Jeff Gross sits down with long-time friend and poker powerhouse Gabriel Andrade following his monumental $5 million score at the WSOP Paradise in the Atlantis. Gabriel opens up about the emotional weight of his recent success, transitioning from a "cash game undercover" player to a tournament specialist, and the financial struggles he overcame to reach this peak. He shares incredible stories from his past—from delivering pizzas and surviving a robbery in Oklahoma to the "angels" like Bill Perkins who supported him during his lowest points. The two also discuss Gabriel’s unique "no-solver" approach to the game, his studies in hypnotherapy, and his goal of giving back through pro-bono mental health work.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction and the $5 Million WSOP Paradise Score
00:01:05 - Final Table Dynamics and Team Play
00:02:16 - The Mental Game: "Cold Blood" and the 7-2 Hand
00:07:28 - Gabriel’s Origins: From Ecuador to Civil Engineering
00:09:43 - The Pizza Delivery Days and Being Robbed in Oklahoma
00:16:55 - Moving to Houston and the Start of the Poker Journey
00:22:17 - Early Casino Experiences and Winning (then Losing) a Fortune at 17
00:24:36 - Online Poker Security and the Move to Live Play
00:28:36 - Ascending High Stakes Cash Games and Finding a Backer
00:30:00 - Angels in Life: Bill Perkins and the Journey Out of Debt
00:35:31 - The St. Thomas Story: A "Dinghy" Moment and a Saving Hand
00:41:08 - Living for Family and Helping Employees in Ecuador
00:45:01 - Meeting Influential People and the "Risk/Reach" Outfit
00:48:42 - Tournament Strategy: Learning from Monsters Without Solvers
00:54:47 - Future Plans: Hypnotherapy, Writing a Book, and Giving Back
01:03:38 - Family Time in the Bahamas and Closing Thoughts
Links and Socials
Jeff Gross:
