The world-renowned Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr has won a satellite competition that gives him a seat in the 2016 World Series of Poker main event, which begins in early July. He was playing in a two-table satellite event at the Rio casino in Las Vegas which awarded him the $10,000 buy-in for the annual WSOP tournament, a prestigious and competitive arena. The football star is a familiar face on the poker scene, as he is a celebrity ambassador for the world’s favourite online poker site, PokerStars. As well as being a sponsored player here , Neymar has played in numerous European Poker Tour live events across Europe.
He was signed by PokerStars in May of last year, where he acts as an ambassador along with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. A few months after this, the 24-year-old football player generated excitement when he hit a royal flush playing in a low buy-in tournament on the PokerStars site. The famous Brazilian player stopped off in LAs Vegas as part of his ambassadorial duties with PokerStars.
While Neymar was in the USA, Brazil were also there for the Copa America football tournament in which they shockingly crashed out after losing 1-0 against Peru in Massachusetts. His national team may have done badly but at least Neymar went home a winner this weekend. The Brazil and Barcelona FC star is sitting out the Copa in favour of focussing on the Olympics later this summer. The 2016 Rio Olympics begin on Friday the 5th of August which allows him the opportunity to play in the WSOP main event if he chooses to.
After winning the PokerStars sponsored event in Las Vegas, Neymar Jr. has earned himself a seat at the WSOP. He was the last man standing (in a field of 18 respected poker professionals) in a two-table satellite qualifier event which he entered, and won for himself the $10,000 entry fee to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. The tournament begins on July 9th, Neymar has not officially announced if he will take up the place in the event. He is expected to miss the WSOP event and pass on the entry as he is scheduled to represent Brazil at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
