025?

The day before the Ladies Event, honestly, I was feeling really down. From December, I’d  been in a downswing — just losing and feeling stuck. Some guy came to interview me, and I told him, “Since December, it’s just been bad,” and it was already April. That night before the event, I felt horrible. It’s hard to even describe — it wasn’t just emotions, it was something deeper. Really negative energy.

I called my mom and said, “I think I’m done with poker. I’m quitting. It’s too much—bad situations at the tables, tough people to deal with.” Not bad people, exactly, but you know how it can be during tough runs.

I started off so well when I began playing, and suddenly, since December, nothing has been working. I mean, I won something online, but very small, nothing exciting.

I told my mom, “I think I quit.” And she was like, “Come on. You know tomorrow is the Ladies’ Event. Go and play it.” So I did. And honestly, if she hadn’t said that, I probably wouldn’t have shown up. I might’ve really quit, because it felt so complicated. Maybe it’s also because I’m still kind of a beginner — I haven’t played a huge volume.

I talked to some professional players, and they told me, “You feel this way because you don’t play enough. You play sometimes, and that’s why these downswings hit harder. You need to play more consistently.”

Anyway, I went. And on Day 1, I was doing great — my stack kept growing and I qualified for the final table. I was like, “Hmm… okay!”

You probably remember, I was making little videos during the Irish Open — just fun stuff about how I was doing in poker and around Dublin. That helped too. It gave me something positive to focus on. I think that evening I called my mom and told her, “I made the final!” and we were already kind of celebrating like I’d won, because it just felt like I would.

From Day 2, I was running really well, so I didn’t even check who the other players were at the final table. I recognised them from Day 1 — we had played together, so I remembered their faces. But we didn’t really talk, just the usual small talk: “Hi, how are you?” Nothing deep.

Like in Rozvadov, I didn’t know I was playing against really strong players. And because I didn’t know, I made moves I wouldn’t normally dare to make. I just played my own game.

Same thing at the Irish Open — I didn’t check who was who. I stayed in my own head and just played how I play. I focus more on myself than on how good others are. Of course, sometimes you need to know certain things, but in general — especially before a final — I don’t need to overthink it. I already knew how they played from the day before.

And yeah, it was streamed live, the final table, which was so cool! People from Kyiv messaged me, saying they were watching me play on TV at the local casino. I was like, “Oh my God!” That’s one of the fun things about being on stream — you feel the support from everywhere. It was amazing.

So yeah, the Irish Open overall was a really fun experience. I even made a vlog about it recently — just to share the whole vibe. The tournaments were great, the atmosphere was super friendly, and the people were really nice. I’m so happy I went. And thanks to my mom for that push, because honestly, that Ladies Event changed everything for me.

And then in the Main Event, you ran deep again. How did that all come together?

I qualified for Day 2 of the Main Event — it was crazy. I played maybe three hours, maybe more, but it felt like nothing. Just wild hands. Like A2 offsuit, over and over. Total madness. Finally, I saw the Aces and thought, “Come on, let’s go.” I doubled up from them, and honestly, that helped me get through to Day 2.

But the cards? Man, they were dead. I didn’t understand what was happening. I’d look down at something like 5 , 10 … nothing playable. Meanwhile, in every showdown, people had monsters. I had Aces once. No kings. Not even decent hands. Just trash hands the whole session. It was frustrating and stressful. I just kept folding and paying blinds, over and over, until I finally doubled.

Second day, I remember there were like 1,000 people. Only 300 made it, and I was one of them. But then came the hand. I shoved with A Q . A guy calls me with A8 offsuit — like, what?! He had barely more chips than I. Just a couple of blinds more. And of course… he hits the 8. The same thing happened to me before in Prague at the EPT — same hands, same setup. Total déjà vu. I was like, “No way. Again?“

the first day was wild, though. Buy-in was €1,150 and people were doing crazy stuff. One guy at my table shoved preflop with 6 5 — which is actually my favorite hand — and he hit a perfect 6-9 on the board! I mean, even I don’t do that at this buy-in. Five minutes later, another guy shoved without even looking at his cards. Before the dealer finished dealing, he said, “I’m all in.” Like… what are you doing, man? You just dropped €1,150 to go, full psycho?

What keeps Olena busy in daily life?

What keeps me busy? Well, I’m free like a bird. I can do whatever I want — okay, not always, of course. But I do a lot of things, by the way.

I like to think about the universe, about deep things. That’s important. Not all the time, of course. You shouldn’t go too deep too often. If you go too deep, you can go a little crazy. So balance is key.

I do many things. I’ve had a lot of professions in my life. I used to work as a dancer. I also worked as a professional coach, specializing in deep internal muscles. It’s the intimate abdominal diaphragm. It’s kind of like yoga. People think it’s something strange, but it’s really not. It’s just yoga — just more specific, more focused exercises. But mainly, it all comes from yoga.

