Seat 4: Joao Sydenstricker, 37, Brazil (5,150,000)
João 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 – 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 – 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 – 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.