Andre Akkari

Andre Akkari was born on December 28, 1974, in São Paulo, Brazil. Before getting into poker, he worked at a software company creating Flash animations for websites. While researching poker sites for work, he downloaded a poker game and initially played with play money. He then bought poker books to study the game systematically and started playing real money games on PokerStars, gradually becoming profitable. In 2006, he turned professional.

Akkari’s most notable victory came in 2011 at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #43: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em. He defeated 2,229 players to win the title and $675,117 in prize money, becoming the second Brazilian ever to win a WSOP gold bracelet. As of 2024, he holds 1 WSOP bracelet, 51 WSOP cashes, 10 WSOP final tables, and total WSOP earnings of over $2.29 million.

On the European Poker Tour (EPT), he has also excelled: 5th place in the 2017 PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event (€317,960) and 5th place in the 2023 EPT Barcelona Main Event (€393,300). Additionally, he has multiple titles on the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) and the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP).

As of December 2024, his live tournament earnings total $4,084,195 (Hendon Mob data), placing him among the top five Brazilian players globally.

Akkari joined PokerStars Team Pro in 2007 and has been an iconic figure on the Brazilian team. He plays online under the screen name "AAkkari" and has a large fan following.

Outside of poker, he is the co-founder and CEO of the Brazilian esports organization FURIA, founded in 2017. The team competes in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch, and has become one of the most influential esports organizations in Latin America.

Akkari is known for a solid, patient style, excelling in deep-stack strategy and position control. He focuses on pot management and opponent range analysis, with precise post-flop decision-making. As a tight-aggressive (TAG) player, he adjusts flexibly according to the tournament phase, particularly adept at multi-table online play. He emphasizes the importance of emotional control and bankroll management, viewing poker as a long-term game.

Akkari is close friends with Brazilian football superstar Neymar Jr., who often consults him for poker advice and has expressed interest in becoming a professional poker player after retiring from football.

Akkari himself was once a professional football player, playing in lower-tier Brazilian leagues. This experience cultivated his competitive spirit and teamwork.

As a pioneer of Latin American poker, Akkari has inspired a generation of Brazilian players, including Team Pro teammate Rafael Moraes. He is often called the "Godfather of Latin American Poker," and his success has helped drive the growth of poker culture in Brazil and across South America.