The Belpaese players seem to have enjoyed winning in Rozvadov’s game. In the middle of the night that has just ended, they have indeed arrived two WSOPE bracelets to the delight of Italian poker enthusiasts. They bear the names of “engraved”. Ermanno Di Nicola e Alessandro Pichierriwinners respectively in 1.650 euro NLH 6-max e nell’High Roller €25.000 NLH GGMillion€. Together with the title won by Christopher Campisano in the Mini Main Event a few days ago, this hat-trick achieved in the space of four days leads to 19 the number of WSOP/WSOPE bracelets “physicists” who enrich the bulletin board of poker made in Italy.
So let’s see how the last two arrived.
Event #7: 1,650 NLH 6-max
Let’s start with the tournament won by Ermanno Di Nicola who, it should be remembered, last year obtained his first WSOPE title in the “Colossus” Event. This year Di Nicola is left behind another 350 entriesat the end of two intense days characterized by a rather aggressive, fast and spectacular style of play. On the other hand, the format with only 6 players at the table favors these characteristics, as the winner himself confirmed in the heads-up post: “I’m still excited about the win, but I have to say that the 6-max suits my very aggressive game very well.”
Once he reached the final table, the Italian went into turbo mode by eliminating 4 players consecutively: Axel Bayout (6th), Amiel Gamliel (5th), Traian Stanciu (4th) and Rachid El Yaacoubi. The shot that eliminated the latter is the most spectacular. After defending the BB with J♥8♥, Di Nicola check-raises this one flop 3♦10♥5♥. El Yaacoubi forbets and the Italian decides to put everything on a flush draw. His opponent starts ahead because he has K♠10♠, top pair, but the advantage disappears already at turnwhen the 6♥ comes down which completes the suit for the Italian.
The head-to-head for the bracelet began with By Nicola chip leader by 3:1. The South Korean Dohang Na he managed to recover something, but was unable to reverse the situation. Di Nicola controlled and then closed the challenge with K♠K♦ vs A♣6♥ all-in preflop: the first three cards 9♣5♣6♣ scared the Italian, the last two Q♥9♦ gave him the title, €111,250 and the 10,300 euro ticket for the WSOPE Main Event.
Event #8: €25.000 NLH GGMillion€
Let’s move on to the other “blue” bracelet of this 13th day of the WSOPE 2024. The first of the two scheduled High Rollers – the other is the 50k starting the day after tomorrow – recorded 38 participations, two of which are Italian: Simone Andrian and Alessandro Pichierri.
We have already said how it went for “Deneb”. Adrianwinner of a WSOPE title in 2021, instead surrendered near the final table. Together with him, many international big names left without a prize: Stephen Chidwick, Shaun Deeb, and Kristen Bicknell “in” Foxen, eliminated twice by her husband Alex Foxen (pure coincidence?), just to name a few.
Alessandro Pichierri instead chose to register as late as possible on Day2. He kept a low profile, i.e. prudent in terms of play, which allowed him to access the final table. Here he eliminated Viktor “Isildur1” Blom in eighth place, with a heavy cooler (QQ vs AA by Pichierri).
Once the bubble burst (6 in the money), the Italian pro increased his laps, lame heavily Leon Tsoukernikformer owner of the King’s Resort which hosts the WSOPE. And then he hit a big call on Alex Foxenunmasking the bluff of top player statunitense. However, the rest was done by the latter himself, who thus entered the heads-up game with a 4:1 advantage over Alessandro “Deneb” Pichierri.
The rest is in the words that the Italian gave to PokerNews after the victory. “The entire final table was difficult and at times painful. Foxen is a very difficult opponent, very aggressive, and he was to my left with a huge stack. Throughout the final table I waited, letting him do everything. Once heads-up started, I got lucky twice. I won a flip and then a semi-cooler. The finish was therefore easy, but Foxen was a very tough opponent“.
In the last action, the two limp preflop and end up in the rest on this flop: 10♥6♣3♣. Foxan holds Q♣10♦, flopped pair of 10s, but the Italian dominates with Q♠Q♥. Turn 7♥ and river 7♠, seal the victory of Alessandro Pichierri, his second WSOPE title after the one in 2021.
Event #5: €550 NLHE Colossus
We close our report with event #5, which recorded two good performances by the Italians competing. Andrea Ricci finished in 10th place (€21,650), while Vito Branciforte reached the final 5th position for €53,150. Both also received the ticket per il Main Event reserved for the last 14 players, out of a total of 2.799 entries.
Ricci shortened after a hero call by Georgios Tsouloftas (3rd late) on this board: 2♠Q♣7♦4♣3♣. The Italian shows A♥3♥, Ace high, while the Cypriot has 5♣4♥ and collects the pot, after calling with cosmic nothingness on the flop and with the modest pair of 4s on the last street. Remarkable!
Andrea Ricci (credits PokerNews)Branciforte instead suffered one pesante bad beat. All-in preflop with AQ v AJ’s Michal Schuh and board 9♦3♣Q♠10♣8♠ which closes runner-runner straight for the Czech player.
The lucky star then accompanied Schuh until the end. The home favorite beat the Dutchman heads-up Erik van Hulstachieving his best win ever: €171,350 + ME WSOPE ticket. Michal Schuh he was a pro for at least 5 years, but after the pandemic he went into mode recreationaldedicating himself above all to Pot-Limit Omaha.
Header image: Ermanno Di Nicola (credits PokerNews)