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Brazilians Share WSOP Dreams and the Pursuit of a Bracelet: “My Story Could Be Perfect’’

Brazilians Share WSOP Dreams and the Pursuit of a Bracelet: “My Story Could Be Perfect’’
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Iva Dozet News Editor
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: June 7, 2025 · 4 minutes to read

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2025 has begun, and many Brazilians have traveled to Las Vegas looking for good results – and possibly, to win a bracelet during the events. With 100 tournaments, the biggest poker series in the world promises to stage great stories this year.

In an exclusive interview for the PokerListings portal, players Vitor Martins Dzivielevski, Anthony Barranqueiros and Fernando Macedo told a little about their preparation process for this edition, about the atmosphere among the Brazilians who traveled to Vegas and shared a little of their expectations for the WSOP. 

Playing the WSOP Is Every Poker Player’s Dream

With dozens of events every year, the WSOP is the biggest poker series in the world. Players from different countries traveled to Las Vegas, in the United States, to attend this event, a milestone for any professional player of this game of the mind.

For Brazilians, it’s no different.

Vitor Martins

The WSOP, for every poker player, has always been a dream. Since the days of the broadcasts on ESPN, with Phil Ivey, Negreanu and more, I watched it and thought it was enchanting. I thought that one day I would be there. And thank God the dream came true

Poker player since 2007, Fernando Macedo also dreamed of participating in the series, reaching its 12th edition in 2025:

Fernando Macedo

I’ve been playing poker since 2007 and my dream was to come to Las Vegas. When I started playing, my biggest dream was the WSOP, to play an event here. I managed to make this dream come true in 2013 and since then I have come every year. It’s part of my annual poker schedule to be in Vegas at the time of the WSOP.

In its 56th edition, the WSOP has not lost its luster. Even with difficulties about the new immigration laws in the United States, many players did not let this stop them visiting the country, to play the biggest poker event in the world.

Focus On Tournaments and Anticipation for the Main Event

Anthony Barranqueiros

Uniting thousands of players, the WSOP has multiple styles of events, suiting all tastes. For Brazilians, this is no different. While some are more focused on Hold’em tables, others prefer to try their hand on Mixed Games. Some seek tournaments at other Las Vegas casinos, and there are even those who travel to enjoy cash game tables crammed with big players.

Despite this, one thing is certain: the Main Event will always be the most prestigious and exciting tournament for players. Poker’s “World Cup” will take place in the final weeks of the WSOP, on July 2nd, but it is already in the sights of players:

Anthony Barranqueiros

For me, the WSOP Main Event has always been a dream. I live in pursuit of this dream and feel incredibly grateful for it. I’ll play the vast majority of Mixed Games and one or two Hold’em until the Main Event. Then, I’ll focus totally on it.

For Vitor Martins, the focus is alike:

Vitor Martins

My schedule has tournaments every day. […] The grid is very extensive. They are practically all Hold’em tournaments, except for the super high stakes. I got to the Main Event through GGPoker satellites so I’m going to play for sure.

The Goal of the Pros Is to “Make Money” at the WSOP

Professional poker players know that winning a WSOP bracelet is a difficult task. More than that, they do not direct all their efforts to winning a tournament, but rather to have profitability in their event grid. 

Vitor Martins

The expectation is, like any poker player, to make money. We play to make money, that is our profession. We expect it to be a profitable series, where I can put my training in practice. […] I feel very prepared. This year I’m emotionally, psychologically, theoretically and technically better. I’m prepared for this.

For Anthony, however, keeping his feet on the ground is important to not lose focus during the series:

Anthony Barranqueiros

I dislike expectations, I try to avoid it as much as possible. They build anxiety that can hinder the gameplay. We cannot guarantee results, I studied hard for this moment, here I will give my best and hope for the best results.

However, this does not mean that the dream will not live on. Since 2008, when Alexandre Gomes won the first Brazilian WSOP bracelet, we have already totaled 38, between face-to-face and live events. In this edition, the focus will be no different for any of the representatives:

Anthony Barranqueiros

Without a doubt, this was our goal. It was a dream to have won the first one and the expectation is that many more will come.

Vitor Martins

Regarding the bracelets, I do hope to bring some to Brazil. I’ll always play the WSOP, so there may be some along the way.

“My story would be perfect if I won a bracelet”

Fernando Macedo

For Fernando Macedo, the desire to win a bracelet has gained new strength in recent years. “From last year I started to mentalize and focus to try to win a bracelet. My story would be perfect if I managed to win a bracelet. I come from a background in which I was born the year my father won the lottery (my father won a lot of money in the lottery), but he lost everything in games, gambling”, says Fernando. 

“I had a wonderful childhood, but I saw my father losing everything in gambling. When I understood what was happening, at the age of 12 or 13, I promised that I would never touch a deck of cards – regardless of blame. As fate is very crazy, at the age of 23 or 24 I started playing poker, I fell in love, I didn’t stop and had several achievements. 

If one day he gets a bracelet it will be very crazy: a guy who promised never to touch a deck, to be world champion of poker. It became my focus to try for the bracelet and one day I’ll make it reality”, added the player.

Brazilians Transform the Atmosphere in Vegas

Finally, the players also talked about the atmosphere among Brazilians in the host city of the WSOP 2025. As highlighted by all three, the party accompanies Brazilians. Almost all the players know each other, sympathize with each other, and when a fellow countryman reaches the final table, everyone gathers to cheer in unison:

Fernando Macedo

The atmosphere in Las Vegas is always great. For those who love poker, there are always good events. Brazilians are very supportive, most of them when they know there’s someone at the final table, they run to cheer. Brazilians are different. I always see this in the fans, they stand out, make noise, and cheer. Reaching a final would be very cool, with Brazilian fans

“I feel very grateful to experience all this, I always dreamed of being able to be here competing, so I’m living my dream daily. Brazilians are indeed a very lively people and every year more and more players come more and more prepared, so I have a feeling that Brazil will get more bracelets this year.

I am rooting for not only Brazilians, but all Latinos in search of this same dream, I will be rooting for everyone”, mentions Anthony.

“I didn’t sleep even three hours, I was dying to play, to be here again. I had a great feeling of gratitude for having the opportunity to be here, participating in this event”

We are all very good friends, many were ‘born’ with me, we studied poker together in the past, we had teams together. It’s always great to be with Brazilians here”, adds Vitor Martins.

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Written By: Iva Dozet News Editor
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