Recorded live tournament earnings
US$ 445,829Total shown in the PokerNews profile at the time of access, with data attributed to The Hendon Mob. It reflects gross winnings across the profile’s coverage.
Figure as of: 25/10/2026PLAYER PROFILE
A portrait is unavailable in this edition. Initials are shown instead.
PROFILE · BRAZIL
Christian Kruel
Known as CK, Christian Kruel was among the pioneers of Brazilian Texas Hold’em. He helped promote the game, won the BSOP Rio de Janeiro in 2010 and was selected to represent Brazil at the IFP Nations Cup.
- Nationality
- Brazil
- Documented origin
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — the report describes him as being from Rio de Janeiro
- Games and formats
- Texas Hold’em · Live and online tournaments
Editorial review:
Featured live title
BSOP Rio 2010Won the sixth regular stop for R$136,700. The figure refers to this event.
Figure as of: 25/10/2026Career
Christian Kruel came to poker after playing backgammon. A 2006 Folha de S.Paulo report links his interest in Texas Hold’em to the film Cartas na Mesa. He was studying economics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and focused on understanding the game before turning professional.
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The nickname CK became known as online poker’s first Brazilian community was taking shape. In a 2023 MaisEV interview, Kruel looked back on that period and his involvement in teaching the game. He also described changes in his routine. At the time, he did not consider himself financially dependent on poker and combined it with other projects. The interview reflects his circumstances in 2023.
Winning the sixth stop of the 2010 BSOP in Rio de Janeiro became a documented milestone in his live career. PokerNews described a lengthy final duel with Adriano Maua that ended with Kruel taking the title and R$136,700. The following year, he was named to Brazil’s team for the IFP Nations Cup in London.
Timeline
- 2006
A Folha report documents his transition from backgammon and economics studies to poker.
- 2009
Finishes 30th in the WSOP Europe Main Event.
- 2010
Wins the sixth regular BSOP stop, in Rio de Janeiro.
- 2011
Is named to Brazil’s team for the IFP Nations Cup.
- 2020
Cashes in the WSOP Online Turbo Deepstack on GGPoker.
- 2023
In an interview, he revisits his career and discusses studying the game and pursuing other projects.
- 2024
Wins the JPT Mystery Gold KO for R$21,100, including mystery envelopes.
Career highlights
- Won the 2010 BSOP Rio de Janeiro after a final duel against Adriano Maua. He received the trophy for that BSOP stop.
- Named to the team announced for the 2011 IFP Nations Cup. The source documents his selection for the tournament.
Related terms: ITM · bounty · heads-up. A bracelet is the trophy awarded for winning a WSOP event.
Top live results and milestones
Selected confirmed live results. This is not a complete career record.
| Date | Event and tour or platform | Game | Finish | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2024 | JPT — R$500 Mystery Gold KO (includes mystery envelopes or bounties) | No-Limit Hold’em | 1st | R$ 21,100 |
| 2013 | WSOP #24 — US$ 1,500 No-Limit Hold’em | No-Limit Hold’em | 189º | US$ 2,640 |
| 2011 | WSOP #50 — US$ 5,000 Triple Chance | No-Limit Hold’em | 18º | US$ 31,679 |
| 2011 | WSOP #58 — US$ 10,000 Main Event | No-Limit Hold’em | 650º | US$ 19,359 |
| 07/2010 | BSOP — sixth regular stop, Rio de Janeiro | No-Limit Hold’em | 1st | R$ 136,700 |
| 2009 | WSOP Europe — £10,000 Main Event | No-Limit Hold’em | 30º | £ 21.142 |
Confirmed online results
Online coverage may be partial. Results from one site, account or period are not treated as career totals.
| Date | Event and tour or platform | Game | Finish | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | GGPoker — WSOP Online #49: US$ 500 Turbo Deepstack | No-Limit Hold’em | 144º | US$ 1,697 |
Online aliases
The sources consulted do not confirm a link between an account and the player. No screen name was assigned on the basis of name similarity.
Documented trivia
The 2006 report cites the film Cartas na Mesa as a spark for his interest in Texas Hold’em.
Studied economics at UFRJ before choosing to focus on poker, according to Folha.
In the 2023 interview, he said he combined poker with affiliate projects and the study of chart analysis. The interview documents that period.
Interviews and notable moments
About this profile’s data
Accessed October 25, 2026. The live total is the amount shown in the profile. The page does not specify when its underlying database was updated. Its partial event list leaves later activity open.
The payouts retain their original currencies: pounds for WSOP Europe and Brazilian reais for the BSOP. The figures are reported separately in those currencies. The PokerNews sources consulted do not establish his largest career live prize.
- A fully documented online career total is not confirmed.
- No photo with a confirmed reuse license is available. The portrait uses initials.
Dates with only a year or month reflect the source’s precision. The editorial review date shows when the text was checked. Sources have their own access and publication dates.
Sources and credits
Results, titles and payouts are checked against PokerNews, Mundo Poker and SuperPoker, according to each profile’s references. Other sources may confirm biographical details, online identities and image credits. Figures reflect the editorial review and do not update automatically.
- Christian Kruel — profile and covered events ↗
Identification · Timeline · Key figures · Live results · Online results · Notes on the data
Accessed: 2026-10-25 - Playing at home: Christian Kruel wins the sixth stop of the 2010 BSOP ↗
Career · Timeline · Achievements · Key figures · Live results
Accessed: 2026-10-25 - Brazil’s team for the IFP Nations Cup ↗
Career · Timeline · Achievements
Accessed: 2026-10-25 - Professional player has lost a staggering amount — October 29, 2006 ↗
Identification · Career · Timeline · Documented facts
Accessed: 2026-10-25 - Christian Kruel discusses his legacy and new theories — March 4, 2023 ↗
Career · Timeline · Documented facts · Interviews and highlights
Accessed: 2026-10-25 - Christian Kruel wins the JPT Mystery Gold KO — Augusto César ↗
Timeline · Live results
Accessed: 2026-11-03 · Published: 2024-10-24
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