The first ever Costa Rica Poker Festival ended recently and among the event champions was a Latin American poker legend who managed to win in his home country: Humberto Brenes. He proved that he is still going strong at 73 years old and after almost 40 years of playing poker.
Humberto’s first results were in 1987 in Las Vegas and in 1988 he managed to finish fourth in the Main Event won by Johnny Chan. He has cashed a total of 9 times in the WSOP Main Event and is just two away from the record of 11. At the WSOP he made 101 cashes, 23 final tables and won 2 bracelets, with earnings of $2M.
He also made his mark on the World Poker Tour with two final tables in 2004. He finished third at the World Poker Finals for $636K and second at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic, where he earned his biggest cash ($923K) after losing heads-up to Daniel Negreanu.
In 2006, he became an ambassador for PokerStars and used to play with a toy shark, telling his rivals that the shark was hungry for chips. He was the first Latin player to be nominated to the Poker Hall of Fame in 2013, 2014 and 2016. In his career, he managed to earn $6.1M, which places him first on the All Time Money List in Costa Rica and sixth on the All Time Money List in Latin America.
Humberto after winning the Seniors event at the Costa Rica Poker Festival
Interview with Humberto Brenes
Congratulations on your victory in the Seniors of the Costa Rica Poker Festival. How does it feel to win a new trophy after 17 years of your last victory?
Winning, for a competitive person, is always nice. I had a great time, and that’s why I like poker.
How did you feel about the return of a poker festival in Costa Rica
I thought it was great that international events were organized in Costa Rica and not just local ones. It was very nice to meet people again that I hadn’t seen for several years.
Let’s go back in time. How did you discover poker? What was it that captivated you in the beginning?
I started playing different card games when I was very young. I discovered poker through my father, who had a group of friends with whom he played frequently. Poker caught my attention because I am a competitive person, and I didn’t do well in other games and sports, but I did excel in card games.
You became a regular at the WSOP in 1987. What was it like to play at Binion’s in Downtown Las Vegas?
Very cool. At that time the Horseshoe (now Binion’s) was the premier poker venue in the world, where the best players in the world would gather. I loved going there because it was a challenge, and playing with the best improved my game. I had a great time there.
In 1988 you finished 4th in a Main Event full of big names at the final table. What memories do you have of that tournament?
I have three hands that I played engraved in my mind. One in which I managed to bluff on the river with 7-7 vs Q-Q (he shows his Q-Q and folds) on a 4-4-5-4-4 board. Another in the final table where I pushed with 6-9 on the button, T.J. Cloutier call me in the small blind with A-Q and I won the hand with a full house. And the last one is when I was eliminated by going all-in before the flop with 2-2 and I ran into A-A.
You can watch the final table 5-handed in this video:
In 1993 you won your first two WSOP bracelets. How did it feel to win them?
Obviously, there was a lot of satisfaction because of the achievements. In addition to those two joys, it was also the year in which my youngest daughter was born, so it was an unforgettable year.
In 2004 you finished 2nd at the WPT in Las Vegas, achieving your best result. What was it like to play against Daniel Negreanu and Jennifer Harman at the final table?
It was a wonderful tournament, full of great players, apart from those you mentioned. The fact that there is such a high level makes one bring out the best in oneself. And although I did not take the victory, I am proud because I managed to get 2nd place despite arriving at the final table with the shortest chip stack of the 9 participants.
You can watch the final table in this video:
You wore the PokerStars patch for several years and the shark became known around the world. Do you think you were a good ambassador for Latin America
I hope and believe that it was, although I feel that this question is for other people to answer. They were very nice years with PokerStars, from 2006 until its sale in 2013, when, following the sale, I decided to part ways amicably. I have a lot of appreciation for the Scheinberg family.
You have 9 Main Event cashes and are 2 away from Allen Cunningham and Johnny Chan’s record of 11. Would you like to reach the top of that ranking?
Yes, of course, I would like to be able to achieve it. These kinds of challenges are why, despite not playing regularly for more than 10 years, I still try to go to the WSOP annually. Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues, my companies, my family, and the pandemic, I have been away from the WSOP for a while. Last year I broke my ankle and was unable to participate in several events.
What do you think about the definitive closure of the Latin American Poker Tour?
It’s a shame that it’s closed. It’s a circuit that I really appreciated, since I helped PokerStars develop it, and because I was lucky enough to be able to go and play several events with my children. I especially have a fondness for the events that took place in my country.
You were the only Latin American player nominated to the Poker Hall of Fame. Do you think it’s okay that only one person is nominated per year and that only living members can vote?
Just being nominated is a source of pride. I understand that things were like that when I was nominated, although I think that since there are so many good players who deserve to be there, they could include more people each year, like in other sports. Regarding who votes, it is something that, like everything, has to evolve, for what is best in the present.
The 2016 finalists of the Poker Hall of Fame
Other countries have launched their own Halls of Fame to recognize their players. Could Latin America have its own? Who could not be missing from a first induction?
The fact that a hall of fame would be created in Latin America would be a nice thing, why not? Anything that helps poker grow is welcome. I prefer to reserve my opinion on the second part of the question, because like any opinion, it is subject to bias, since over the years I have made many friends in this world of poker, and I would not like to leave anyone out.
You’ve been playing for 40 years. What’s the best thing poker has given you?
Although it may seem surreal, the best thing he left me were my children, since in order to have them, for medical reasons, I had to live for many years in the US, so I played a lot and against the best in Los Angeles and Miami. In addition to the friendships I made over the years.
Do you plan to play any festivals in 2025? Will we see you at the WSOP?
Yes, as I said, I have not been able to participate as much as I wanted in the WSOP in previous years, for different reasons, but the goal is, starting in 2025, to participate in as many WSOP events as I can in Las Vegas, leaving the management of my companies in the hands of my children.
Humberto at the 2023 Main Event / Photo: Hayley Hochstetler for PokerNews
Thank you very much Humberto for your time and we wish you the best of luck at the 2025 WSOP in Las Vegas. ¡The shark is still hungry! 🦈
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