
Johannes Strassman, a poker pro from Germany with over $1.5 million in career earnings, was found dead on a riverbank in Slovenia.
The 29-year-old had been missing for a week after traveling to the country to meet fellow poker players, Sporting News reported. A massive search that included helicopters and bloodhounds had been undertaken that led to the recovery of his body yesterday near the Ljublianica River in Ljubljana.
DNA testing of the decomposed remains confirmed the deceased to be Strassmann. An investigation continues into the events leading up to the poker pro’s disappearance, as well as the cause of death. An act of violence has been preliminarily ruled out.
Strassman made his first appearances in live tournament action in 2007 when four cashes spread out over Prague, Monte Carlo and the WSOP in Las Vegas resulted in more than $110,000 in prize money, according to the Hendon Mob database. He followed that up the following year with half a dozen scores that included 6th and 7th place finishes at EPT events for a combined $444,133.
Strassman’s largest cash was recorded last year at the EPT/UKIPT Super High Roller in London where 5th place was good for $363,842. His resume includes only one in-the-money finish this year in April at the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo where 50th place in the €10,600 Main Event resulted in a €24,400 payday.
More details regarding the untimely demise of Strassman will be released once the information is made available by investigators.