SAO PAULO -- Ridiculed for fakery at this summer's World Cup, Neymar bounced back at cards this week with the aid of some well-timed bluffs, finishing an impressive sixth place in the 288-strong field of a Brazilian Series of Poker event.
Neymar, who was in the Brazil side that lost 2-1 to Belgium in the quarterfinals in Russia earlier this month, turned his R$7,000 ($1,877) entry stake into R$79,440 ($21,308) before being eliminated in the final of the High Roller event, organisers said.
"I'm very happy to be playing this tournament for the first time and for reaching the final with some great players," the 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star said, moments before the final began. "This is a new experience for me."
Neymar signed up for the tournament with five of his friends on Monday and was the only one of the six to make it through to the second day.
The final table of nine players was scheduled to play on Tuesday night but the contestants agreed to postpone for a day to allow Neymar to attend a friend's wedding.
He returned to compete on Wednesday but, after almost four hours of play, was eliminated after betting big on two consecutive losing hands.
Poker has in recent years become one of the ways Brazilian footballers relax away from the game.
Ronaldo is a keen player and spokesman for an online poker firm, while Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus and former PSG striker Nene also competed in Brazilian Series of Poker competitions this week, a spokesman told Reuters.