8 Year Old Poker Prodigy: Alexa Fisher

The story of 8 year old poker prodigy Alexa Fisher has hit the headlines in the UK media. Find out more about Alexa, how she started with poker, what game types she plays and more.

Alexa contemplating her next move

It's not so often that poker makes national news, but the story of 8 year old poker prodigy Alexa Fisher has been uncovered in popular British newspapers The Sun and The Daily Mail.

News of Fisher first emerged across the pond last year, but recent reporting is further evidence that poker is becoming mainstream, after Pius Heinz's WSOP triumph was emblazoned all over the German press.

The Daily Mail is traditionally seen as a conservative, sanctimonious paper, so it's refreshing to see it portray poker in a positive light.

WSOP 2024?

The term "poker prodigy" was somewhat defamed, after "Portuguese Poker Prodigy" Jose "Girah" Macedo coined it for self-publicity purposes, before he went on to swindle high stakes players out of more than $30k.

Alexa, who heralds from San Antonio Texas, first became acquainted with poker at the age of 3, when her 35 year old father Justin showed her ESPN tournament coverage. She was soon gripped by the bright lights and audience chants.

Poker aficionado Justin explained, "I used playing cards to help her count and to help with her maths skills when she was young and before she attended school".

The 8 year old can play over 50 varieties of the game, including more obscure variants such as Double Flop Hold'em and Crazy Pineapple. Alexa proudly states: "I know how to shuffle and deal the cards, raise, check, fold, and bluff. I also know how to play deuce-to-seven Lowball, H.O.R.S.E., and Badugi".

Alexa's live tournament debut came at a charity event, where she made the final table and finished 6th. Her parents have set up her own bank account in preparation for real money play, but Alexa will stick to charity tournaments until she reaches legal age.

Keen to avoid the stereotype of pushy parent, Justin insists that his daughter snubbed a trip to Disneyland to go to Las Vegas, where she received an autograph from her idol Greg Raymer.

In a country of obsessed with uncovering young talent, Fisher surely won't be the last child to carry the mantle of "poker prodigy".