PokerStars Adds Japanese And Brazilian Pros To Online Team

PokerStars’ ever expanding list of sponsored pros just got a little bigger this week after it was announced Japan’s Naoya ‘nkeyno’ Kihara and Brazil’s Caio ‘pessagno’ Pessagno had joined the site’s Team Online roster.
Naoya ‘nkeyno’ Kihara has a semi-pro background in backgammon, having competed at the World Championships of Backgammon, and is also a keen Mahjong and Shogi player. However, the former private school teacher appeared on the poker radar in a big way this summer after he became the first Japanese player ever to win a WSOP bracelet. Back in June, Kihara took down the $5k Pot Limit Omaha – Six Handed event for $512,029, and is now 3rd on Japan’s ‘All Time Money List’ with $571,713 in live tournament earnings since 2010.
After being signed as a sponsored pro at PokerStars, Naoya ‘nkeyno’ Kihara commented: “I want to be a top poker pro who every poker players knows and can be proud of. To be a member of Team Online is a really big step.”
In addition, Brazillain pro Caio ‘pessagno’ Pessagno joins the world’s biggest online poker site. Known online as “pessagno” the online player has earned a massive $2,213,914 playing mostly tournaments at PokerStars, but says he now intends to compete in a few more live events, including the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), the Brazilian Series of Poker, as well as the PCA. Commenting on his latest deal representing PokerStars, Caio Pessagno said:
“Being part of this team is a dream for any professional player, and for me this is the beginning of a new stage in my life. I sacrificed a lot to be here and I feel very accomplished to have followed this path.”
Both Naoya ‘nkeyno’ Kihara and Caio ‘pessagno’ Pessagno  can now be found playing at PokerStars and can be located by using the User ID search to find them at the tables.