Seat 4: Joao Sydenstricker, 37, Brazil (5,150,000)
Jo?o Sydenstricker started playing poker with friends for peanuts when he was only 12 years old, usually 5-card draw. In 2009, he discovered hold'em �C and that's when he realised he could make a living from the game he used to play just for fun.
Sydenstricker��s best results have come in recent years, including a spectacular victory in the Sunday Million on PokerStars �C well known as one of the toughest online tournaments.
He doesn't have too many hobbies apart from poker, but he is also a poker coach as well as player, which takes up much of his time. He says used to like football but couldn��t handle his nerves during big games, so now he enjoys walking with his dogs.
He says that it is incredible to be at an EPT final table �C particularly alongside Andre Akkari, who is one of his idols. Having only really started playing live poker recently, he says it is something he has not even dreamed of yet.