Flattered but Motivated: Joao Vieira Reacts to 25k Fantasy Draft Price

In 2019, Joao Vieira gained solely the fourth bracelet ever by a Portuguese participant. Quick ahead to 2026, and he is now gained 4 all by himself.

Vieira was one in all six gamers who gained their fourth bracelet on the 2025 WSOP, and is again this yr prepared for extra.

We caught up with the Winamax Ambassador to see how he is settling into this yr’s summer time and what awaits him at this yr’s WSOP.

Again at WSOP Summer time Camp

Vieira spoke with PokerNews as he will get his summer time underway, trying ahead to taking part in a full WSOP schedule between now and mid-July.

“It at all times feels nice to be again,” he mentioned. “I do know folks say this yearly, but it surely simply actually looks like a summer time camp! I like this metropolis, I like the WSOP. I am fairly comfortable to come back again and simply hang around with the boys.”

“It simply actually looks like a summer time camp”

Earlier than the WSOP started, Vieira was one in all almost 200 gamers chosen within the 25k Fantasy Draft. The Portuguese participant was one in all 4, alongside Shaun Deeb, Daniel Negreanu and Michael Moncek, whose worth tags exceeded the $100 mark.

Groups clearly acknowledged the efficiency of a person who gained the $100,000 Excessive Curler for $2,649,158 lower than 12 months in the past.

That coupled with a ultimate desk efficiency within the prestigious $50,000 Poker Gamers Championship has seen Vieira rewarded with being the fourth-most costly participant on this yr’s 25k Fantasy Draft.

Since profitable his first bracelet in 2019 within the $5,000 6-Max, Vieira has gone on fairly a journey and says he sees the worth Ren Lin’s Staff Girl Gaga paid for him as an indication of respect from his friends.

“It is form of flattering. It is at all times very nice to be picked fairly excessive. I’ve performed fairly properly with the fantasy factors over the previous couple of years.

“So it offers me a bit additional drive to do properly and justify being the fourth-most costly decide. Perhaps subsequent yr I can attempt to shoot a bit increased!”

When requested for different gamers he is conserving his eye on in 2026, Vieira does not hesitate to determine some heavy hitters within the WSOP enviornment.

“I feel Shaun [Deeb]’s received to be the one you at all times decide. I feel there’s an excellent probability he goes on and finally beats Hellmuth’s report.

“I feel it is him, Yuri Dzivielevski, and Benny Glaser as a result of these are the blokes that I like essentially the most, and I feel these three are those who usually tend to win extra bracelets.”

Taking It Step by Step

Each participant has their very own strategy to the summer time, whether or not it is making certain enough breaks, ample hydration within the desert surroundings, or making certain the help community of family and friends is shut by.

Nonetheless, Vieira thinks in another way, taking a leaf out of reigning WSOP Participant of the 12 months Shaun Deeb.

“I heard Shaun [Deeb] saying, I get up, I play no matter’s subsequent, and I attempt to focus simply on that one. It is form of cliche, however I do not need something to take the main target away from the match I am taking part in.”

And whereas he says he would like to win a bracelet, “any” bracelet he says, there’s nonetheless one additional objective he is aiming to finish.

“I might like to win a bracelet in blended video games. I have not but, and I have been shut quite a bit.”

One other merchandise that is likely to be in his peripheral on the very least, is finishing a uncommon WSOP Excessive Curler Triple Crown. Having gained the $50,000 Excessive Curler in 2022, and the $100,000 Excessive Curler in 2025, what odds on Vieira taking down the $250,000 Tremendous Excessive Curler this yr?

“I imply I am going to take any bracelet. Clearly the larger purchase in, the larger worth pool, the higher, however I am not pondering that too far forward.”

“I am simply serious about the one I am taking part in, and that is all of the power I am placing in, however we’ll see.”

Both approach, Vieira says he is comfortable.

“I do what I do, and I like it. Hopefully by the tip of the sequence I’ve managed to remain sane – normally that is the case. However, taking part in properly and clearly profitable a bracelet could be good.

“On the finish of the day relating to the World Sequence, at the least in my case, it is about profitable a bracelet or not.”

With 4 within the financial institution already, Vieira’s hungry for extra. And there is a entire lot of poker nonetheless left to be performed this summer time.

Primarily based in the UK, Will began working for PokerNews as a contract stay reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time workers in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.

He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.