Brazilian Pros Kawauti And Villa-Lobos Join 888poker

Online gaming operator 888poker has recently announced the addition of two rising Brazilian players to their roster of pros at Team 888poker, in the guise of Bruno Kawauti and Nicolau Villa-Lobos. Both players will now represent Team 888poker at tournaments around the world, including the 2013 WSOP Europe scheduled to get underway in October.
Bruno Pereira Lima Kawauti from Sao Paulo, (right of photo) only cashed in at his first live tournament in 2010, but has already managed to amass $543,435 in winnings. However, most of that total has come courtesy of the WSOP Main Event, where in 2012 he finished in 110th place for $52,718, before in 2013 he became the last Brazilian standing after a 15th place finish good for $451,398.
Following the signing of his deal, Kawauti commented: “I am happy that 888poker is taking interest in Brazil. I look forward to playing with Team 888poker around the world and representing Brazil.”
Fellow signing Nicolau Villa-Lobos, (left of photo) already carries a famous name being the son of Brazilian rock legend Dado Villa-Lobos. Nevertheless, Nicolau has successfully managed to carve out his own success in Brazil’s exploding poker industry, with impressive results in both the online and live arena. Online, Villa-Lobos famously won the 2013 PokerStars’ $1,050 SCOOP-M Main for $451,398, while his live tournament results include $302,030 in winnings since only last year.
Remarking on his joining Team 888poker, Villa-Lobos stated: “Can’t wait to start using the patch and representing 888 and Brazil around the world. It’s unbelievable being part of such a great team with amazing players.”
The two Brazilian players will now join a line-up of pros at Team 888poker, which includes such notables as WSOP 2011 November Niner Sam Holden, Tyler Bonkowski, James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson, Bojan Gledovich and Ernst Hermans. The team also includes sports celebrities Shane Warne, Santiago Cañizares and Patrick De Koster.