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Dramatic Cooler Between Pocket Kings and Queens Decides Bubble at NPS Pixbet Recife Main Event

A pivotal hand featuring Tainá Lima and Poliana Borges, the last two women in the field, resulted in a significant cooler that burst the bubble of the NPS Pixbet Recife Main Event.

News Published 25 May 2026 4 min read Ethan Reed
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The tension surrounding the Main Event bubble is a familiar feeling for any poker player, but at the NPS Pixbet Recife, this critical juncture took a dramatic turn. A significant cooler between Tainá Lima and Poliana Borges, the only two female competitors remaining in the field, swiftly determined who would leave the tournament without a payout. For Tainá Lima, a first-time participant in the NPS Pixbet, the experience was particularly bitter as she became the bubble girl for the Main Event.

The hand in question occurred during the 6,000/12,000 blind level. Tainá Lima, holding pocket kings (KK), initiated the action with a raise to 30,000 chips. Poliana Borges, seated on the button with pocket queens (QQ), decided to re-raise, making it 100,000. After the blinds folded, Tainá, with approximately 240,000 chips, announced her all-in commitment. Poliana did not hesitate and called, revealing the unfortunate cooler that would decide the fate of the bubble.

The situation worsened for Tainá on the flop, which brought a queen, giving Poliana top set. Tainá's hopes now rested on hitting one of the two remaining kings to stay alive in the tournament. The turn card offered a brief flicker of hope, but the river ultimately sealed her elimination. The final card dealt was another queen, completing the board and giving Poliana quads, much to Tainá's dismay.

Poliana Borges, having scooped the substantial pot, continued her play in the tournament with a strong chip stack, aiming for the R$ 50,000 first-place prize. Tainá Lima, despite her elimination just shy of the money, secured a minimum payout of R$ 2,000, as did all other players who had reached this stage.

NPS Pixbet Recife Main Event Exceeds Expectations

The NPS Pixbet Recife stop has once again demonstrated its appeal, with the Main Event comfortably surpassing its guaranteed prize pool of R$ 150,000. A total of 217 entries, each costing R$ 1,200, contributed to a final prize pool of R$ 186,440. The tournament structure included five starting flights, with the final one on Sunday drawing 32 entries and advancing 19 players to the final day of play.

Rodrigo Carvalho emerged as the overall chip leader heading into the final day, having accumulated a stack of 418,000 chips. The champion of the Main Event is set to receive R$ 50,000, the runner-up will take home R$ 30,400, and the third-place finisher is guaranteed R$ 20,300. The payouts are scheduled to begin at the 23rd position, with a minimum prize of R$ 2,000. The final day's proceedings are being broadcast live on Poker Fácil TV, with JP Fernandes providing commentary.

Other Tournament Highlights from the Weekend

The penultimate day of the NPS Pixbet Recife was a busy one, with several other players achieving significant victories. In the High Roller Two Day PKO event, Pedro Henrique Mendes, also known in poker circles as “Pato,” emerged as the champion. This victory added another notable achievement to Mendes's poker resume, as he is a regular on the NPS circuit and has secured titles in previous seasons. The High Roller Two Day PKO attracted 66 entries with a buy-in of R$ 1,400, and the winner received R$ 18,000. Post-victory, Mendes expressed his satisfaction in returning to winning form on the circuit, despite participating less frequently in recent years. He also commented on the high caliber of play in the High Roller, suggesting it was even more challenging than the main High Roller event. Mendes noted the skill of the regular players who compete for rankings, stating they possess a deep understanding of ICM, short-stack play, re-stealing, and effective stack management throughout different stages of a tournament. He attributed his success to key spots where he managed to win crucial pots, ultimately contributing to his win.

Key Tournament Details

  • Event Name: NPS Pixbet Recife Main Event
  • Key Hand Involved: Pocket Kings vs. Pocket Queens Cooler
  • Bubble Player: Tainá Lima
  • Winner of the Cooler Hand: Poliana Borges
  • Main Event Guarantee: R$ 150,000
  • Main Event Total Entries: 217
  • Main Event Prize Pool: R$ 186,440
  • Main Event Champion Prize: R$ 50,000
  • High Roller PKO Winner: Pedro Henrique Mendes
  • High Roller PKO Prize: R$ 18,000

This news is relevant to PlayVideoPoker readers as it offers a detailed look into a significant poker tournament, including a dramatic bubble hand and other notable results. Understanding how key hands, such as the KK vs. QQ cooler, can impact tournament progression, especially at critical junctures like the bubble, provides valuable insight into the strategic and emotional dynamics of competitive poker. The report also highlights the success and growing presence of female players in major poker events.

Source: Mundo Poker – https://mundopoker.com.br/nps-pixbet/cooler-de-kk-x-qq-entre-unicas-mulheres-do-field-define-a-bolha-do-main-event-do-nps-pixbet-recife-confira/

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Fuente

Mundo Poker Publicacion original: 2026-05-25T00:13:02+00:00