FSPC Event #9 (Flight 1D): Rafael Fernandes Looking To Make 2018 His Best (By The Numbers)

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #9 | $1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/400)
Total Flight 1D Entries: 73

Rafael Fernandes (Kissimmee, FL) is seemingly primed to make a really deep run in an event like this, as his numbers continue to get better as time passes.

One of the hardest things to do in tournament poker is have a breakout year, and then follow up those results the following year.  In 2017, Rafael Fernandes (Kissimmee, FL) earned over $56,000 in tournament cashes, after never having a year with results north of five-figures (his resume started in 2011).  Fernandes final tabled the opening event of the WPT DeepStacks series in Tampa (Hard Rock), finishing in sixth place, which was good enough for a $27,525 score.  That helped propel his year, as he went on to record seven more cashes, including another five-figure result in Tampa (4th place in the $150 No Limit Hold'em "Little Slick" for $15,620).

Rafael started 2018 with a final table in one of the largest events in Florida (Event #1 of the SHRPO), finishing in ninth place for $21,210.  He has since cashed in nine more events, and has his 2018 earnings up to $50,000, with five more months left in the year.  It's safe to say that Fernandes is going to best his breakout number from last year, setting the bar even higher for himself.

Fernandes has a solid core of friends who are all accomplished tournament players, including well-known Florida pro Rafael Reis.  While Reis isn't in today's field, some of Fernandes' circle is in action, including Fabio Santos.

As the Flight 1D field grows, so does the list of notable names in action: 

Ian O'Hara
David Maslowski
Daniel Genachte
Bill Farnan
Eduardo Christ
Israel De La Cerda
Jason Prest
Doron Malinasky
Paul Shafran