There's no degree or apprenticeship to undergo before becoming a professional online poker player, but Lui Martins' pre-poker life served as the perfect preparation for the virtual felt.

Even before entering his teens, our newest member of Team Online joined the family home-game, where his uncles and grandfather would all play together as part of a reunion tradition. Add into the mix endless games of super-serious board game action, and you have the attributes of a very competitive kid!

If his competitive instincts were a product of inter-family rivalry, the foundations of his poker skillset were laid during hours of online gaming. Like so many fellow poker professionals, Lui excelled at the World of Warcraft, but also Quake, where he routinely rose at 3am to play with his online teammates!

Having only ever made a single deposit of $120, the Brazilian clearly had innate poker ability. However, it wasn't until four years later that Lui made the commitment to take a shot at going pro, travelling over 1600km to the home of our very own Brazilian Ambassador and future superstar, João Simão. Here, six brave Brazilians set about forging careers in poker.

It didn't come without sacrifice. Not only did Lui leave his job as a singing coach behind, but he was a 20 hour car journey away from his fiancé. It all worked out though - he is now a professional poker player, married, and soon to become a father for the first time!

Lui is considered an online specialist, backed up by results that include an impressive 2nd place finish in a major online event in 2017 for $115,248. However, he has enjoyed live success also, most notably finishing 4th in the 2016 WSOP International Circuit São Paulo Main Event for $ 79,457!