Humberto Brenes Leaves Team PokerStars Pro Latin America

After eight years of sponsorship with the world’s most popular online poker room, Costa Rican professional poker pro Humberto Brenes has confirmed he was has now left Team PokerStars Pro Latin America. Following the announcement of his departure, the 2-times WSOP bracelet winner, commented:
“My contract with PokerStars ended in late July and it was not renewed. This decision was made through mutual agreement between the parties. The terms of the renewal were not suited for the company or for myself, so we decided to end the relationship.”
Humberto Brenes has long been one of the most flamboyant pros in the game with his unique dress sense complete with colourful track suit and visor making him easy to spot at poker tournaments. Brenes also carries a toy shark card protector with him, explaining the origin of his nickname “The Shark”, and is also known to sing during hands.
Moreover, the Costa Rican number one is also one of the most successful pros in the game having won $6,132,405 since his first live cash back in 1987, his biggest score coming in 2004 at the WPT $15k Five-Diamond World Poker Classic where he eventually finished the runner-up to Daniel Negreanu for a $923,475 pay-day. As mentioned, Brenes has also won two WSOP bracelets during his illustrious career, both in 1993, including the $2,500 Limit Hold’em event for $149,000, and the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event for $128,000.
Giving a further insight into his departure from PokerStars, the 63 year-old pro hinted at the “new management approach” taken by PokerStars since being acquired by the Amaya Gaming Group on August 1, 2014. Elaborating further, Brenes said that the “focus of the company will not be only poker” and even suggested that the number of sponsored players was likely to fall further in the future. Brenes also expressed relief that PokerStars’ strategic decision would not affect the operation center the company has in Costa Rica where almost 300 people work.
As to what the future holds for the Costa Rican star, Brenes, explained: “I will continue playing poker. This is my hobby, and when you have a hobby you do it because you like it. I also have many friends in the poker scene, and I intend to continue sharing good times and tables with them..[I] want to win one more bracelet to add three to my achievements because I have three children and I would inherit one to each of them.”