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Heads-Up With the Russian Government: How a Chess Prodigy Gambled Big and Won in Silicon Valley

From Checkmate to All-In: The High-Stakes Battle That Defined Victoria Livschitz’s Legacy

Author

Art Parmann
March 15, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Imagine playing the highest-stakes poker game of your life. But instead of chips, the pot is a billion-dollar company. And instead of a casino, you’re sitting across the table from the Russian government.

That’s exactly what Victoria Livschitz faced.

  • She was a chess prodigy who mastered the game of strategy.

  • She moved to America with $300 and a dream.

  • She built a billion-dollar cloud computing company before the word ‘cloud’ even existed.

  • And when forces tried to take her company away from her? She fought back—and won.

Welcome to Table 1. If you’re new around here, every week we take you past the glass doors, deep into the high-limit section, and crack open the safety deposit box. Inside? The stories they don’t tell on ESPN.

We’re not here to give you dry interviews or recycled poker clichés. We’re here to introduce you to the real characters, the legends, and the high-stakes gamblers who built this world.

Think of it like sitting in a private game with the most interesting players in the room. Cards down, drinks up, stories flowing.

Before we dive in, let me hit you with a quote:

"Scared money don’t make money." – Every poker player who’s ever run it twice & won the first board only.

Now, I’m no bankroll nit, but if you’re just sitting on stablecoins, you’re literally leaving money on the table.

That’s where Gauntlet.XYZ comes in. The nerds handle the math, you collect the interest—zero brainpower required. Your USDC, USDT, or whatever else you’re hoarding? Put it to work instead of letting it gather digital dust.

And here’s the best part: THEY DON’T TOUCH YOUR PRIVATE KEYS.
Your keys, your crypto. No rug pulls, no excuses.

Get in the game → https://gauntlet.xyz/t1 (DYOR, obv.)

Alright, now let’s get to it:

Episode 69 - Victoria Livschitz

Victoria Livschitz isn’t just a chess prodigy turned tech founder—she’s a high-stakes baller who built a billion-dollar cloud company before "cloud computing" was even a thing. Then? She had to negotiate with the Russian government to keep it. Yeah, you read that right.

She walked into America with $300 and a suitcase full of dirty diapers and walked out with an empire. And oh yeah—if she had discovered poker earlier, she says she never would’ve built her company. That’s how hooked she gets on strategy.

This episode is a MASTERCLASS in taking risks, betting big, and winning in life. You in?

Watch the full episode here → YouTube 

Or here (Spotify)

🔥 If you love high-stakes stories, hit SUBSCRIBE for more!

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Cheers,

Art and Justin

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