Osman Kibar is a 35-year-old Turkish-American poker player. Born in Izmir, Turkey, Kibar moved to the United States in 1988 and currently resides in San Diego, California. Besides being a pro poker player, Osman Kibar holds a Ph.D and runs a firm that provides high-tech development solutions for businesses.
Osman Kibar hit the limelight on July 25, 2006 when he participated in the 37th Annual World Series of Poker’s No Limit Hold'em event in Las Vegas. Kibar came tantalizingly close to winning his first gold bracelet and was just one hand away from victory. He eventually was forced to settle for second, but walked away from Vegas with a handsome $420,870 pay check.
In February 2007, Osman Kibar went one better at the Harrah's Rincon Poker Tournament at the Harrah’s Rincon Casino-Resort, near Escondido, just a 45-minute drive from his hometown of San Diego. Kibar entered the $1,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event. Similar to a year earlier in Vegas when Kibar was one hand away from victory, this time, his opponent Steve Elesky was poised to win against him needing just that one big hand. Kibar would have been denied victory once more, but on the final hand caught Elesky bluffing. Kibar’s pair of aces brought him his first major poker tournament victory and he collected winnings of $45,885. Kibar also received the World Series Of Poker gold ring for winning the event. After his success in 2007, Kibar may have not grabbed the headlines again, but he’s out there, lying low, waiting for the opportune moment to make a comeback.
Some quick facts about Osman Kibar:
- Lifetime Winnings: $466,755
- 2008 POY Rank: Not Ranked
- Cashes: 2
- First Place Finishes: 1
Most recent tournament winnings for Osman Kibar:
- February 17, 2007: 2007 WSOP Circuit Event - Harrah's Rincon No-Limit Hold'em Event, 1st place, winning $45,885
- July 27, 2006: 2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker’s No-Limit Hold'em event in Las Vegas, 2nd place, winning $420,870