Igor Trafane is the Founder and President of the World Poker Federation (WPF). Recognized as one of the most influential figures in the development of mind sports in Latin America, Trafane played a fundamental role in the structuring and consolidation of the poker industry in Brazil, which today has 12 million players and positions the country as one of the leading global hubs for the sport.
With a degree in Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), Trafane began his entrepreneurial career co-founding Centro Cultural Americano, a network of 80 English schools in São Paulo. The company was sold to a major educational group in 2005, and it became recognized as a significant example of commercial success due to its rapid expansion and efficient management.
After this experience, Igor dedicated himself to poker, initially as a player, before taking on leadership roles in the development of the sport’s industry and institutions.
In 2009, he founded the Brazilian Texas Hold’em Confederation (CBTH), the first national entity dedicated to the advocacy and promotion of poker in Brazil. Under his leadership, poker was officially recognized as a mind sport by Brazil’s Ministry of Sports, a milestone that legitimized the practice in the country and paved the way for market expansion. This achievement was complemented by his work as Vice President of ABRESPI (Brazilian Association of Intellectual Sports) and as the founder and president of the Brazilian Mind Sports Association (ABJH), which brings together disciplines such as chess, bridge, and checkers. The ABJH promotes the recognition of mind sports as a legitimate and strategic category within the national sports landscape. Additionally, he played a central role in establishing the Pan-American Confederation of Sports Poker (CPPD), which united national federations across Latin America to foster cooperation between regional markets. Trafane remains the president of this institution.
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As President of the World Poker Federation, Igor leads the foremost global poker organization, formed by 49 affiliated national federations. By promoting education and raising awareness among governments and society about the sport, the organization has driven significant progress in the regulation and recognition of poker across all continents. Under Igor Trafane’s leadership, the WPF achieved the definitive approval of poker as a mind sport by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), a milestone that reinforced the sport’s legitimacy on a global scale.
In the business arena, Trafane founded the largest poker conglomerate in Latin America, encompassing prominent brands such as:
- Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP): Recognized as the largest live poker circuit outside Las Vegas, the BSOP awarded over R$150 million in prizes in 2024 alone. That same season, the circuit attracted players from 40 countries, establishing Brazil as one of the top destinations for live poker competitions.
- H2 Club: The largest live poker venue in Latin America, the H2 Club welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually and hosted more than 1,500 events in 2024 alone.
- SuperPoker Media Group: Bringing together platforms such as Flop Magazine and the SuperPoker News Portal, it achieved millions of monthly views, becoming one of the primary sources of information and entertainment for the poker community in Latin America.
Beyond these initiatives, the conglomerate has contributed to the development and professionalization of poker through ventures in technology, education, payment systems, digital media, sports and corporate events, hospitality, and tourism, fostering the sport’s growth on a global scale.
Igor Trafane’s trajectory reflects his commitment to the professionalization of poker and mind sports, solidifying his position as one of the most significant leaders in building a strong and sustainable global market for these disciplines
