Event 48 of the 2008 WSOP witnessed the setting of several new records, including the largest number of entries (2,317) for a WSOP $2,000 Hold'em event and the second-largest prize pool - $4.2 million - at the 2008 WSOP.

However, the most historic aspect of the tournament came in the form of its winner, Brazilian pro Alexandre Gomes, who became the first Brazilian and South American to take down a WSOP bracelet.

Hailing from Curitiba, the seventh-largest city in Brazil, the former lawyer went pro a mere six months before winning Event 48, and the Series was his first major live tournament.

Despite this unusual accomplishment, though, his journey to poker is a familiar one: After dabbling in friendly home games, he decided to give the online tables a shot and fell in love with poker. He began to study the game, started seeing results and, after careful consideration, decided to give up law for a full-time poker career.

"You need a lot of things to become a poker player. You can't just decide to do it," Gomes told PokerListings.com. "You have to study a lot and get your mind prepared. It's not an easy life like it seems."

And it helps to have some support. Gomes grinded out his final hands amidst loud cheers from the rail, where friends bedecked in Brazil's national flag chanted words of support in their native Portuguese. And they were rewarded for their enthusiasm: Gomes threw a big party in Brazil post-WSOP with his $770k in earnings.