Alexandre Gomes in 2008. Andre Akkari in 2011. Yuri Dzivielevski in both 2019 and 2020. And now Joao Simao has added his name to the rich and storied history of Brazilians at the World Series of Poker.
The former PocketFives world #1-ranked online poker player won his first bracelet in the GGPoker WSOP Online taking down Event #2: $1,111 Caesars Cares for $206,075.
PokerNews spoke to the partypoker Ambassador who said it felt great to finally win his first bracelet.
The cards are in the air in the GGPoker WSOP Online. The PokerNews live reporting team is on top of all things WSOP. Don't miss a beat!
A New Favorite Victory for Simao
Everywhere you look within Simao's poker resume - both live and online - there are strong performances. His career has seen him win SCOOP titles in 2020 and 2021 and numerous Powerfest titles, with Simao memorably once eliminating his own wife from the Latin American Poker Championships Super High Roller final table.
Read More: João Simão Eliminates Wife, Takes Second in Latin American Poker Championships SHR
"I've had bigger scores, and my favorite title was my first Powerfest title as I'd only just signed as a partypoker Ambassador," said Simao. "But now with 12 Powerfest titles, I guess that the bracelet is now my favorite one!"
Last year we saw former partypoker Ambassador Roberto Romanello win a WSOP bracelet in Event #39: $1,500 No Limit Hold'em, completing a Triple Crown. Simao says that his former teammate has already reached out to congratulate the Brazilian on his victory.
"I was very happy for Roberto [in 2020] as we were really close as ambassadors. And now to have him congratulating me was amazing! I hope to see more partypoker ambassadors winning soon."
The Brazilian Storm
In the PokerNews GGPoker WSOP Online prediction article, two staff members picked out Brazil as the country to win the most bracelets, with compatriots Felipe Ramos and Yuri Dzivielevski pegged as players to win bracelets. Simao says he's happy to join this elite group of Brazilian WSOP champions, but suggests there could be more.
"We have so many good [Brazilian] players fighting for a bracelet," he said. "We don't have more titles because it's terrible for us to play in Las Vegas for tax reasons.
Related: Another Bracelet for Negreanu and Brazil to Shine in Our WSOP Online Predictions
"The Brazilian rail [at the Rio] is incredible, and I would love the feeling of it live. But we have people streaming it on Twitch and it was insane how many of those crazy Brazilian people were supporting and celebrating with me."
Does Simao have his eye on any other Brazilians to watch over the rest of the WSOP Online and beyond?
"It's hard to say one name! It's unfair! All I can say is that the Brazilian storm is coming for more!"
Live vs Online Bracelets
"Why is a WSOP title more important than a partypoker MILLIONS title?"
Much has been made of the number of online bracelets being awarded in the last couple of years. Four Brazilians won bracelets during the 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online, with seven in the preceding 12 years. Simao says he doesn't see the difference.
"Both are open to anyone, you don't need to qualify like in other sports, just buy in. Online it's much harder as there are more pros and fewer amateurs.
"Live you do have the prestigiousness of the 'original version', but in the end I guess they're similar. It's a matter of history. Why is a WSOP title more important than a partypoker MILLIONS title? Both are special. In the MILLIONS often it's much more skilled, and you win more than WSOP events.
"For me, in the end, the only difference is the history. That's what I will tell my children."
2021 Goals
While Simao will no doubt be gunning for a second bracelet over the rest of the WSOP Online, his eyes are already set on the WPT World Online Championships that start on partypoker next week.
"Now that I already won a bracelet, I'm very excited to play the WPT online on partypoker," he said.
Simao added that he's already won his seat to the $5,000 WPT Main Event, and says that the field is going to encourage many more players to join.
"partypoker is running some really soft qualifiers for the Main Event which makes it much easier to qualify. It promises to be one of the softest $5,000 events ever!"
After the World Online Championships, Simao says his plans are unclear due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
"I expect to head to partypoker MILLIONS in Northern Cyprus in September, then the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. After that, it's the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) to celebrate with the Brazilian poker community."
And what a celebration it will be...
