NEWS
08/10/08 - Brenes cashes at LAPT Punta del Este
The ground-breaking Season 1 of the Latin American Poker Tour has drawn to a close in Uruguay and Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes has finished in the money, registering a 28th place for $5,960 at the Punta del Este tournament. The tourney, which attracted 351 entries in total creating a prize pool of $851,175, was won by Spain’s Jose Miguel-Espinar who scooped $241,735 for first place.
07/15/08 - Four cashes for Brenes at 2008 WSOP*
One of the liveliest characters in poker and Team PokerStars Pro, Humberto Brenes has recorded a solid performance at the 2008 World Series, notching four in-the-money finishes, with his best result a 14th place in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em for $34,357. These four cashes have taken him to a staggering 52 career cashes at the World Series of Poker*.
Restored - Career stories from the Shark's archive
The full library of restored articles about Humberto Brenes: bracelets, LAPT runs, strategy notes and the story of the shark card protector.
The World Championship of Online Poker has run since 2002, and Team PokerStars Pros including Humberto played it. Online poker in the Brenes era.
2026-08-10 - The Brenes Poker Family: Humberto and Alex
Alex Brenes ran second at LAPT Punta del Este while Humberto cashed. The story of Costa Rica's most famous poker family.
From WSOP* bracelet events to the LAPT floor: live tournament habits that kept Humberto Brenes cashing across two decades.
His second 1993 bracelet came in $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha. Practical PLO fundamentals: hand selection, pot-sized betting and draw discipline.
Brenes won his first bracelet in $2,500 Limit Hold'em. Core limit hold'em concepts — odds, positioning and discipline — explained plainly.
Loud voice, bright sportswear, a smile a mile wide. Humberto Brenes' table antics made him one of the most popular characters in poker.
Humberto Brenes accumulated $5,377,203 in career live tournament winnings, including $2,080,006 at the World Series of Poker*. The breakdown.
Away from the tables Humberto Brenes built business interests in hotels, restaurants, real estate, construction, food export and media.
2026-05-04 - From Trained Engineer to Poker Professional
Humberto Brenes is a trained engineer who learned poker watching his father play. The path from engineering discipline to the pro circuit.
2026-04-20 - Team PokerStars Pro: Humberto Brenes Since 2006
A member of Team PokerStars Pro since 2006, playing online as 'HumbertoB'. Who Brenes joined on the roster and what the team stood for.
2026-04-06 - The Godfather of Costa Rican Poker
They call him The Shark and the Godfather of Costa Rican poker. How Humberto Brenes became the figurehead of the game in his home region.
Humberto Brenes is instantly recognisable at the tables thanks to his trademark shark card protector. The story behind poker's best-known totem.
2026-03-09 - LAPT San José: Humberto Brenes at His Home Tour Stop
The Latin American Poker Tour brought top live poker to Costa Rica. For Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes, San José was a true home event.
Season 1 of the Latin American Poker Tour closed in Uruguay. Humberto Brenes finished 28th for $5,960 while his brother Alex came second.
2026-02-09 - 1987: Humberto Brenes Records His First WSOP* Cash
Brenes registered his first World Series of Poker* cash in 1987, decades before his LAPT runs. How a Costa Rican engineer broke into the Series.
Humberto Brenes recorded 52 World Series of Poker* cashes, seventh all-time when the stat was set. What that consistency says about his tournament game.
In 1993 Humberto Brenes won two World Series of Poker* bracelets in one series — $2,500 Limit Hold'em and $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha. The story of the double.
* WORLD SERIES OF POKER and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with PokerStars.com or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.