Yorky Pud

The €3,300 World Poker Tour Venice Main Event came to a thrilling conclusion late on Sunday night after a rank amateur by the name of Edoardo Alescio defeated seasoned pro player, Steve O'Dwyer, to claim the title and the €175,000 first place prize.

At the start of the five day event Alescio was a complete unknown in the poker world, the youngster did not even have a Hendon Mob page bearing his name but now his name will be remembered forever, engraved into the coveted Champions Cup alongside every single former WPT Main Event champion since the long-running tour first started.

Throughout the tournament, the first major event he had ever registered for, Alescio was seen sporting a wide smile, constantly beaming like the Cheshire Cat, thoroughly enjoying his experience. Along with having his pearly whites on display at all times he also had his iPod on permanently and was often caught drumming on the edge of the table and bopping away like a picked onion in a jar. But on the six-handed final table he was not allowed any electronic devises and that seemed to rattle him.

Although he started the final table second in chips he lost a few early pots and was on the slide down the chip counts when he decided to take an unscheduled break to spend a few minutes on the sidelines with his family, friends and possibly his favourite music and whatever they said to him certainly worked because he came back completely rejuvenated, his body language completely changed and he started to look like a much more experienced poker player than he actually was.

When the tournament director issued the order to his dealer to shuffle up and deal Alescio was guaranteed to take home no less than €27,035 for his efforts but that increased by more than €7,000 when Ukrainian veteran Alexander Dovzhenko was sent to the rail by Alescio's eventual heads up opponent O'Dwyer. Dovzhenko was followed to the rail by Andrea Bellini and Andrea Dato, which meant Alescio would now walk away with a score of at least €66,090.

This sum increased three hours later as Michele Caroli, who made some typically Italian plays both at the final table and the days leading up to it, was sent packing in third place but it looked like his tournament would finish with him being a runner-up because he went into the finale trailing O'Dwyer not only in tournament experience but also 4,989,000 to 1,385,000 chips.

He managed to win a few pots and seemed to be getting his fair share of luck and cooler hands before one hand in particular turned the tie around on its head. On a board reading Qc-9d4d-7c Alescio checked to O'Dwyer and the latter lead into his opponent whilst holding QsTs for top pair. Alescio then check-raised all in with 7d6d and the Italian needed to his a six, seven or diamond or he would be eliminated. The dealer burned a card and put the 8d on the river, completing Alescio's flush and gifting him a similar lead to what O'Dwyer had started the day with.

The match was over shortly afterwards. O'Dwyer, down to around 10 big blinds, moved all in for 1,025,000 with Ac7s and Alescio made the call with 5c5s. The flop came down Ah-5h-9h giving Alescio a set and leaving O'Dwyer drawing to running cards but the 6s turn locked up the hand for Alescio and when the meaningless 4s landed on the rier the players shook hands before Alescio was mobbed by an army of fans who were all chanting his name, the name of the new WPT Venice Main Event winner.

WPT Venice Final Table Results

1st: Edoardo Alescio: €175,000
2nd: Steve O'Dwyer: €95,550
3rd: Michele Caroli: €66,090
4th: Andrea Dato: €43,120
5th: Andrea Benelli: €34,245
6th: Alexander Dozhenko: €27,035