Brazilian Player’s INSANE Journey From Beans to the WSOP Main Event!
Winning the World Series of Poker Main Event is a dream that lives in the minds of every poker player, at least everyone I have met, including myself. The unfortunate reality is that most poker players will never win the big one, but it will never stop players from coming to Las Vegas from around the world to try.
From São Paulo to Sin City: A Second Shot at Greatness
It was from that group that we met Brazilian poker player Lucas Bandeira, a tall young man who had made the journey to Las Vegas for the second time. Last year, in the Main Event, which he qualified for through the Road to Vegas on GGPoker, he finished 282nd – an incredible result for his first time in the greatest poker tournament. This year, he had hoped to repeat his success.
His path both years started the same. He won a $150 satellite into a $1,200 direct entry tournament, both of which ended with him winning a seat.
Childhood Memories: When Beans Were Chips
“I remember the first time I saw people playing poker. I was maybe 8 years old and my brother and his friends were playing, using beans as chips. They were having so much fun playing that I couldn’t wait to play too.” Growing up in Brazil can be tricky, but for Lucas and his family, there was always fun to be had.
The first time Lucas played was for pennies with friends at just 15 years old, and he immediately realized that it wasn’t just fun, it was something he enjoyed and was good at. He made the jump to online at 18. He soon realized that there were many good players, and even though he was losing, he still enjoyed playing, particularly the tournaments.
The $109 Misclick That Changed Everything
His first big win came about as an accident. As much as he enjoyed playing in the tournaments and testing his skill, his bankroll wouldn’t support it. To circumvent this, he would satellite his way into the larger tournaments for a much better return on the investment. On this one particular day, after repeating the same actions for years, he misclicked on the inexpensive satellite and accidentally bought into a $109 tournament, which, as luck and skill would have it, he won. That victory jump-started his journey into the bigger events.
Finding His Platform: Why GGPoker Was the Obvious Choice
With visions of playing in the WSOP, Lucas jumped to GGPoker in 2021. In addition to the WSOP, it was “the bigger prizes with smaller buy-ins, the huge player pools, and so many games and, of course, the satellites. For me, it was the obvious choice.” And based on the results, it most certainly was.
Technology Meets Tradition: The WSOP+ App Revolution
We talked for a while about his experience in Las Vegas this year and the changes made by GGPoker. “The WSOP this year has been great. The WSOP+ app has made everything so easy. Being able to see who I am playing with is great and seeing how they have done is a good help.”
Dreams Deferred: When the Cards Don’t Fall
Unfortunately for Lucas, his run would end short of the championship. Coming into day 5 with 390,000 put him on a shorter stack, and the cards just didn’t fall his way. Finishing 328th, while an incredible accomplishment, was not what he was looking for. “I wanted to do better than last year but the cards didn’t come. I’ll just have to do it again next year and try again. And next year, I’ll do even better.”
Heroes and Aspirations: From Stuey to Mateos
When asked who he takes inspiration from in the poker world, he responded, “Given the chance, I would have loved a chance to have met and played with Stuey Ungar. But right now, I think that Adrian Mateos is probably the best player in the world and I would really enjoy the change to talk poker with him.”
We do not doubt that Lucas will be back at the Main Event again, and we look forward to seeing what he can do. Until then, we will wish him the best of luck as he spends the last few days in Vegas, relaxing and playing some poker. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll get a chance to meet Mateos, after all, you never know what’s in the cards, especially when you’re in Las Vegas.
The Future of Poker: Breaking Down Barriers One Satellite at a Time
Lucas Bandeira’s journey illustrates how GGPoker has revolutionized access to the World Series of Poker for international players. Through innovative satellite structures, the Road to Vegas and other promotional programs, talented players from Brazil and beyond can now compete for poker’s most prestigious title without the traditional barriers.
GGPoker’s integration with the WSOP and the addition of the WSOP+ app represents a significant evolution in tournament poker. The platform’s satellite system allows players to turn modest investments into life-changing opportunities, while the WSOP+ app enhances the live tournament experience with real-time player information and statistics. This technological bridge between online and live poker has made the game available to everyone, creating pathways for emerging talent like Lucas to showcase their skills on poker’s grandest stage.
The next Main Event champion might just be one satellite away.
Article written by: Shawn Altbaum
Photographs by Tim Ash and are owned and are the exclusive property of GGPoker.
