Edoardo Alescio Wins World Poker Tour VeniceItalian Amateur Beats American Pro In Battle For WPT Title |
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Local player Edoardo Alescio experienced an unbelievable journey on his way to winning the World Poker Tour Venice €3,300 re-entry main event at the Casino Di Venezia Ca’ Noghera.
Alescio topped a field of 213 players to receive €194,000, a seat in the $25,000 WPT World Championship (to take place in Las Vegas next year), the Tiffany and Co. WPT Champions award, and the WPT Champions trophy.
The Italian’s name was etched onto the WPT Champions Cup following his heads-up battle with Steve O’Dwyer. O’Dwyer has made two final tables and cashed four times on the Tour, but a major title still eludes him. “Things didn’t go right for me today, but there is always next time,” said runner-up O’Dwyer who received €95,930 for his efforts. The 29-year-old American sat in last place on the bubble but managed to come back to lead the heads up 2 to 1.
Twenty-three-year old Economics student Alescio had a roller coaster ride himself. With just seven big blinds on the bubble, the amateur player made it to the final 10 with only 12 big blinds. He overcame this to make the heads up and even then he was the underdog. After grinding O’Dwyer down to a shoving stack, the final hand came with Alescio holding pocket fives and O’Dwyer holding A
7
. An ace came on the flop but so did a 5 and that was the end of it for O’Dwyer.
After beating the pro for the top prize Alescio said, "I am very emotional right now. All I really know is that I hope to come back to Venice in February and win the televised WPT then too! The drinks are on me tonight!”
Here are the final table results and payouts:
1. Edoardo Alescio (Italy) €194,000
2. Steve O’Dwyer (USA) €95,930
3. Michele Caroli (Italy) €66,090
4. Andrea Dato (Italy) €43,170
5. Andrea Benelli (Italy) €34,245
6. Alex Dovzhenko (Ukraine) €27,035
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