PokerStars has welcomed Brazil’s first WSOP Champion, South American Poker Pro Alexandre Gomes, into the fold of professional poker players and world champions that make up Team PokerStars Pro.

“Alexandre is a fantastic addition to the world champions of Team PokerStars Pro. Through a mix of card playing skills and competitive spirit, he has exploded on the poker circuit and we believe he will continue to be a player to watch.” said Andre Akkari, Team PokerStars Pro.

Born in Curitiba, Brazil, 25 yr old Gomes trained as a lawyer graduating in 2005 and becoming a partner at a corporate law office in his home city. In the past Alexandre had played poker at home with friends, treating it as a social hobby, until he discovered the online tournaments on offer at PokerStars.net. He started playing regularly online and began winning big money - eventually enough to leave the legal profession behind and become a fully fledged poker pro.

Gomes had been making regular cash finishes in some of the biggest PokerStars tournaments by early 2007, his most significant win coming in February 2008, when he cashed $65,333 in the Wednesday Hundred Fifty Grand. At this time he also started to have an impact on the live poker scene, making several final table appearances at events in his native Brazil.

Alexandre has played at a few WSOP events previously, but when he made his way to Vegas this year, he could never have imagined he would go down in history as Brazil’s first WSOP champion. In what was to be only his third ever World Series event he played in the $2,000 No Limit Hold’em event. Amongst a field of 2,300 players Gomes emerged the triumphant winner, securing the WSOP bracelet and cashing $770,540.

In a short time he has made a huge impact and you get the feeling he is just getting started, “I’ve always dreamed about playing on Team PokerStars Pro and winning a golden bracelet. Now, I have realized both dreams at the same time…I don’t want to wake up!” says Gomes.

When he isn’t playing poker, Alexandre is huge soccer fan and plays regularly with friends. He is already a well know player on PokerStars.net - using the screen name "Allingomes”. He joins fellow Brazilian Andre Akkari and the ever expanding roster of Team PokerStars Pro that includes such big names as Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, Barry Greenstein, Isabelle Mercier, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso, Bertrand Grospellier, Humberto Brenes and many other top pros from around the world.