- Title: BRAZIL-NEYMAR Neymar takes on fans in Brazilian poker series
- Date: 26th July 2015
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (July 26, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** BRAZILIAN SOCCER PLAYER NEYMAR JR PLAYING POKER WITH FANS IN BRAZILIAN POKER SERIES CLOSE-UP OF NEYMAR´S HANDS BY POKER CHIPS / CLOSE-UP OF NEYMAR SMILING FANS AROUND THE POKER TABLE WITH NEYMAR CLOSE-UP OF CHIPS NEYMAR PLAYING POKER NEYMAR POSING FOR JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Portugues
- Embargoed: 10th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA248BZJHAVQS4W5JAV10KABZGW
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Brazil´s soccer poster boy and Barcelona striker Neymar Jr. turned to what he called a more psychological sport on Sunday (July 16), taking part in the Brazilian Poker Series in Sao Paulo in order to raise funds for his social project for children and adolescents.
Fans battled it out in three free rounds online on PokerStars in order to win their chance of playing the soccer superstar in the Neymar Jr Charity Home Game.
At 3000 Brazilian reales (894 U.S. dollars) a ticket, the star-studded event aimed to raise money for the Neymar Jr Institute Project.
The institute, founded in 2014, looks to help 2,400 low-income students succeed in the classroom and on the field of play whether it be in soccer, basketball, judo or a number of other sports, giving back to the community just outside Santos where Neymar got his start in soccer at just 11-years-old.
Speaking to journalists at his first ever poker tournament, Neymar said he still had a lot to learn in the sport.
"It is a sport that really messes with your head. If you are not prepared psychologically you could give away what you have in your hand to your opponent. It is something you have to work on, and I still have a lot to learn in poker," said Neymar.
Brazil is set to play Copa America champions Chile in the 2018 World Cup qualifier, it was revealed in the draw in St Petersburg on Saturday (July 25).
"It is going to be a very tough match, we know that playing against Chile is not easy at all so we are going to prepare ourselves so that it goes very well," Neymar told journalists.
He admitted that Chile is not the only team to be wary of, as Brazil looks to overcome its World Cup humiliation of Germany´s 7-1 thrashing in 2014.
"It is difficult because the players and the teams are all very well prepared," he said on Sunday.
The event was broadcast live across PokerStars.tv, with fans checking in online with the hashtag #HomeGameNJR. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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