One of the most recent members of the PocketFives community to hit $1 million in online tournament cashesis Portugal’s Acacio Bispo (pictured). The 12th ranked player in his home nation, Bispo is the lone PocketFiver from the northeastern town of Macedo De Cavaleiros. Given how popular poker has become in Portugal, we thought the occasion would be appropriate for an interview.

“This is the result of long and very hard work,” Bispo exclaimed to PocketFives. “Anyone who works hard and has confidence in himself knows that anything is possible. It’s just a milestone, though, and I hope to reach many more.” The next stop for him will be a $2 million cash badge.

Almost 10% of his career winnings came earlier this year in a SCOOP $215 Sunday Millionin which he drove to a fourth place finish for $88,000. In fact, it’s his largest score by a factor of nearly nine and he told us, “After that score, I was able to keep playing the same tournaments and working as I did before, but it made me feel accomplished and gave me more motivation and strength.” That tournament had just shy of 8,400 entrants.

There are 1,567 registered PocketFivers who have selected Portugal as their country who have combined for $63.3 million in online tournament winnings, 10% of which has come in the last three months.

To that end, he told us of the Portugal pokercommunity, “I think nowadays people are more informed and recognize that poker is a game of strategy and not chance. In my case, it was obvious from the beginning, but it was hard to explain to my family and friends that my job was to play poker. Everyone looked at me like I was a gambler, but over time, I have demonstrated that it can be a lifestyle.”

He got started in the game five years ago through his family. At the time, he was working as a salesman for a living and told PocketFives that if he weren’t playing poker full-time, he’d likely still be doing that. He began playing poker professionally four years ago.

Away from the game, Bispo practices several sports, including football, and also spends time with his two sons, whom we are sure require some quality father bonding time.

How has he gotten to the level he’s at in poker? How has he been able to climb the ranks so quickly? According to Bispo, it has been about surrounding himself with quality minds like Naza114 (pictured), who has been his coach and backer for the last two years. Bispo told us, “I owe him much of my success. I got hooked up with him two years ago and it was from that moment that my poker career has definitely taken the road to success.”

Bispo closed by commenting, “I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who directly or indirectly helped me over the years; my family, my friends, and members of NazaTeam, all without exception, I give my thanks. And also thank you for this opportunity, PocketFives. Good luck at the tables!”

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