Raphael Francisquetti Wins First WPT Brazil For $247,321

(Photo: Twitter.com)

It has been an amazing week for the WPT, with their $1billionth in prizemoney being handed out, a Legends of Poker final table which saw Phil Hellmuth finish second and topped the week off when they crowned the first-ever South American WPT event winner - Raphael Francisquetti scooping the WPT Brazil Main Event title and $247,321.

Francisquetti overcame a massive field of 3386 players who had entered the $475 Main Event at the Infinity Blue Resort & Spa in Camboriú, Brazil – the inaugural WPT event in South America proving that live poker is just as popular in Brazil as everyone suspected, smashing the guarantee with the final prize-fund of $1,349,836 being more than double the promised minimum.

WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage was highly enthusiastic about how Brazilian poker fans had reacted to the WPT visit, stating:

"Brazilian poker players have a passion for the game that is unmatched, and you can feel the excitement when you enter the room. It builds intensity until the final table is reached, when fans of the game come out and cheer on their friends and family chasing the dreams of a WPT title. WPT Brazil has been a truly incredible experience."

As the action headed towards the final table, Savage tweeted the rather incredible fact that of the thousands of players taking to the felt, only was from the good old US of A…

…and Jaka will basically become an honorary Brazilian among poker players anyway with the launch of his new Brazilian poker site ‘CheckraisePoker’.

And so to the winner of WPT Brazil, Raphael Francisquetti, who appears to have absolutely no prior tournament cashes to his name, yet finished ahead of some notable South American names – and ahead of Jaka too who eventually hit the rails in 7th, although his Brazilian adventure saw him still smiling…

…and a quick look at how the Brazilians do final tables…

With the $1billionth of WPT money going to an amateur player, the Legends of Poker Main Event to a relative unknown and now the first WPT Brazil going to a first-time casher let alone winner, it shows that you don’t have to be a big name pro to see your name in lights.

The “globalisation of the tournaments” as WPT CEO Adam Pliska calls it continues with WPT Uruguay at the end of October, and if they can even come close to the Brazilian fervour for the game it should be a treat for players and fans alike.

Final Table Payouts