Catarina Santos
One of Portugal’s top poker players, Catarina Santos also has a day job. An established attorney in Oporto, Catarina still finds time to dominate the tables online and in live tournaments throughout Europe. On evenings and weekends, Catarina hones her considerable poker skills online at Everest Poker, playing under the screen name katrinapt.
Catarina made history at the 2010 SPT Aranjuez, where she outlasted 160 other players to become the first female champion of the Spanish Poker Tour. Keeping it in the family, she cashed €45,000 after triumphing in the final heads up battle against the reigning 2009 SPT Grand Finale Champion, fellow Team Everest member Steven van Zadelhoff.
"The Final Table was tough,” says Catarina of her victory in Aranjuez. “Players had great skills and experience, but I got the right cards at the right time."
Catarina describes herself as tight-aggressive player, but she is well-known and respected for her ability to adapt to her opponents. It is an apt description, particularly when considering how poker is more than a game for Catarina, but an essential tool in both her life and legal career. The skills one gains through poker are just as helpful in everyday situations as they are at the table.
"When played with intelligence and thoughtfulness, poker helps us grow as people. Through the game, we gain greater self-knowledge and self-control, just as it helps us to analyze and better understand others," says Catarina.
In addition to the Spanish Poker Tour, Catarina has played numerous regional and international events, including Solverde Season, the Portuguese Poker Tour, the Knock Out Tournament at Figueira da Foz, and the WSOP. An original member of the Everest Poker Portuguese Team, Catarina has been playing online with Everest since 2007.
"My game began at Everest Poker. Everest gives beginners excellent opportunities and takes care of their players in a very personalized way," says Catarina. "As Everest players, we know we are more than a number among thousands, and that as small as our bankrolls might often be, we still have the opportunity to travel and play in the best tournaments."
