TDA + WPF Continental Summit: Brazil Brings Together More Than 200 Tournament Leaders

Institutional Collaboration at the Forefront

The Summit was organized collaboratively by the World Poker Federation (WPF), the Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA), the Brazilian Association of Poker Tournament Directors (ADTP), and the Brazilian Poker Federation (CBTH), highlighting a unified approach aimed at reinforcing the long-term foundation of the sport. The event also welcomed the WPF Women’s Committee, whose ongoing efforts with regional leaders focus on fostering more inclusive tournament environments and expanding opportunities and visibility for women in competitive poker.

Key Discussions That Shaped the Day

The agenda of the Summit revolved around two central themes.
The first focused on player conduct at the table — a topic brought back into the spotlight after recent incidents involving Martin Kabrhel at the BSOP Millions. Tournament officials explored where the line lies between acceptable behavior and actions that compromise competitive integrity, stressing the importance of clearer guidelines and more decisive intervention when player conduct disrupts the environment.

The second major theme addressed the role of electronic devices. This discussion expanded into broader concerns about real-time assistance, coaching technologies, and emerging digital tools. Participants largely agreed that global regulations must continue to evolve in a consistent manner to safeguard fairness and preserve poker’s identity as a skill-based mind sport.

In addition to these core topics, the Summit also delved into issues such as shot clocks, late registration rules, speech play, and other practices that directly impact game flow, transparency, and the overall experience of players. The event offered a valuable setting for industry professionals to examine these matters in depth, drawing on real-world tournament situations from various regions.

Experts Who Guided the Conversation

The Summit was guided by influential leaders within the Brazilian and Latin American tournament landscape. Among them was Devanir “DC” Campos — a TDA board member, founder of the BSOP, veteran ADTP representative, and CEO of Stack Eventos. His long-standing involvement in shaping some of the region’s most respected tournament circuits provided valuable insight throughout the discussions.

Joining him was Alberoni “Bill” Castro, president of the Brazilian Poker Federation (CBTH) and sports director for the World Poker Federation (WPF). Bill brought an institutional perspective, emphasizing cross-federation cooperation, regulatory progress, and the need for consistent standards across the continent.

The expert panel was completed by Roberto “Bob” Soares, chief tournament director for the BSOP and tournament director for both the LAPT and CCTH, together with Marcus Júnior, tournament director of the BSOP. Their extensive operational expertise—earned through overseeing some of the hemisphere’s largest and most intricate poker events—added depth and practical context to the conversations.

A Highlight: The Industry Perspective

One of the highlights of the Summit was a keynote delivered by Gabriel Castro from PokerWeb. His deep dive into both the Latin American and global poker landscapes offered participants valuable strategic perspectives on emerging trends, player dynamics, technological shifts, and the ongoing development of live and online poker. His insights clearly illustrated how and why the region has grown into one of the most competitive and vibrant poker markets in the world.

A Step Forward in How Poker Is Understood and Governed

Roberto Lifschitz, marketing director of the World Poker Federation, summarized the broader significance of the event:

Looking Ahead

The groups organizing the Summit are aligned around a common vision. Following the strong success of previous editions in Asia and Latin America, they plan to extend this format to additional regions, elevating professional standards and fostering a global network of cooperation among the people who shape and oversee the game. Upcoming editions are expected to expand to new continents, engaging more directors, organizers, and institutions in a shared mission to support the long-term growth of poker across the world.