Alexander Gomes

Pioneer, magical, unique; the Brazilian legend who achieved feats that were unattainable for a long time.

Until the emergence of Alexandre Gomes, Brazilian poker was content with crumbs. Simple WSOP awards and participation in the biggest tournaments in the world were already reasons for agitation and pride among Brazilian poker lovers — but Alê Gomes raised the bar to levels that until 2022 were unreachable.

In 2008, he became the first Brazilian to win a WSOP bracelet, when he bested over 2,000 players in a no-limit hold'em event for $770,540. Less than a year later, in January 2009, he became the first Brazilian to reach the final table at the PCA (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure), where he finished in 4th place and won over $750,000. Less than six months later, he made history again by winning the WPT (World Poker Tour). By beating the legendary Faraz Jaka heads-up, he took home $1,187,670, still the biggest live cash ever won by a Brazilian.

The success earned him a contract with PokerStars, and his record for tournament cashes (over $3.7 million) was only surpassed 11 years after his last major result in a major, seventh place at the 2011 EPT in Barcelona, when won $274,582.

The glory days as a professional player are behind him, but his unique and aggressive moves will never be forgotten. His feats were engraved with fire and iron in the history of national poker.