Kayhan Mokri is a prominent poker player from Norway, known for his consistent success in both online and live tournaments. Over the years, he has built a solid reputation as a high roller, competing at some of the world’s most prestigious events.
His journey includes a significant online achievement, finishing third in the 2021 SCOOP Main Event on PokerStars, earning nearly $800.000. Mokri's live tournament results are equally impressive: in August 2022, he placed sixth in the EPT Barcelona Main Event, earning €334.480, and in 2023, he claimed his first EPT Super High Roller title with a €750.960 prize. In 2024, he secured a major victory in the €100,000 EPT Super High Roller, winning €1.372.420.
As of 2025, Mokri has earned over $7.9 million in live tournaments, securing his place as the second-highest money earner on Norway’s all-time poker list. In this interview, you’ll learn more about Kayhan's poker journey, his motivations in the beginning and now, future plans, and the mindset that drives him to compete with the world’s best.
Kayhan, we are here in Banco Bratislava during Poker NM - how’s it going so far?
It is going good so far, enjoying myself. It is fun.
Do you participate in this event every year?
Yes every year except 2 years when I was on a trip with some friends.
Did you win any title here so far?
Yes, I won the €5.000 No Limit Hold'em High Roller. It was a big buy-in event, and the prize was €29.331.
Can you tell us more about your Triton victory last November? What drew you to playing high roller events?
Yeah, it was last year in November — a $30.000 buy-in, and I won $1.005.000. It was my first Triton event that I won, and I was very surprised and happy. So far, I’ve participated in seven Triton events. I think I enjoy high rollers more because the fields are smaller, and they come with the biggest buy-ins and toughest competition. I just really enjoy it — big buy-ins, big money, and a lot of pressure.
Okey, so what is your motivation for playing poker?
In the beginning, it was about the financial aspect, but now it's more about doing something I love and competing with the best. My goal is to be able to compete at the highest level for as long as I can.
Can you tell us about your beginnings? When and how did your motivation shift from financial reasons to simply wanting to play for the love of the game?
I started while I was studying economics about 9-10 years ago. And after while I started to get more and more from poker. At the beginning I was just hobby player like everybody else. I stayed loyal to poker and got better and better, I just like it. I am very fascinated by poker.
Why you are so fascinated by poker?
I think that’s what makes poker so interesting. At first glance, it seems like just poker hands and chips, but it has so many layers. The way you have to play in different scenarios is really different, and there’s a lot of theory behind it. Advanced poker is truly fascinating. Sometimes, it’s difficult to master because you’re working with incomplete information. It’s not just a given—you have to use your mind for so many things.
In some situations, you just need to play as well as possible, especially against other professionals. But in other scenarios, you need to take different approaches because some players bluff too much or not at all. It depends on the player, and it’s difficult because you have to sit and observe them to figure out which type they are. So, at first, I try to play as well as I can to feel comfortable, then adjust my game based on the information I gather. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it feels almost impossible.
When it is impossible for you?
For me, it’s really hard to play against the fancy players. They try so many different things, and it’s tough to keep up with all the guesses you have to make. But of course, these players are very skilled. They confuse me, just like they do to most people. However, sometimes these fancy players make a lot of mistakes, and when they do, you end up looking like a genius.
Can you tell us your future plans?
My future plans include EPT Monaco, Triton Montenegro, EPT Barcelona, Triton Jeju, and EPT Prague—so basically all the EPTs and Tritons. Apart from those, I don't have any other specific plans. My main goal is to try to win as much as possible and see how it goes. These are things I can't fully control.
How you train yourself to stay prepare?
I try to spend time with my family and relax, making sure not to get overstimulated. I think it’s important to have some relaxation because there’s a lot of stress at these events, and balancing that is key. You’re playing 12 hours a day, for two weeks, so it can get intense. For example, playing in a different time zone, like in Jeju, is particularly difficult because of the jet lag and everything that comes with it. You have to do what’s best for you and stay present in the moment. But overall, the main thing is to keep your mind balanced. When your mind is overstimulated, it leads to stress, and it becomes much harder to calm down.
What do you think about the rituals that some people have? Do you have them too?
I know a lot of people are superstitious about it. Some do yoga, meditation... For me personally, I don’t have any special rituals. I like to just show up, try to drink water, and stay hydrated. I tend to keep breakfast light, not too much. That’s about it.
Well, thanks a lot Kayhan! Wish you all the best!
