World Series of Poker Europe: Alessandro Pichierri Wins Penultimate Bracelet Awarded In 2021

The very first World Series of Poker bracelet event of 2021 finished in the early-morning hours of July 2, with Jose Noboa taking down the WSOP Online ‘Big 500 Kick-Off’ no-limit hold’em event. In the 158 days that followed, 186 more bracelets were awarded. Now just one bracelet is left to be handed out this year, in the WSOP Europe €10,000 main event which plays to a winner on Dec. 8, 2021

The penultimate bracelet awarded this year was secured by Italy’s Alessandro Pichierri on Dec. 7. He defeated a field of 228 entries to take down the WSOPE €3,000 no-limit hold’em ‘Closer’ event for his first bracelet and the top prize of €148,008 ($165,769 USD).

“I’ve never been to Las Vegas before, and it’s the first time I have come here. My friend told me to go take a shot in Rozvadov so here I am,” Pichierri told PokerNews live reporters after coming out on top. “I will definitely be in Las Vegas this summer, this feeling is amazing.”

This was the first title and largest score on Pichierri’s tournaments resume. He had only recorded his first live five-figure score earlier this series, when he finished fourth in the €1,350 mini main event for $93,390 USD.

In addition to the title and the money, he also earned 576 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. With two big POy-qualified scores under his belt, he now sits inside the top 300 in the 2021 POY race, which is sponsored by Global Poker

The final day of this event began with 50 players remaining from the 228 that entered. It took 12 hours to narrow that down to a champion. By the time the field combined onto one final table, Picheirri had climbed into second place behind Thomer Pidun. Timo Kamphues overtook the lead thanks to a preflop cooler, with his pocket queens besting the pocket jacks of Anil Ataoglu (8th – $15,661 USD) to leave just seven contenders remaining.

Pidun was left short after a big clash with Pichierri and a lost preflop race against Milos Petakovic. He outlasted Petakovic (7th – $19,974 USD), but was ultimately eliminated in sixth place ($26,224 USD) when his A-K couldn’t outrun the pocket queens of Manuel Fischer.

Pichierri won a massive prepflop confrontation with pocket kings against the AQ of Romain Locquet. The Frenchman was left with less than two big blinds after the hand and was soon knocked out in fifth place ($35,410 USD).

Kamphues’ A-5 cracked the pocket queens of Picheirri to see the lead change hands. Kamphues then busted Claudio Di Giacomo (4th – $49,141 USD) to extend his advantage.

Manuel Fischer doubled through Kamphues to halt his momentum somewhat. Fischer then got all-in with his AQ leading the AJ of Pichierri. The board came down AJ492 to give Pichierri two pair and the pot. Fischer earned $70,038 USD as the third-place finisher.

With that, Pichierri took more than a 9:2 lead into heads-up play with Kamphues. In the final hand he moved all-in from the button with 109 and Kampshues called with A5. The K956J runout secured the pot and the title for Pichierri. Kamphues earned $102,444 USD as the runner-up finisher.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

Winner photo via King’s Resort’s official Facebook page.

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