Neymar shows off poker skills with bluffs aplenty after a World Cup the Brazilian spent conning referees
Neymar turned his R$7,000 entry stake into R$79,440 before being eliminated in the final of the high roller event
Neymar, who was in the Brazil side that lost 2-1 to Belgium in the quarter-finals of the World Cup earlier this month, turned his R$7,000 (US$1,877) entry stake into R$79,440 (US$21,308) before being eliminated in the final of the high roller event, organisers said.
Neymar signed up for the tournament with five of his friends on Monday and was the only one of the six to make it through to the second day.
The final table of nine players was scheduled to play on Tuesday night but the contestants agreed to postpone for a day to allow Neymar to attend a friend’s wedding.
He returned to compete on Wednesday but after almost four hours of play was eliminated after betting big on two consecutive losing hands.
Poker has in recent years become one of the ways Brazilian footballers relax away from the game.
Ronaldo is a keen player and spokesman for an online poker firm, while Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and former Paris St Germain striker Nene also competed in Brazilian Series of Poker competitions this week, a spokesman said.
