Home / Poker News March 2013 / WPT Venice Grand Prix – Rocco Palumbo Wins
WPT Venice Grand Prix – Rocco Palumbo Wins
Posted by: Jo Martin - Sun, 2013-03-31 08:03
After witnessing 173 players belly up to its tables on the first two day 1 flights, and a grandiose entry from Phil Hellmuth, followed by a quick bust, the WPT’s Venice Grand Prix finally played down to a winner the other day.
6 players returned to the tables on the last day of the
poker tournament, among them Rocco Palumbo, who would emerge with the win in the end, taking home the title, the bragging rights and the $180k top prize.
Erion Islamay started the final stretch of the event with one of the shortest stacks, and sure enough, he became the first victim of the day. He picked up $31k for his efforts.
The next player to head to the rail was Xia Lin, who put his last chips into the middle on an Ad, 6d. Rocco Palumbo made the call with an A,Jo. To add insult to injury, Palumbo hit a straight on the turn, and he bounced Lin in 5th place.
Robert Begni was the next player to get the boot: he was bounced by Marcello Montagner, picking up $51.5k for his 4th place.
The player whose elimination set the heads-up stage of the event was Mike Sexton. Sexton got his last chips into the middle on the turn of a board of J,7,6,A, with a J,9. He was called by Montagner, who had an A,7. The 5s fell on the river, which was rather irrelevant for the outcome of the hand. Sexton took home $69.7k for his efforts.
The start of the heads-up stage of the event saw Palumbo start with a rather substantial chip lead. Eventually, that early advantage proved to be instrumental for his victory run. The last hand of the event saw Palumbo’s J,8o best Montagner’s pocket 9s.
