[1] Brenes began playing poker with family and friends in Costa Rica, especially learning a lot about the game from his brothers.
He won some tournaments in Costa Rica and the United States including the Linda Johnson No Limit Holdem Challenge in 2001.
[2] He also began playing in the World Poker Tour, where both his brothers have made final tables and Alex has won a title.
He defeated a final table that included top professional poker players Mike Matusow, John Juanda, and Layne Flack whom he defeated in heads-up play to win the title and the $1,000,000 cash prize.
[3] This win propelled him up to 3rd place on the all time Costa Rican poker players tournament cash list, behind only his brothers Humberto (1st) and Alex (2nd).