Alexandre Gomes

Total Winnings
$1,187,670

For the past few years, people in the poker world have cited Brazil as one of the new poker hot spots in the world. With their unrivaled passion for the game, intense nationalistic prize, and sense of camaraderie, the Brasilians have injected the poker world with a newfound sense of energy and enthusiasm. If one player serves as the face of all the potential Brazil has to offer the poker scene, that player would be Alexandre Gomes.

Before he turned thirty, Gomes racked up a list of accomplishments most people can’t attain in a lifetime. Prior to getting into poker, Gomes got a job as a corporate lawyer in the Brasilian city of Curitiba. Goes left the firm when he found he could make just as much money playing poker full time. After grinding online for a while, Gomes headed to Vegas for the 2008 WSOP. He came in with a dream and left with a bracelet in a $2,000 No Limit Hold’em event. He picked up over $770,000 and the honor of being the first Brasilian WSOP winner in history.

In the summer of 2009, Gomes accomplished another first for Brazil—a WPT title. Gomes defeated a stacked final table that included Season VIII WPT Player of the Year, Faraz Jaka, Erik Seidel, and Justin Smith to take the title of Bellagio Cup IV Champion. The victory added another $1.1 million to Gomes’ bankroll and solidified his status as the most profitable Brasilian poker player in history with over $3.4 million in career tournament earnings.