Alex O’Brien is a successful science writer and author with a distinct passion and flair for competitive poker, landing her first cash in a major event at the World Poker Tour (WPT) London event at Aspers in February 2015.
2022 saw O’Brien take part in the third incarnation of Grindhouse, an intensive poker coaching program headed by Fedor Holz. Her study proved to be effective, as 2023 was to be a breakthrough year. She would cash in 11 live poker tournaments that year, including two cashes at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP). O’Brien also final-tabled the Women’s Event at the London leg of the 2023 UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), eventually finishing runner-up.
Known for her expertise in critical thinking, O’Brien’s work has appeared in publications such as The Guardian, The Times, New Scientist and on the BBC. In 2016 she was shortlisted for the Best Newcomer category at the annual awards for the Association of British Science Writers, an organisation of which she’s now Vice-Chair. She also works hard to make the game of poker more accessible to women and minority groups.
Her debut book, The Truth Detective, was released in November 2023. It’s a fusion of her passions, looking at modern life through the lens of poker. The book, which uses her experience at the tables to try and make sense of a world full of uncertainty and misinformation, was shortlisted for the Global Poker Index Awards.
