Rocco Palumbo Wins WPT Venice For $180k

Italian pro Rocco Palumbo has won the €3,300 buy-in WPT Venice Grand Prix, after defeating a field of 173 players on his way to capturing the title, and collecting the  €140,000 ($180,097) first place prize. Following his win at the world’s oldest casino, the Casino di Venezia, which has been open since 1638, Rocco Palumbo now takes his live career earnings to $1,161,931.
First to leave the final table of six was Italy’s Erion Islamay, who moved all-in from the button with A-6 only to be called by Marcello Montagner with pocket tens. The board subsequently rolled out 10-8-5-7-6 to eliminate Islamay in 6th for €24,100.
Next, Xia Lin (A-6) decided to shove from the big blind following an open raise from Rocco Palumbo and a call from the small blind. Palumbo made the call with A-J and moments later Xia Lin exited in 5th for €30,100. He was followed soon after by a a short-stacked Roberto Begni in 4th (€40,100), whose A-6 pre-flop shove was called by Marcello Montagner (J-2),  with the board then falling Q-Q-7-5-2.
At this stage, the WPT’s very own Mike Sexton was hoping to bag his first WPT title, but unfortunately was bounced out of the tournament after tangling with eventual winner Palumbo. Having raised on a J-7-6 flop, Sexton (J-9) failed to shake off Palumbo (A-7) and when an A arrived on the turn, Palumbo subsequently check-called Sexton’s all-in to eliminate him in 3rd for €54,200.
Sexton’s exit then saw Italian’s Rocco Palumbo (3.095m) and Marcello Montagner (2.09m) facing-off to decide the WPT title. Eventually, however, the defining hand was played with Palumbo (J-8) and Montagner (9-9) all-in on a J-10-8-4 board, and after the river fell a harmless 4, Montagner collected €84,200 for his runner-up finish, while Rocco Palumbo was crowned the 2013 WPT Venice Grand Prix champion.
The final table payouts were as follows:
1: Rocco Palumbo — €140,000
2: Marcello Montagner — €84,200
3: Mike Sexton — €54,200
4: Roberto Begni — €40,100
5: Xia Lin — €30,100
6: Erion Islamay — €24,100