‘Largest Poker Event in South America’ Coming to Brazil

Posted on: August 10, 2023, 08:10h. 

Last updated on: August 10, 2023, 11:51h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

The poker ecosystem in Latin America will raise the bar on live tournament events if everything goes according to plan. In January of next year, the Kings Series of Poker (KSOP) GGPoker South America will take place in Brazil, and is being billed as the largest poker event ever seen in the region. A total of BRL35 million (US$7.1 million) in guaranteed prize money will be on the table.

The sun sets behind Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The sun sets behind Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The city will play host next January to what will reportedly be the largest poker tournament in South America. (Image: Pinterest)

The event, which will last 15 days, will take place in Rio de Janeiro at the beachside town of Barra da Tijuca. Players will have a chance to participate in more than 70 events, including a BRL$100,000 (US$20,000) Super High Roller.

There’s also a BRL5,000 (US$1,000) Main Event, with a guaranteed prize pool of BRL10 million (US$2 million). The winner will automatically pocket BRL2 million (US$408,000) on top of his or her winnings.

Raising the Poker Bar In South America

The tournament series promises to “shake up the poker community like never before in Brazil,” according to a KSOP press release. It added that the Super High Roller will be the “most glamorous event” and will feature “Brazilian stars and international poker stars.”

Felipe “Mojave” Ramos, fourth on the Brazilian all-time poker money list and a GGPoker ambassador, tweeted about the event on X, the newest iteration of Twitter. He said the tournament will be an excellent opportunity for players, especially since there would be no direct taxes on winnings. In addition, there will be events for all budgets, making them accessible to a wide range of players.

Online poker platform GGPoker will start running satellite events for possible entry into the main event on November 5. At the same time, it will launch tourneys and other chances to win packages that include the tournament entry and lodging at the event’s host, the Sheraton Grand Rio.

The upcoming series is a continuation of a partnership between GGPoker and KSOP that began at the beginning of the year. The first series took place in Rio de Janeiro from February 8 to 14, part of a planned schedule of seven stages throughout the year in different Latin American countries. Five of these are live events, while the other two are online.

Poker Calendar Filling Up

Despite a reduction in participation in certain events, the recent World Series of Poker (WSOP) series in Las Vegas, which reportedly set new attendance records, shows that there’s no shortage of interest. As a result, the global poker calendar is becoming increasingly packed with events.

The Maryland State Poker Championship is currently underway, and the WSOP Europe is coming this October. The WSOP Europe Main Event might not be ready to award the winner the $12 million the WSOP Vegas Main Event did. But it’s getting there.

The tournament, returning to the Czech Republic, offers a guaranteed prize pool of €5 million ($5.51 million). Last year’s WSOP Europe Main Event topped the guarantee by $2.3 million.

In addition, PokerStars and Casino Barcelona in Spain will turn the city into the central point of international poker this month. Casino Barcelona is also going to host the Spanish Poker Championship from August 11 to 21. Then, the Estrellas Poker Tour will run from August 21 and 28.

The PokerStars Live European Poker Tour (EPT), which has already completed stops in France and Monte Carlo, will also descend on Barcelona from August 21 to September 3. It then moves to Cyprus in October and Prague in December.