Poker News

The WPT Venice is led by Isaia Alessio after Day1A at the stunnning Casino di Venezia in Italy.

The 24-year-old local leads the €3,300 Main Event 2011 after playing aggressively throughout to amass 212,300 chips.

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Alessio, the 2009 EPT San Remo champion, who boasts more then $900k in career winnings and made two final tables at the 2008 World Series of Poker, has a huge chip lead over his nearest rival, Malinov Dimitrov.

Isaia, who started playing poker in 2005 and is now a full time pro sponsored by Full Tilt, was one of 218 of the world’s finest poker players to sign up yesterday looking for World Poker Tour glory.

But amidst the magnificent surroundings of the Casino di Venezia, which is adorned with fine paintings and portraits, just 101 players survived.

Among the many casualties were Yordan Mitrentsov, who was eliminated by Armando Graziano in the last level of the evening.
Both Fabrice Soulier and his partner Claire Renault, as well as Claudio Rinaldi, Kent Lundmark, Daniele Mazzia, David Sonelin and Lucille Cailly, were eliminated.

The Party Poker Qualifiers had a much better day with Russel Bladon, Fabian Holling, Stefano Ricci and the brilliantly named Francesco de Martini all making it through to Day 2.

Party Poker Pro Giovanni Safina also survived, finishing Day 1A in 22nd place with 92,000 chips.

Italian football legend Francesco Totti, himself a keen amateur, also showed up to play three heads up matches against pros for charity.

WPT VENICE
LEADERS: CHIP COUNT
DAY 1A

   1. ISAIA ALESSIO 212.300
   2. MALINOV RADOSLAV DIMITROV 165.000
   3. ARENA SALVATORE 130.000
   4. GIACOMINO MICHELE 127.000
   5. POLCHLOPEK MICHAL 125.000
   6. DANUT RADU 125.000
   7. RODRIGUES EMMANUEL ALEXANDRE 120.000
   8. AHMADZADEH AMIR HOSSIEN 120.000
   9. SPURIO MARIO 120.000
  10. GRAZIANO ARMANDO 120.000