Poker News

Welshman Roberto Romanello reckons he had his lucky wig to thank after winning his first major title and €640,000 at the EPT Prague.

After the 34-year-old from Swansea beat Italian Emiliano Bono heads-up he revealed the bizarre rug – which he bought at EPT Snowfest last season - had inspired him to victory.

An emotional Romanello said: “I’ve been trying to do this for a very long time.

“This means everything to me. I feel ecstatic.”

Prior to Prague, Romanello’s best EPT finish was sixth place at last season’s EPT Copenhagen. He also cashed at EPT Barcelona a few weeks ago – finishing in 39th place earning €15,000.

Like many other players, he took up poker while convalescing from a sporting injury and since turning professional in 2005 has nearly $900,000 in live tournament earnings. His victory at the €5,300 event also propels him to third place in the Wales All Time Money List.

Polish Team PokerStars Pro Marcin Horecki made a heroic bid for the Prague title and fought hard at the final, but was ultimately eliminated by Bono in third place, earning €247,000. This was Horecki’s seventh EPT cash and second EPT final table. In Season 5, the former ski champion came third at EPT London earning a £303,439 payday.

As part of his prize Romanello also wins a seat worth €10,000 to this season’s EPT Grand Final, to be held in the spring of 2011. Bono, 35, from Rome, earned €435,000 for second place.

Of the 100+ players who won their trip to EPT Prague on PokerStars, Slovakian Jan Bendik went the furthest, finishing sixth to win €100,000.

Team PokerStars Pros Richard Toth from Hungary and Salvatore Bonavena from Italy, who won EPT Prague in Season 5, both enjoyed deep runs. The Italian finished 17th earning €15,000 and Toth was eliminated shortly afterwards in 15th place, earning €20,000. Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano cashed in an EPT event for a record 17th time, finishing in 43rd place to earn €10,000.

Californian couple Josh and Helen Prager also prospered in the Prague leg, the sixth EPT of Season 7. Helen qualified on PokerStars and enjoyed a career-best run until she was eliminated by a bad beat in the last hand of Day 3, finishing in 24th place for €15,000. Husband Josh bust early the next day – in 21st place.

A total of 563 players from 47 countries competed in the €5,300 Main Event creating a €2,730,550 prize pool. EPT Prague event took place December 13-18 at Golden Prague Poker at the Hilton Prague Hotel.

EPT Prague final results
1 Roberto Romanello Wales € 640,000
2 Emiliano Bono Italy € 435,000
3 Marcin Horecki Poland Team PokerStars Pro € 247,000
4 Peter Skripka Russia PokerStars player € 163,000
5 Marco Leonzio Italy € 130,000
6 Jan Bendik Slovakia PokerStars qualifier € 100,000
7 Manuel Bevand France € 71,000
8 Roberto Nulli Italy € 54,550