Belarmino De Souza

Belarmino De Souza is a Brazilian professional poker player who has become one of the most successful names in South American poker history. With lifetime live tournament earnings exceeding $4.5 million, he ranks among Brazil's all-time money leaders. His biggest score came in December 2025 when he finished third in the WSOP Paradise $25,000 Super Main Event for $4,000,000—the second-largest prize ever won by a Brazilian player.

De Souza began his poker journey online, grinding low and mid-stakes tournaments before moving up to high-stakes games. His online success provided the bankroll and technical foundation for his transition to live events. Like many top Brazilian pros, he developed a deep understanding of ranges and mathematical play through years of multi-tabling.

De Souza's career changed in December 2025 at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. After starting the unofficial final table with only four big blinds, he battled back to reach the official eight-handed final table with the fourth-largest stack. He eventually fell in third place after a brutal cooler: his full house (tens full of fours) lost to runner-runner quads held by Jean-Noel Thorel. The $4,000,000 payday is his largest cash by far.

Beyond this event, De Souza has consistently performed on the European Poker Tour (EPT). He has multiple final tables, including a third-place finish in the €5,000 Mystery Bounty event at EPT Monte Carlo, and other deep runs at EPT Prague and EPT Cyprus. He also won a Pot Limit Omaha Grand Slam event in Albania for nearly $49,000.

In WSOP events, De Souza has accumulated 27 cashes between 2021 and 2026, totaling over $4.17 million in WSOP earnings alone. His best WSOP finish before the Paradise Super Main Event was 16th place in the 2022 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship. He has no WSOP bracelets, but his consistent high-level results have made him a fixture on the global circuit.

De Souza is known for an aggressive, modern approach built on a solid online foundation. He excels in high roller formats, where his ability to exploit small edges and maintain pressure sets him apart. He is versatile across No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha, often using mixed-game experience to find creative lines. At the table, he remains calm and professional, even under the intense pressure of multimillion-dollar final tables.

De Souza's $4,000,000 score placed him second on Brazil's all-time tournament earnings list, behind only Marcelo Aziz. He is consistently mentioned alongside Brazilian legends like Yuri Martins and Andre Akkari. His rise from online grinder to live high-stakes star serves as an inspiration for aspiring poker players in South America and beyond.