André Akkari: Biography, Career and Poker Results

October 9, 2026

Table of Contents

André Akkari is a Brazilian professional poker player, born in São Paulo in 1974, who won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2011. He came to poker at 30 from a career in technology, became the first Latin American player sponsored by PokerStars in 2007, and was described by Rolling Stone Brasil as Brazil’s poker ambassador. He is also the founder and CEO of the Brazilian esports organization FURIA. ^[1][3]

André Akkari, Brazilian poker player, photographed in 2010 — “André Akkari” by Rodrigo Dionisio, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

André Akkari: key facts

Full name	André Akkari
Country	Brazil ^[1]
Born	December 28, 1974, São Paulo ^[3]
Known for	2011 WSOP bracelet; PokerStars ambassador since 2007; founder of FURIA ^[1][4]
WSOP bracelets	1 (78 WSOP cashes, 10 final tables) ^[2]
Best result	1st, 2011 WSOP Event #43, $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em, $675,117 ^[5]
Poker Hall of Fame	Not inducted
Live tournament earnings	$4,084,195 as of October 5, 2026 ^[1]

Early life: from advertising and technology to poker

Akkari was born in São Paulo on December 28, 1974, and holds a degree in advertising and marketing. Before poker he was a partner in a technology company. According to a 2011 profile in Rolling Stone Brasil, a foreign client asked the company for a project involving a poker website, and Akkari installed the software to prepare a quote. He told the magazine he had never played card or board games before, and he began taking poker seriously at 30, spending $50 on two poker books. ^[3]

Beginning in poker

He started with online tournaments and weekend amateur games. In late 2005 he travelled to Las Vegas with three friends and won $22,000 in a tournament with more than 400 players. In 2006 he turned professional, playing online under the name “AAkkari”, and he also worked as a commentator on ESPN poker broadcasts. ^[3][4]

In 2007 he became the first Latin American player sponsored by PokerStars, and in 2008 he recorded his first cash at the World Series of Poker. ^[3][4] He still appeared on the list of PokerStars team members in 2026. ^[8]

Playing style

Most of Akkari’s biggest scores came in No-Limit Hold’em, but his WSOP record also includes deep runs in mixed games: second place in the 2022 $2,500 Nine Game Mix, sixth in the 2019 $10,000 Razz Championship and seventh in the 2024 $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. ^[1][2]

Rolling Stone Brasil described his table approach in his own terms: when he does not know the players at his table, he spends the first 20 to 25 minutes watching how they talk and behave before getting involved. He summed up the game as “simulating strength when you don’t have it and simulating weakness when you do”. In the 2011 bracelet final, PokerNews reported that he played “a little ‘old school’ poker” heads-up, grinding his stack rather than moving all in repeatedly. ^[3][5]

Greatest achievements

The 2011 WSOP bracelet

Event #43 of the 2011 World Series of Poker, a $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, drew 2,857 entries and a prize pool of $3,856,950. ^[6] The final was stopped at heads-up, and Akkari returned the next day against Nachman Berlin, who led 9.46 million to 3.4 million in chips. After almost three hours Akkari doubled up with ace-eight against king-queen, then took the chip lead when his pocket kings held against ace-ten. On the final hand his king-jack made trip kings against Berlin’s ace-eight, and Brazilian fans in the Thunderdome rushed the floor. He won $675,117. ^[5]

Selected tournament results

Year	Event	Result	Prize	Source
2011	WSOP Event #43, $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em (2,857 entries)	1st	$675,117	[6]
2023	EPT Barcelona €5,300 Main Event (1,593 entries)	5th	€393,300 ($424,611)	[2]
2017	PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event	5th	€317,960 ($373,767)	[1]
2019	EPT Monte Carlo €25,000 No-Limit Hold’em	3rd	€184,520 ($206,283)	[1]
2025	BSOP Super High Roller Series, $30,000 Super High Roller	4th	$142,000	[1]
2022	WSOP Event #52, $2,500 Nine Game Mix 6-Handed	2nd	$135,848	[1]
2019	WSOP Event #62, $10,000 Razz Championship	6th	$51,911	[1]
2024	WSOP Event #42, $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship (107 entries)	7th	$35,893	[2]

The 2023 EPT Barcelona Main Event was the second time he finished fifth in a Barcelona main event, six years after the 2017 PokerStars Championship. PokerNews described him as the event’s “ultimate survivor” over the last three days, winning numerous all-ins while nursing a short stack most of the time. ^[1][9]

World Series of Poker record

His WSOP.com profile lists one bracelet, 78 cashes, 10 final tables and $2,290,969 in earnings, a total that includes the EPT and BSOP results shown on that profile. ^[2] In the $10,000 Main Event his recorded cashes include 409th in 2017, 348th in 2021 and 689th in 2022. ^[1]

Hall of Fame and records

Akkari is not a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. In a 2020 interview with PokerNews he argued that his work as a Latin American poker ambassador mattered more than any single title, and he noted that he was then one of six Brazilians to have won a WSOP bracelet. ^[4] Card Player, which also counts real-name online results, credits him with $3,751,169 in earnings from 108 cashes. ^[7]

Beyond the table: PokerStars and FURIA

Akkari first signed with PokerStars in 2007 and was still listed as a PokerStars team member in 2026. ^[3][8] PokerNews describes him as the CEO and founder of FURIA, a Brazilian esports organization. ^[1]

In his own words

“Bracelet winners will be remembered forever.” PokerNews interview, 2020. ^[4]
“When I first got into the Rio, it was like I knew everything already! It was like I was at Disneyland in that moment.” On his first WSOP, PokerNews, 2020. ^[4]
“I was so confident and so aware of any possible move from my opponent that it gives you what you need to win in any sport or game.” On the 2011 heads-up match, PokerNews, 2020. ^[4]
“I don’t play for the money. It’s for the pleasure of the game.” Translated from Portuguese (“Não jogo pelo dinheiro. É pelo prazer do jogo, pela dinâmica”), Rolling Stone Brasil, 2011. ^[3]
“I have never won anything by luck.” Translated from Portuguese (“Nunca ganhei nada por sorte”), Rolling Stone Brasil, 2011. ^[3]

Iconic hands and moments

Akkari’s best moments on the EPT, part 1 (PokerStars Brasil, in Portuguese)

Akkari at the EPT Barcelona final table, part 2 (PokerStars Brasil, in Portuguese)

FAQ about André Akkari

How old is André Akkari?

André Akkari was born on December 28, 1974, so he is 51 as of October 5, 2026. ^[3]

Where is André Akkari from?

He is Brazilian and was born in São Paulo. ^[3][7]

What is André Akkari’s net worth?

There is no reliable public figure for his net worth. What can be verified is his live tournament record: $4,084,195 in earnings as of October 5, 2026, according to PokerNews. Sponsorship and business income are not published. ^[1]

How many WSOP bracelets does André Akkari have?

One, won in Event #43, $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em, at the 2011 World Series of Poker for $675,117. He came close to a second in 2022, finishing second in the $2,500 Nine Game Mix. ^[1][2]

Has André Akkari won the WSOP Main Event?

No. His recorded Main Event cashes include 409th in 2017, 348th in 2021 and 689th in 2022. ^[1]

Is André Akkari in the Poker Hall of Fame?

No, he has not been inducted. ^[4]

Is André Akkari a PokerStars pro?

Yes. He became the first Latin American player sponsored by PokerStars in 2007, and he was listed among PokerStars team members in 2026. ^[3][8]

What is André Akkari’s connection to FURIA?

He is the CEO and founder of FURIA, a Brazilian esports organization. ^[1]