EPT Barcelona: How the Mini EPT Online brought Matheus de Sousa from Brazil to Barcelona
Meet the winner of the Mini EPT Monte Carlo Online Main Event who won a full package to EPT Barcelona for just $5.50.
We’re always on the lookout for unique qualifier stories on the European Poker Tour (EPT), and Brazil’s Matheus de Sousa certainly has one of those.
Not a single other PokerStars qualifier won their way to Barcelona the way he did.
For one, the 26-year-old from SĂŁo Paulo had to defeat a monstrous 13,485 other players to win a full EPT Barcelona package, so this was no ordinary satellite.
In fact, it wasn’t a satellite at all.
“I won the $5.50 buy-in Mini EPT Monte Carlo Main Event online,” says de Sousa, beaming with pride. For that incredible victory, de Sousa – who plays on PokerStars as “MSG1997” – not only won the $8,278 first-place prize, but also received an expenses-paid trip for this Main Event.
“The Mini Main win was my biggest score, but the package was even better!”
Now he’s here in Barcelona having an incredible time. He’s deep in the Main Event on Day 3, while his father is out enjoying the city.
Oh, and he’s sat opposite his hero…
Want to win your way to EPT Cyprus the same way de Sousa won his Barcelona package?
All you have to do is play (and win) either the $5.50 or $55 Mini EPT Barcelona Main Event on Sunday!
You’ll find all the details here.
DAD ABOUT TOWN
“He’s enjoying it more than me!” says Matheus de Sousa, when we ask how his father – who de Sousa brought as his guest – is getting on around town.
“I’m in here working, but he’s outside enjoying the city. He’s been to the beach, Camp Nou, the Sagrada FamĂlia…”
Matheus de Sousa at work while dad enjoys Barcelona
De Sousa Senior has popped into Casino Barcelona to witness his son in action on the tables, but he was told to come back later by his son.
“It was kind of boring on Day 1,” de Sousa says. “I told him to come back in the final days when it gets exciting and when the money gets bigger!”
If I was de Sousa, I’d tell Dad to get himself down here right now as his son is currently going to battle against arguably the most famous Brazilian poker player out there.
Andre Akkari is on de Sousa’s table
PokerStars Team Pro Andre Akkari is one of de Sousa’s heroes.
“I’ve been watching his videos for years, so now to be here playing with him is amazing.”
Akkari’s view of de Sousa
“I’VE NEVER PLAYED ANYTHING LIKE THIS”
Speaking of being stuck inside, that’s actually how Matheus de Sousa discovered poker.
“I was travelling with my friends and we were at the beach but it started to rain for days,” he says. “So every day we played poker while stuck inside. Just for fun, nothing serious.”
But de Sousa was enamoured by the game and soon found himself studying hard in a bid to get better. It worked, and two years ago he turned professional.
These days he mainly plays online poker, with the occasional live event at the Brazil Series of Poker (BSOP) or other local events.
“But I’ve never played anything like this,” he admits. “The EPT is amazing.”
Will de Sousa go from playing with hero to playing on the feature table?
He’s now hoping to go all the way in the EPT Barcelona Main Event… just don’t ask him to go on the feature table.
It’s really tense with all the cameras, man,” he says, chuckling. “I don’t want to go on the feature table but of course, I’d be happy to if I make the final table!”
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