Your vlog from the Irish Open was really fun to watch. What made you start vlogging your trips?

I want to share my life, because it’s not only poker. It’s travelling, meeting people, interesting places, and outfits! I think poker is more than cards. It’s lifestyle, it’s people, it’s energy. And I have energy! So I made the video to show: look, poker can be fun. It’s not only bad beats and bad moods.

You’ve been playing in lots of places lately — Rozvadov, San Remo, Dublin, Tallinn. What’s next?

I’m thinking maybe end of August for Barcelona, but honestly, not sure at all. Just not sure.

Funny thing — someone from my poker circle messaged me recently. We hadn’t spoken in two years. We last saw each other in Rozvadov, and suddenly he texts me, like, “Hey, are you still playing poker?” I was like, “Even more than before! I was just getting started back then.”

He sent me info about a good series happening in Rozvadov in July. I’m not sure yet. You know, unfortunately, my life isn’t only poker — I have other things going on, some work, some deals. So maybe I’ll go for a couple of days if it’s possible. The series is long — three weeks — so I’ll see.

August in Barcelona? Also unsure.

But September — that’s different. That’s WSOPE (World Series of Poker Europe) in Rozvadov. That’s more solid. My first ever WSOP was there, at King’s, and I cashed! So I feel like I have to go. It’s kind of special to me.

I always joke: I’ll sell a kidney if I have to — I need to play that series! Maybe I’ll even stay the full three weeks… depending on how much they offer me for the kidney.

You mentioned mindset. What do you do to stay sharp mentally?

Oh, for me, it’s everything. I do meditation. I journal. I do sport every day — running, dancing, stretching. Also, I am a health coach, so I know how important energy and balance are.

What’s your poker dream now?

One bracelet and one million euros, and I feel okay! (laughs) But really, my dream is to travel, meet people, grow in poker, and stay true to myself. I don’t want to change to be someone else.

When it comes to choosing between a ladies’ event and a main event, what would you prefer?

Oh, normally, of course — the main event. Oh my god, I don’t like women at all! I came into poker because there are no women. [laughs] But I do play ladies’ events sometimes… I don’t know, sometimes the women at ladies’ events are good people. But in general, I’ve always had male friends. Only men — all my life.
From the time I was three years old, I only had boys as friends. I’ve had only one woman — my best friend from school — and she’s okay. The rest? Complicated. I’ve had many bad experiences. So, only men, please.

There’s always discussion about women in poker. Some feel they’re treated badly at the table — and that gets a lot of attention. But ultimately, it reflects broader society, right? What’s your take on this?

Wait, wait. Who would treat me badly? I’d punch him! [laughs] You haven’t seen my legs! No, honestly, I think most guys are afraid of me. Physically, I can be more powerful. Mentally, too. Psychologically stronger. And I’m tall, with high heels, I’m maybe two heads taller than many men.

So, usually they feel weak around me. Some men like that, but yes — they hate losing to a woman. I know that. But I never use it. I don’t say anything or act differently. I just play my game. I’m very kind, actually.

But if I see a man not behaving like a man… that I don’t like. I always say: a man should be a man — even on Mars! Some men, especially the ones who behave badly toward women, say, “There’s no gender at the table, we’re all equal.” No. I say: a man is always a man.

Poker table, restaurant, street, Mars — it’s the same.

So yes, I’ve experienced that kind of situation, too. And I speak very openly when I see bad behaviour. I push back. I don’t tolerate it. Because it shocks me — I love men, I have great men in my life. Starting from my father, to my friends, to even strangers I’ve met — so many amazing men.

You mean, call them out?

Exactly. A real man is a real man anywhere. You don’t need to compete with women in that way. I don’t compete with men personally — I compete at the poker table. That’s where the game is. The rest is about character.

If someone saw your latex jumpsuit and said, “This is not serious poker,” what would you say?

You can be who you want to be. Some people wear a hoodie and headphones. I wear a latex jumpsuit and lipstick. Same game, same respect. I think we should not judge. Let people play their way. For me, I play with heart—and heels.

A Few Final Thoughts from Us

Olena is the perfect example of a woman completely comfortable in the poker environment. Sure, women in poker make up a minority when it comes to poker but should that keep them away from the tables or from showing who they are?

Olena said it right: “Poker is freedom.” And I fully agreed with that.

She is a bright personality and I can assure you that wherever she goes, a poker tournament, an airport, or a fully crowded beach at the Cote d’Azur, she will have the spotlights on her. She is a perfect combination of positive energy, elegance, and a contagiously positive outlook on life.

PokerListings will be heading to Barcelona for the European Poker Tour and we hope to meet her again at the tables there.