It was Texas Holdem with a Brazilian twist on July 20 in Las Vegas. Alexandre Gomes, clad in a green and gold jacket, became the first Brazilian to win on the World Poker Tour. Cheered on by Brazilian friends, Gomes bested 268 players and a final table that included poker legend Eric Seidel to claim the $15,000 buy-in Bellagio Cup V title and $1.18 million prize.

The win adds to Gomes’s successes on the poker felt. In 2008, he became the first Brazilian to win a World Series of Poker bracelet in a $2,000 No Limit Holdem event that included a field of over 2,300 players – garnering him a cool $770,000.

Commenting on his ESPN Poker Edge podcast, professional poker player Phil Gordon says Gomes’s success is good for the growing popularity of poker in Brazil.

“That should do great things for poker in Brazil,” Gordon said. “I know that it’s growing very rapidly down there. I know because my book’s been translated into Portuguese and I see the kind of sales that it’s been getting.”

After graduation from law school in 2005, Gomes became partner at a law firm in Curitiba. Soon, however, he discovered the world of online poker, cashing regularly in some big online tournaments. Gomes began winning big bucks in some larger Brazilian tournaments as well and soon began thinking of the bright lights of Sin City. In 2007, he left trials and torts behind for the life of a poker pro.

When not in the law office or bluffing his chips on the felt, Gomes likes to play soccer and is an avid supporter of his hometown futebol team – Coritiba Football Club.

“It’s a very interesting change of life I would say,” Gomes says on PokerStars’ website about his new life after his WSOP victory. “Poker in Brazil is growing very fast. And this title that I won, it was like a boom for the market for poker. It was very nice”

As part of the PokerStars team, Gomes has the security many players dream of – poker sponsorship. He credits his aggressive style and ability to read his opponents as his keys to success. His career tournament winnings thus far – $2.9 million – or 5.5 Reals in Brazil. Definitely not a bad two years. Don’t bet against this Brazilian rounder!

– SEAN CHAFFIN