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Here’s the story of an amateur poker player from Brazil
who lost his job in late 2019. His wife lost her job too when COVID-19 hit.
With 2 young kids, times were tough.
Then he turned $4 into $1,192,802.
Now their lives will never be the same.
Here comes a thread
who lost his job in late 2019. His wife lost her job too when COVID-19 hit.With 2 young kids, times were tough.
Then he turned $4 into $1,192,802.
Now their lives will never be the same.
Here comes a thread
1) Alex Brito has always been fascinated by poker.
“I’ve always loved card games but due to the rush of everyday life, I could never play as often as I wanted to," he says.
The 38-year-old worked as a Commercial Manager in Osasco where he lives with his wife & two young kids.
“I’ve always loved card games but due to the rush of everyday life, I could never play as often as I wanted to," he says.
The 38-year-old worked as a Commercial Manager in Osasco where he lives with his wife & two young kids.
2) In his spare time Alex Brito would play poker recreationally, dabbling in live cash games and the occasional tournament or Spin & Go on @PokerStars.
“I started playing as 'AAAArthur' when my son, Arthur, was born nine years ago.”
But in late-2019, Brito sadly lost his job.
“I started playing as 'AAAArthur' when my son, Arthur, was born nine years ago.”
But in late-2019, Brito sadly lost his job.
3) Alex Brito's wife–a pilates teacher–was also forced into unemployment when COVID-19 hit the world.
"My worries became a monster in my head. I was really afraid about the future," he says.
Then he saw that the Sunday Million 14th Anniversary was coming up, with $12.5M Gtd.
"My worries became a monster in my head. I was really afraid about the future," he says.
Then he saw that the Sunday Million 14th Anniversary was coming up, with $12.5M Gtd.
4) “Every year, I read about the Sunday Million Anniversary but didn’t try to play it," says Alex Brito.
"This year was different. I don’t know why, but I wanted to play it so much.”
But with his finances now under an all-time strain, playing the SM14 was by far a certainty.
"This year was different. I don’t know why, but I wanted to play it so much.”
But with his finances now under an all-time strain, playing the SM14 was by far a certainty.
5) The $215 buy-in was too much for Alex Brito's finances.
“It would have been crazy for me to enter. But when I saw the satellites I saw an opportunity.”
Brito didn’t just seize the opportunity, he grabbed it with both hands & ran untouched to score an epic 90-yard touchdown
“It would have been crazy for me to enter. But when I saw the satellites I saw an opportunity.”
Brito didn’t just seize the opportunity, he grabbed it with both hands & ran untouched to score an epic 90-yard touchdown
6) Alex Brito started with a $0.25 Spin & Go, which he won.
He then used his winnings to enter a $4 satellite, which he won.
From there, he gained entry into an $11 satellite with 100 seats guaranteed. He won one of those too.
He was now in the biggest event of his life.
He then used his winnings to enter a $4 satellite, which he won.
From there, he gained entry into an $11 satellite with 100 seats guaranteed. He won one of those too.
He was now in the biggest event of his life.
7) The only problem for Alex Brito was that so were thousands of other players.
After all, the event had $1.5M for the winner and 93,016 players registered to take a shot.
“Things didn’t start well,” Brito says.
At one point he was down to just six big blinds.
But then...
After all, the event had $1.5M for the winner and 93,016 players registered to take a shot.
“Things didn’t start well,” Brito says.
At one point he was down to just six big blinds.
But then...
8) Alex Brito doubled up.
Then he doubled up again.
“After the bubble burst on Day 2, my stack started to grow,” he says. “I kept picking up good hands and with an hour to go on the day I was chip leader with 50M in chips.”
Brito had now cashed for a life-changing $10K.
Then he doubled up again.
“After the bubble burst on Day 2, my stack started to grow,” he says. “I kept picking up good hands and with an hour to go on the day I was chip leader with 50M in chips.”
Brito had now cashed for a life-changing $10K.
9) Alex Brito finished the night 33rd in chips with 91 players remaining.
His goal on Day 3 was simple: secure as many pay jumps as possible.
But as the tournament went on, he began to trust his game more and more.
And when he reached the final table, he was confident.
His goal on Day 3 was simple: secure as many pay jumps as possible.
But as the tournament went on, he began to trust his game more and more.
And when he reached the final table, he was confident.
10) "I knew I had a magical opportunity,” says Alex Brito.
He entered the final table 3rd in chips & was already guaranteed $71,869, a colossal score in any regular tournament.
But with $1.5M up top, this was no regular tournament.
Thankfully, four players busted quickly.
He entered the final table 3rd in chips & was already guaranteed $71,869, a colossal score in any regular tournament.
But with $1.5M up top, this was no regular tournament.
Thankfully, four players busted quickly.
11) Alex Brito suddenly found himself with $225,108 locked up.
With four players left, they all decided to make a deal. At this point, Brito had two times the chips of his nearest competitor.
He was offered $1,142,802 with $50,000 still to play for.
He happily agreed.
With four players left, they all decided to make a deal. At this point, Brito had two times the chips of his nearest competitor.
He was offered $1,142,802 with $50,000 still to play for.
He happily agreed.
12) Alex Brito was officially a millionaire.
But the game continued. He reached the heads-up and flopped a full house which beat his opponent's pocket pair.
Somehow, miraculously, he was the champion.
“The penny hasn’t dropped yet,” he says. "I don't think I believe it."
But the game continued. He reached the heads-up and flopped a full house which beat his opponent's pocket pair.
Somehow, miraculously, he was the champion.
“The penny hasn’t dropped yet,” he says. "I don't think I believe it."
13) Alex Brito had turned $4 into $1.19M.
He celebrated with his family the only way they could under lockdown: at home, together.
But when the time comes to get out and celebrate, he has plans in the pipeline.
“One of them is to visit Las Vegas and play poker,” he says.
He celebrated with his family the only way they could under lockdown: at home, together.
But when the time comes to get out and celebrate, he has plans in the pipeline.
“One of them is to visit Las Vegas and play poker,” he says.
14) Alex Brito will always remember where he was–& the uncertain future he faced–when he took down the SM14.
“Poker doesn’t care about your social condition,” he says.
“Believe me, you must never give up. I’m an example.
“One day the storm will pass & everything will fit.”
“Poker doesn’t care about your social condition,” he says.
“Believe me, you must never give up. I’m an example.
“One day the storm will pass & everything will fit.”
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this story don’t forget to scroll back to the start, then like, share and follow for more.
I interviewed Alex "AAAArthur" Brito for @PokerStarsBlog in March 2020.
https://www.pokerstarsblog.com/en/news/sm14-winner-alex-aaaarthur-brito-on-turning-4-into-1-1-million-believe-me-you-must-never-give-up-im-an-example/62275/
If you enjoyed this story don’t forget to scroll back to the start, then like, share and follow for more.
I interviewed Alex "AAAArthur" Brito for @PokerStarsBlog in March 2020.
https://www.pokerstarsblog.com/en/news/sm14-winner-alex-aaaarthur-brito-on-turning-4-into-1-1-million-believe-me-you-must-never-give-up-im-an-example/62275/
