Aylar Lie’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and determination. From a challenging childhood in Norway’s foster care system to becoming a professional poker player, her story is both inspiring and remarkable.
Despite early struggles and setbacks, she carved a path for herself in multiple fields, from modeling to acting, and ultimately to professional poker. With an impressive track record of tournament victories and consistent performances, Lie has firmly established herself in the poker community.
In this Women in Poker report, we will delve into the inspirational journey of Aylar Lie, diving deep into their early life, poker career, and personal life.
Early Life and Introduction to Poker
Born in 1984 in Tehran, Iran, Aylar Dianati Lie moved to Norway with her family at the age of three. Following her parents’ separation, she was placed under the care of Child Protective Services, spending several years in the foster care system. Before starting elementary school, she had moved eighteen times before finally finding a stable foster home. With no parental support, Lie grew up independently, facing life’s challenges fearlessly.
Although there is little information on how she was introduced to poker, a report published by DailyMall UK suggests that Lie had been playing poker well before entering the mainstream competitive scene.
Aylar Lie’s Poker Career and Earnings
Lie’s first recorded live tournament cash came in 2011 when she secured $5,342 for finishing 23rd in the GSOP Live €1,180 Main Event. However, she became a regular on the poker circuit in 2017, actively participating in tournaments worldwide.
That year, she made two final table appearances at the Irish Poker Open & Norwegian Championship Ladies Event and the DeepStack 6-Max, finishing 3rd and 5th, respectively, for a combined $5,100. Her breakthrough moment came when she clinched her first live poker trophy at the Merit Mediterranean Poker Cup $800 NLH Warm-up, winning an impressive $45,117.
Lie continued her success with three money finishes at the 48th World Series of Poker (WSOP), collecting over $6,000. She ended 2017 with a runner-up finish in the WSOP Europe €220 Daily Turbo for $4,675 and a 28th-place finish in the partypoker Nordic Poker Championships €2,000 NLH Main Event, earning $7,059.
She started 2018 strong by claiming another Merit Poker trophy at the Merit Poker Western $1,100 NLH Bounty $500 K.O., adding $8,230 to her bankroll. Later, she finished 11th in the partypoker MILLIONS Barcelona €2,700 Warm-Up, taking home $24,555. That same year, she claimed her first U.S. poker victory by winning the 2018 DeepStack Showdown $200 NLH Super Stack for $3,381.
In 2019, Lie nearly captured her first European Poker Tour (EPT) title but had to settle for 2nd place in the EPT Monte Carlo €1,100 NLH Super Hyper Turbo, winning $8,316. She ended the year on a high note by securing her first World Poker Tour (WPT) title at the WPT SHRPO $300 NLH DeepStack Black Chip Bounty, adding $14,323 to her career earnings.
The pandemic years (2019–2021) saw a slowdown in her poker activity, but Lie returned in 2022 with a 5th-place finish at the Merit Poker Western $660 NLH Turbo Bounty KO, earning $1,925. Later that year, she cashed in the 2022 WSOP $10K Main Event, collecting $23,000.
In 2023, she repeated her success in the WSOP $10K Main Event, this time finishing in the money for $35,000. She wrapped up the year by finishing 5th in the WPT World Championship Las Vegas $1,100 Ladies Championship, earning $26,480.
Lie’s 2024 accomplishments include a victory in the Venetian DeepStack Championship Series $600 NLH EpicStack for $14,050 and a deep run in the WSOP $25K Super Main Event, securing a career-best $50,000.
Her most recent results in 2025 include a 4th-place finish in the Merit Poker Western Series $1,100 NLH Turbo DeepStack for $7,900 and a 48th-place finish in the $2,750 NLH Mystery Bounty, earning $1,250.
Personal and Professional Life
Before her poker career, Aylar Lie worked as an adult film actress but left the industry after a year to pursue mainstream modeling. She entered the Miss Norway 2004 pageant but was disqualified due to her past work in adult films. In a candid interview, she expressed regret about her past choices and wished to move beyond them.
Despite facing hurdles, Lie became one of Norway’s most recognized models, featuring in numerous TV shows and films. She starred in the 2010 movie Yohan: The Child Wanderer and appeared in several music videos between 2006 and 2012. Since the mid-2010s, she has shifted her focus to professional poker, amassing over $730,000 in live earnings from 135 recorded cashes.
In 2023, Lie confirmed she was dating Brazilian poker pro Felipe Fontoura Ketzer, who boasts over $2.6 million in lifetime earnings.
Where is Aylar Lie Now?
While there are no confirmed details about her current residence, Lie remains a Norwegian citizen and travels the world with her boyfriend, Felipe Ketzer, competing in poker tournaments. The couple recently participated in the Merit Poker Western Series, securing cash finishes for their impressive performances.
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