The city of São Paulo hosted the most recent edition of the Brazil Series of Poker (BSOP), the largest poker circuit in Latin America. Held at the prestigious WTC Sheraton, the event featured a total of 35 tournaments, with entry fees ranging from R$500 to R$25,000.
Among the participants, well-known figures from sports, music and humor stood out, such as MC Ryan SP, Sofia Espanha and Felipe Castanhari. Football star Neymar Jr. was also present, attracting significant attention.
Neymar, wearing Santos FC‘s number 10 jersey, took part in the high stakes cash game at the opening of the event. Alongside him were notable influencers such as Nobru and Bruna Unzueta.
This partnership was highlighted in several media outlets and social networks. Neymar had already made headlines when he organized a private tournament with Corinthians striker Memphis Depay in São Paulo.
Neymar and poker
Neymar’s involvement with poker is well known. Since 2015, he has served as an ambassador for PokerStars. In 2018, Neymar stood out in the High Rollers of BSOP São Paulo, finishing in sixth place and receiving R$79,440.
Poker continues to gain popularity in Brazil, as reported by the Brazilian Confederation of Texas Hold’em (CBTH), with over 10 million players. The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) recently classified poker as a mind sport, similar to chess and eSports.
WPF Marketing Director Roberto Lifschitz reinforced the importance of the presence of influencers and celebrities in poker.
He noted that figures like Neymar help attract media attention, providing greater visibility to the sport. “With Neymar living in Brazil again, he has been participating in more tournaments, bringing global attention,” Lifschitz said.
Leonardo Cavarge, CEO of WPF, echoed Lifschitz’s view, noting that the increased visibility contributes to WPF’s mission to build a global sports structure for poker. “This growth reinforces our role as a sport of the mind and unites the gaming community.”
