Maria Konnikova

Maria Konnikova was born in Moscow, Russia, to Jewish parents.[3] She was four years old when her family emigrated to the United States and settled in the state of Massachusetts.[4]

Konnikova attended Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Massachusetts.[5] After graduating from high school, Konnikova attended Harvard University, where she graduated with a B.A. in psychology and creative writing. While at Harvard, Konnikova was mentored by Steven Pinker.[6]

She earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University in 2013,[7] under Walter Mischel.[4]

Following her B.A., Konnikova worked as a producer for the Charlie Rose Show, where she helped set up the segment "Brain Series."[4][8] She wrote the "Literally Psyched" column for Scientific American[9] and the psychology blog "Artful Choice" for Big Think.[10][11] In April 2013, her article on uncertainty in decision making was published in The New Yorker,[12] where she continues to contribute.[13][14]

Konnikova at the IdeaFestival (2013)

Konnikova's first book, Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, was nominated for an Agatha Award and the Anthony Award for Best Nonfiction in 2013.[15][13] Her book The Confidence Game was published in 2016 and appeared on the New York Times' Crime and Punishment bestseller list.[16] Her third book, The Biggest Bluff, published in 2020, follows her active participation into the world of poker.[17]

Konnikova makes regular appearances on The Gist podcast in her own segment, "Is That Bullshit?" In early 2017, she published a 10-part podcast about con artists and the lives they ruin, called The Grift.[18]

Konnikova's interest in poker was piqued when she encountered John von Neumann's game theory. She saw poker as a dynamic way to explore the intricate interplay of skill and chance within the human psyche. She clarified in an interview with The New York Times that her motivation was not rooted in gambling but rather in understanding the psychological aspects of the game.[19]

In the latter part of 2016, Konnikova established contact with Erik Seidel, a seasoned poker professional, who took on the role of her mentor and coach as she embarked on a year-long journey to immerse herself in the world of competitive poker.[20]

Konnikova made her debut on a significant poker stage at the 2017 PokerStars tournament held in Monte Carlo. Notably, in January 2018, she won the PCA National event during the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure No-Limit Hold'em Championship, which resulted in a cash prize of $84,600. She was awarded a Platinum Pass worth $30,000, granting her entry into the PokerStars Players Championship in January 2019. Her accumulated winnings prior to this win amounted to approximately $30,000.[21]

After that 2018 win, Konnikova decided to delay work on her book, The Biggest Bluff, to compete in more tournaments with higher stakes.[20] She took up professional poker playing full-time. From June 2018 to November 2019, she partnered with PokerStars, who sponsored her in professional tournaments.[17]