Argentine poker star Nacho Barbero has officially joined WPT Global as a brand ambassador, turning the page after his split with Americas Cardroom earlier this year. The three-time Triton champion described the move as both a “new beginning” and an opportunity to start fresh.
A Clean Slate After ACR Exit
Barbero admitted that his departure from ACR was far from ideal. Speaking during the Triton Super High Roller Series in Jeju, he acknowledged his past mistakes but expressed optimism about this new chapter.
“It’s a fresh start for sure,” Barbero said. “I messed it up with ACR — that’s on me. But this is a new beginning.”
Since its 2022 launch, WPT Global has expanded into more than 100 countries and quickly established itself as a major player in the online poker market, though it does not serve the United States.
“They’re kind of everywhere,” Barbero noted. “The cash games I’ve played are great — soft fields, unique blind structures, and even three-blind setups with big antes. It’s a different format, and I think it’s pretty cool what they’re doing.”
Triton Poker: A Comfortable Stage for Barbero
Barbero’s partnership with WPT Global comes as no surprise given his success on the Triton Poker circuit. With $14.1 million in Triton earnings and three titles to his name, the Argentine is a familiar face on one of the game’s most prestigious tours.
“I’ve never played better tournaments in my life,” he said about Triton events. “From the food and the venue to the way they treat players, everything is top-notch. Sure, you pay for the luxury, but it makes the experience so much better for recreational players too.”
Reflecting on his time in South Korea, Barbero described the Jeju stop as “the softest Triton stop,” underscoring his confidence in navigating even the most elite fields.
Moving Away from High-Stakes PLO
While Barbero remains a fixture on the tournament scene, he has taken a step back from the high-stakes Pot-Limit Omaha games in Las Vegas that once defined his schedule.
“I used to play a lot of high-stakes PLO,” he explained. “But it wasn’t the right lifestyle for me. Those games often came with drinking and late nights, and that wasn’t sustainable.”
Instead, Barbero has shifted his focus toward mixed games, where he says swings of $20,000 to $50,000 in a single night are common. He also hopes to play a role in growing the popularity of mixed formats.
“I want to promote mixed games and bring more people into them,” he said.
Recent Tournament Highlights
Barbero’s year has already been filled with high-profile action. At the Triton ONE festival, he cashed just once, finishing 17th in the $10,000 Mystery Bounty for $13,700.
In Jeju, representing WPT Global, Barbero fell short in the $25,000 Slam event but secured a 26th-place finish in the $30,000 8-Handed tournament, adding $53,000 to his career earnings.
With a new sponsorship deal in place and a busy tournament calendar ahead, Barbero seems ready to embrace this next phase of his poker journey — one that combines his Triton success with a fresh partnership on the global stage.
