There is almost no country like Brasil when it comes to excitement for poker, and it's the home of World Series of Poker bracelet winner Andre Akkari.
Akkari sees poker as a mind sport and its exponential growth shows that there's no end in sight for its popularity. Add in the achievement of Bruno Politano reaching the WSOP Main Event final table to be showcased on poker's largest stage and things could get even larger in the South American country.
In this video, a very excited Akkari looks forward to the BSOP Millions that runs from November 25 through December 3 in São Paulo:
Giuseppe Pantaleo opened to 700 under the gun, and it almost got to a family pot as Fernando Brito, Max Greenwood, the hijack, the small blind, and Michael Brinkenhoff in the big blind all called.
The small blind checked on , but Brinkenhoff bet out 2,000 from the big blind. Pantaleo folded, Brito, Greenwood, and the hijack all made the call.
The fell on the turn and Brinkenhoff now checked. Brito bet out 3,000 and Greenwood and the hijack called. Brinkenhoff check raised to just 6,000, and action was on Brito. The man from Portugal raised to 16,000. Greenwood folded, but both the hijack and Brinkenhoff made the call.
The fell on the river, and Brinkenhoff checked to Brito. Brito moved all in for 20,575, and the hijack instantly folded. Brinkenhoff made the call though, and showed his for the winning full house. Brito mucked his and made his way to the exit.
The €10,300 High Roller is getting bigger and bigger. The total amount of entries is up to 225, and there are still people waiting in line to get seated. Dominik Nitsche is one of them, waiting to get some fresh 50,000 in chips.
Jason Mercier is playing today and is seated at the same table as Ami Alibay. The American and Canadian played a pot just now, and Mercier got the best of it.
Mercier opened to 600 from the hijack, and Alibay called on the button. Fabrice Soulier, who won the €10,300 High Roller in Vienna last season for €392,900, called from the big blind.
Soulier checked to Mercier on , and the American made a 1,150 continuation bet. Just Alibay made the call, Soulier folded.
Mercier asked another 3,100 from his opponent after the hit the turn, and Alibay agreed to put 3,100 in the pot as well.
Both players checked the on the turn and Mercier turned over the winning , Alibay mucked.
Team PokerStars Pro Eugene Katchalov checked the board to Mike McDonald, who has joined the €10,300 High Roller after busting from the €5,300 Main Event for a score of €13,900. McDonald bet 2,500, and Katchalov called.
The river completed the board with the to pair the board. Katchalov thought, then checked. McDonald bet 5,000, and Katchalov folded.
From middle position, Jiajie Liang raised to 600. Ruben Visser called from the cutoff seat, Jack Salter called on the button, and then Dominik Nitsche reraised to 3,200 from the small blind. After the big blind folded, Liang fired back with a reraise to 6,400. Visser and Salter folded, but Nitsche called to take a flop.
Out of position, Nitsche checked the flop. Liang checked behind, and the turn was the . Nitsche checked, Liang bet 7,400, and Nitsche called.
The river card was the , and Nitsche checked. Liang bet 12,700, and Nitsche called.
Liang showed the for two pair, queens and sixes, but Nitsche's for a backdoor flush was the winning hand.
Fabian Quoss and Paul Vas Nunes checked the flop over to Viacheslav Goryachev. He bet 1,500, Quoss called, and Vas Nunes folded. The turn was the , and Quoss checked. Goryachev bet 3,000, and Quoss folded.
Thomas Muhlocker in the Super High Roller earlier this festival
Dan Shak opened the button for 800, and Sven Reichardt three bet to 2,400 from the small blind. Thomas Muehloecker in the big blind cold four bet to 4,500 and action was back on Shak. The American High Roller, who cashed €138,600 for his 8th place finish in the €50,000 Super High Roller earlier this festival, five bet to 15,000. Reichardt folded, but Muehloecker made the call after some thinking.
The flop came and Muehloecker checked to Shak. The dealer thought Shak checked behind and was ready to burn and turn, but Shak had announced all in and reminded the dealer of that. Muehloecker called instantly by putting in some 100 chips. "Ace king?" he asked while turning over . It was no ace king for Shak, he had just and needed to improve.
The on the turn and on the river were blanks, and after a little bit of counting, it was clear that Muehloecker had Shak covered.
"You didn't like the flop huh?" said Shak, "No, not too much" answered Muehloecker with a small smile.
From under the gun, Elliot Smith raised to 800. Defending champion Thomas Muehloecker reraised to 1,900 from the hijack seat, and then Jorma Nuutinen reraised to 5,000 from the cutoff seat. Play folded back to Muehloecker, and he reraised to 12,500. Nuutinen had 36,400 behind and moved all in for 41,400 total. Muehloecker called with the , but was dominated by Nuutinen's .
The flop, turn, and river ran out , and Nuutinen successfully doubled through Muehloecker.
, but Brinkenhoff bet out 2,000 from the big blind. Pantaleo folded, Brito, Greenwood, and the hijack all made the call.
fell on the turn and Brinkenhoff now checked. Brito bet out 3,000 and Greenwood and the hijack called. Brinkenhoff check raised to just 6,000, and action was on Brito. The man from Portugal raised to 16,000. Greenwood folded, but both the hijack and Brinkenhoff made the call.
fell on the river, and Brinkenhoff checked to Brito. Brito moved all in for 20,575, and the hijack instantly folded. Brinkenhoff made the call though, and showed his 
for the winning full house. Brito mucked his 
and made his way to the exit.
, and the American made a 1,150 continuation bet. Just Alibay made the call, Soulier folded.
hit the turn, and Alibay agreed to put 3,100 in the pot as well.
on the turn and Mercier turned over the winning 
, Alibay mucked.
board to Mike McDonald, who has joined the €10,300 High Roller after busting from the €5,300 Main Event for a score of €13,900. McDonald bet 2,500, and Katchalov called.
to pair the board. Katchalov thought, then checked. McDonald bet 5,000, and Katchalov folded.
flop. Liang checked behind, and the turn was the 
. Nitsche checked, Liang bet 7,400, and Nitsche called.
, and Nitsche checked. Liang bet 12,700, and Nitsche called.
for two pair, queens and sixes, but Nitsche's 
flop over to Viacheslav Goryachev. He bet 1,500, Quoss called, and Vas Nunes folded. The turn was the 
, and Quoss checked. Goryachev bet 3,000, and Quoss folded.
on the river were blanks, and after a little bit of counting, it was clear that Muehloecker had Shak covered.
, and Nuutinen successfully doubled through Muehloecker.
