The BSOP Championship — the R$25,000 buy-in event that closed out the BSOP Winter in São Paulo — ended in the early hours of Friday with a masterclass in control: Alisson Piekazewicz brought more than 40% of the chips in play to the final day and never let go, claiming the trophy and R$1,150,000 (roughly US$226,000).
The facts
The tournament drew 240 entries at the WTC Sheraton's Golden Hall. Piekazewicz — one of Brazil's most consistent high rollers — opened the final table with 10,755,000 in chips and closed out the heads-up against Gualter Salles, who banked R$765,000 for second. Renan Bruschi rounded out the podium with R$505,000.
The Latin American story ran deep: Bolivia's Sergio Andrade, the Day 1A chip leader, climbed all the way to fourth for R$380,000. Colombia's Carlos Serrano, chip leader after Day 2, finished seventh for R$165,000, while compatriot Martín Romero fell in tenth, one spot short of the final table. According to the final-table report, Andrade's last hand was K-6 against the champion's K-Q, which made a straight on an A-8-3-J-10 board.
Why it matters: the price of playing against the big stack
When one player controls 40% of the chips, the table stops being symmetrical. Every open from the leader asks the medium stacks the same question: is this spot worth my tournament? That's ICM (Independent Chip Model) in action: at a final table, chips and money are not the same thing, because every elimination unlocks a pay jump. The big stack applies pressure for free; everyone else pays a premium for each mistake.
Serrano supplied the second lesson: leading after Day 2 guarantees nothing. Tournaments aren't won by topping Wednesday's counts — they're won by closing on Thursday. A lead is something you manage, picking spots instead of bleeding chips on autopilot; and when it's gone, discipline beats pride.
If you want to understand how these dynamics shape your own tournament game, that's exactly what we break down hand by hand in the club — and the WSOP Main Event final table on August 3 is the next perfect case study.
A festival finale with a regional accent
The BSOP Winter signs off as the biggest edition in its history, according to the organizers, with the Main Event won days earlier by recreational player Antonio Santichio. But the lasting image is a different one: Bolivians, Colombians and players from across the region competing head-to-head at Brazil's most expensive tables. The Latin American scene isn't on its way — it's already in the seat. And KryptoKings is watching closely, with perspective.