The name might not have meant much a few months ago, but everyone in Brazil, as well as the global poker community, now knows the name Bruno “Foster” Politano. Although he doesn’t consider himself a professional poker player, he’s been grinding the felt for over a decade now. His most recent endeavor earned him a spot in the most elite group the poker world has ever known – the World Series of Poker November Nine. As of last weekend, he’s also the newest Ambassador for the highly reputable online poker operator, 888.
The announcement of Politano’s new sponsorship deal came by way of a Tweet from the 888Poker team that read, “Give a warm welcome to our new Ambassador at 888poker, 2014 #WSOP November Niner Bruno @foster18 Politano…” That message lead to a link on 888Poker in which the operator described its new representative as, “one Brazilian poker player who has all the goods.”
Bruno has racked up quite the profits enjoying his favorite pastime. He’s pulled in $840,779 competing in major live poker events, and another $304,688 at the online poker tables. When the 2014 WSOP Main Event reconvenes on November 10, he is guaranteed to add at least another $730,725 to his career cash records, or as high as $10,000,000 should he go on to win it.
Taking down the Main Event will be a lot easier said than done for the 31 year old poker player. He ended Day 7 with the lowest chip stack of 12.5 million. On the bright side, that is the highest chip stack any member of the November Nine has carried as the lowest stack at the start of the final table. But Bruno isn’t worried about chips or pressure, saying it’s the energy around him that gives him his intuitionally-driven edge, and if there’s one thing he’s got more of than any other member of the November Nine, its positive energy. Politano’s rail was the largest and most boisterous on Day 7, and is expected to swell to over 200 come November when the final table resumes.
Bruno Politano will represent 888Poker for the Latin American community, which has grown exponentially over the last few years. Ever since the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) was introduced by PokerStars and SKY Brazil in 2006, awareness and interest has been on the rise. Although several high-profile poker players have emerged from the region since, up until last month, no Brazilian had ever made the final table of the World Series of Poker. Politano’s inaugural appearance is expected to strike an even larger chord with the Latin American community.
“Foster” has never finished 1st in any major live poker tournaments; at least not yet. His best finishes to date include an 8th place finish at the 2011 LAPT IV Main Event worth $27,206 and a 7th place finish at the 2010 BSOP for $12,162. He also finished in the money in the 2012 and 2014 BSOP, but earned $2,607 and $3,134 for respective 57th and 148th place finishes. The difference in those prize amounts, in relation to Politano’s finishing positions, should give a strong indication to just how popular the BSOP has become over last 2 years.