Frederick Fraga Bittar Caracante

Frederick Fraga Bittar Caracante, commonly known as Fred Bittar, emerged on the Brazilian poker scene with a stunning victory at the 2017 888Live São Paulo festival. While he does not consider himself a professional—maintaining a day job selling cars through his own website—his performance in the High Roller event showcased his skill and composure against a lineup of renowned players.

Bittar’s biggest live cash came in September 2017 when he won the R$2,500 buy-in High Roller at 888Live São Paulo. The event drew 110 entries, including notable names such as WSOP bracelet winner Chris Moorman, Bruno Foster, Felipe Mojave, and Leo Margets. Bittar entered the final table as the second-shortest stack with only 312,000 chips but gradually climbed back into contention. After a dramatic heads-up battle against Marcelo “Piu” Rodrigues de Souza, he secured first place and a prize of R$66,010 (approximately $21,305 USD), along with a package to the World Series of Poker Europe valued at $13,000.

In an interview after his win, Bittar admitted that at one point he was down to just 7–8 big blinds and thought he might not make it, but he persevered. He credited his supportive rail, which erupted each time he called a bet, for an “indescribable” feeling.

Bittar describes his style as tight and aggressive, relying on solid fundamentals and psychological study rather than high-level technical play. He acknowledges that full-time pros may be more technically skilled, but he refuses to be intimidated. “I try not to be intimidated by that and just play my own game,” he explained. He also emphasizes understanding variance, noting that it might take 10, 20, or 100 tournaments before winning again.

In deep tournaments, Bittar prefers to spend the early levels observing opponents’ tendencies and catching tells before opening up his game later. He sticks to what works for him and sees no reason to change after a big win.

Unlike many tournament grinders, Bittar does not rely on poker as his primary income. He runs a website that sells cars and plays poker mainly for recreation. Despite his amateur status, he regularly competes in the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) and other circuit events, earning respect for his consistent results.

Fred Bittar’s 888Live High Roller victory exemplifies how an amateur with a disciplined approach can triumph over seasoned professionals. His story inspires recreational players and underscores that dedication to fundamentals and mental fortitude can lead to success on a big stage.