Humberto Brenes
Encyclopedia
Humberto Brenes is a professional poker
player. Brenes currently resides in Miami Lakes, Florida
with his wife (Patricia) and three children (José Humberto, Roberto, Jessica).
Brenes began his career in gambling by playing baccarat
, but later made his way into poker. He started to play tournaments
in 1974 and became a regular tournament player in 1988.
In 1988, he made the final table of the WSOP main event, finishing in fourth place and winning $83,050. He has collected two World Series of Poker
(WSOP) bracelets, cashed 60 times at the WSOP and made three World Poker Tour
final tables.
Brenes' two bracelets came at the 1993 World Series of Poker
in limit Texas hold 'em
and pot limit Omaha
. He tied with Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
for highest number of money finishes (eight) in the 2006 WSOP
. He also finished first, winning $502,460 at the Jack Binion
2002 World Poker Open, beating Erik Seidel
heads up.
Brenes' unique dress makes him easy to spot at tournaments, as he tends to wear bright tracksuits, two pairs of glasses on top of each other, and a visor. He uses a toy shark as a card protector, the origin of his nickname. A relentless self-promoter, the bright tracksuit and toy shark are consistent with Brenes' ostentatious personality; he will often use the shark to belittle his opponents, thus gaining himself more time in front of the cameras. He is also known for singing during hands.
He also is a member of Team PokerStars
. Brenes plays under the screen name "HumbertoB".
Two of his brothers, Alex Brenes
and Eric Brenes
, have won World Poker Tour titles.
In 2006, Brenes finished 36th in the WSOP Main Event in a field of 8,773 and then in 2007, Brenes cashed in the money again in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event Championship, placing 83rd out of a field of 6,358 players, winning $82,476. Brenes was eliminated by Hevad Khan
. In the hand Brenes with approximately 1,500,000 in chips had raised to 85,000, Khan then re-raised to 205,000, Brenes in dramatic fashion then went all-in holding and was instantly called by Khan who held pocket Aces, one of which was a spade. The board came 3♠ 5♠ K♠ 10♠ giving Khan the ace high flush. However, with the 83rd place finish, Brenes made WSOP history with the largest number of Main Event players outlasted in a two-year span with 15,012.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,600,000. His 58 cashes in the WSOP account for $2,139,725 of those winnings.
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player. Brenes currently resides in Miami Lakes, Florida
Miami Lakes, Florida
Miami Lakes is a Miami suburban incorporated town and former census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 22,676 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
with his wife (Patricia) and three children (José Humberto, Roberto, Jessica).
Brenes began his career in gambling by playing baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
, but later made his way into poker. He started to play tournaments
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
in 1974 and became a regular tournament player in 1988.
In 1988, he made the final table of the WSOP main event, finishing in fourth place and winning $83,050. He has collected two World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) bracelets, cashed 60 times at the WSOP and made three World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
final tables.
Brenes' two bracelets came at the 1993 World Series of Poker
1993 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
in limit Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
and pot limit Omaha
Omaha hold 'em
Omaha hold 'em is a community card poker game similar to Texas hold 'em, where each player is dealt four cards and must make his best hand using exactly two of them, plus exactly three of the five community cards...
. He tied with Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...
for highest number of money finishes (eight) in the 2006 WSOP
2006 World Series of Poker
The 2006 World Series of Poker began on June 25, 2006 with "satellite" events, with regular play commencing on June 26 with the annual Casino Employee event, and the Tournament of Champions held on June 28 and 29...
. He also finished first, winning $502,460 at the Jack Binion
Jack Binion
Jack Binion is an American casino operator. Jack is the son of casino magnate Benny Binion and worked for his father at Binion's Horseshoe, a casino and hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.- Biography :...
2002 World Poker Open, beating Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title.In 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
heads up.
Brenes' unique dress makes him easy to spot at tournaments, as he tends to wear bright tracksuits, two pairs of glasses on top of each other, and a visor. He uses a toy shark as a card protector, the origin of his nickname. A relentless self-promoter, the bright tracksuit and toy shark are consistent with Brenes' ostentatious personality; he will often use the shark to belittle his opponents, thus gaining himself more time in front of the cameras. He is also known for singing during hands.
He also is a member of Team PokerStars
PokerStars
PokerStars is the largest online poker cardroom in the world. PokerStars' satellite tournaments produced the 2003 World Series of Poker champion, Chris Moneymaker. 1983 champion Tom McEvoy, 2005 champion Joe Hachem, 2009 champion Joe Cada and 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel and others also represent...
. Brenes plays under the screen name "HumbertoB".
Two of his brothers, Alex Brenes
Alex Brenes
Alex Brenes is a Costa Rican professional poker player.Brenes was the winner of a World Poker Tour title in 2005 and is the younger brother of professional poker players Humberto Brenes and Eric Brenes, the three of them together are known as "Godfather of Costa Rican players,"...
and Eric Brenes
Eric Brenes
Eric Brenes is a Costa Rican businessman, farmer, and poker player who won a World Poker Tour championship. He is the brother of professional poker players Humberto Brenes and Alex Brenes....
, have won World Poker Tour titles.
In 2006, Brenes finished 36th in the WSOP Main Event in a field of 8,773 and then in 2007, Brenes cashed in the money again in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event Championship, placing 83rd out of a field of 6,358 players, winning $82,476. Brenes was eliminated by Hevad Khan
Hevad Khan
Hevad Khan is a professional poker player, best known for making the final table at the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing in sixth place.-Competitive Gaming:...
. In the hand Brenes with approximately 1,500,000 in chips had raised to 85,000, Khan then re-raised to 205,000, Brenes in dramatic fashion then went all-in holding and was instantly called by Khan who held pocket Aces, one of which was a spade. The board came 3♠ 5♠ K♠ 10♠ giving Khan the ace high flush. However, with the 83rd place finish, Brenes made WSOP history with the largest number of Main Event players outlasted in a two-year span with 15,012.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,600,000. His 58 cashes in the WSOP account for $2,139,725 of those winnings.
World Series of Poker bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 1993 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
$2,500 Limit Hold'em | $149,000 |
| 1993 1993 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
$2,500 Pot Limit Omaha | $128,000 |