EPT Barcelona: Akkari making his mark on Barcelona yet again
He recorded his first-ever cash on European soil here, as well as his deepest run. The Team Pro Andre Akkari just loves Barcelona
Andre Akkari has fond memories of Barcelona. Back in 2017, the Team PokerStars Pro battled through a field of 1,682 entries to finish in fifth position in what was then the PokerStars Championship Main Event.
Although the PokerStars Championship is no longer a thing, Akkari still very much is. Back this week at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event, he is once again the last remaining PokerStars ambassador in this field and is once again eyeing a deep run.
He survived the bubble, doubling up with quads, and then played his natural game through Day 3.
Akkari was the obvious choice to headline the feature table for the opening stages of Day 4. Viewers on Twitch and YouTube always enjoy seeing Akkari strut his stuff, particularly in his native Brazil where he remains a star.
He was one of the first Brazilians to win a WSOP bracelet; he is the go-to Brazilian for promotion of the game in his country; and he can take a large among of credit for the incredible popularity of the game across South America.
AKKARI’S PASSION STILL BURNS
And as for Akkari himself, he is still enjoying every minute of it.
“I’m feeling amazing,” Akkari tells reporters before the start of play today. “There are 79 left. It feels close, but it’s not that close.” He continued to talk about focus and discipline, ever the tournament professional knowing the kinds of ups and downs that poker can bring.
Akkari doubled with quads on the Main Event bubble
Akkari actually earned his first ever documented cash on European soil here at EPT Barcelona in 2006. That was worth €1,900 and came for 18th place in a €550 buy-in side event. Since then, there have been 11 more cashes in this venue for Akkari, including at least one ever year since 2011. (The pandemic wrote off 2020 and 2021.) See the full list below.
Akkari sits today alongside fellow Brazilian Felipe Boianovsky, perhaps better known as the online crusher “lipe piv”.
Boianovsky won the SCOOP Main Event in June this year, banking a career-high $1,036,199 and completing a rise to the top that began when he first watched poker on TV around 2007. Since then, he has won on WCOOP and earlier in SCOOP, before sealing that incredible success.
Akkari was among those who took notice.
Felipe Boianovsky: ‘One of the best’
“Felipe is one of the best,” Akkari says. “Not just online but live too. I have got to play good against him.”
Akkari is sitting with a stack almost right in the middle of the pack, but his table today has comparatively few chips in relation to other random tables the field. “I think there are positives and negatives to that,” Akkari says. “The chip leader can put on a lot of pressure…I try my best, that’s my plan.”
Remember, you can watch everything as Akkari attempts to navigate his way through this ever-toughening field. Tune in to the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels.
AKKARI’S BARCELONA RECORD
2022 – €2,200 ESPT High Roller: 9th place – €50,740
2019 – €1,100 EPT HORSE event: 3rd place – €8,940
2018 – €2,200 EPT National High Roller: 92nd place – €6,280
2017 – €5,300 PokerStars Championship Main Event: 5th place – €317,960
2016 – €5,000 EPT Turbo: 8th place – €13,360
2015 – €5,300 EPT Main Event: 32nd place – €27,400
2015 – €1,100 Estrellas Main Event: 80th – €4,950
2014 – €5,300 EPT Main Event: 134th place – €10,300
2013 – €2,150 NLHE Turbo: 17th place – €4,670
2011 – €5,300 EPT Main Event: 61st place – €14,000
2006 – €550 NLHE: 18th place – €1,900
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