Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Bruno Kawauti was the final Brazilian left in the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event and, if he were going to go further than Day 7 of play, he was going to have his work cut out for him. He was in 21st place with his 3.58 million in chips when 27 players remained and had to deal with the likes of former Main Event champion Carlos Mortensen, Clement Tripodi, and Chris Lindh on his table to start the day, with Tripodi and Lindh on his immediate left.

Kawauti does have some skills to back up this run in the 2013 Main Event. Since entering the tournament poker world in 2010, Kawauti has been one of the stalwarts of the Brazilian Series of Poker, earning five cashes in that series. 2013 also wasn’t his first rodeo at the WSOP Main Event; in 2012, Kawauti was able to drive to a 110th place finish for a $52,718 score. His 2013 Main Event finish will go down as the largest of his poker career.

Kawauti was nearly out the door on Day 6, but a key double up through David Benefield proved to be enough to keep him around for Day 7 at the Rio. After Benefield raised pre-flop, Kawauti made a three-bet to 550,000 that was met with an all-in from Benefield. Kawauti immediately made the call, tabling his pocket aces against Benefield’s A-J offsuit.

Once the board came down ten-high, Kawauti got the double up he needed through Benefield and was at more than four million in chips. Kawauti would coast into the finish of Day 6 on the strength of that win.