Italian Stallion Dario Alioto Wins £5,000 PLO Event at WSOP Europe

Italian poker pro Dario Alioto won the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event last night at the 2007 WSOP Europe. (Bodog Beat Image)

In what was a riveting battle of poker skill with truly international flavor, 23-year-old Dario Alioto took home the title last night in the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event at the 2007 WSOP Europe. He earns £234,390 for the win and the coveted WSOP bracelet, the second-ever bracelet awarded at the WSOP Europe.

The Italian emerged victorious from his heads-up battle with Hungarian Istvan Novak after only seven hands of play. However, Novak will not go hungry with the £137,280 he earned for his second-place finish. Lithuanian-born resident of Australia (and the streets) Tony G just barely missed out after a couple of key hands that decimated his chip stack. He takes home £94,380 for third-place, which is sure to help him expand his media empire (he owns PokerNews.com and NeverwinPoker.com).

Irishman David Callaghan went out in fourth for £65,520, followed by Frenchman Antoine Arnault in fifth ( £49,530), Afghani Sherkhan Farnood in sixth ( £38,220) and Finn Sampo Lopponen in seventh ( £30,420). Even though the star-studded field sported a large number of US poker pros, only one made the final table. Andy Bloch made his exit in eighth place, taking home £22,020 for representing the stars and stripes. Ninth place went to MH Razaghi for £16,380.

Today sees the start of the £10,000 buy-in WSOP Europe Main Event with Day 1A commencing at the Empire, Fifty and Sportsman Casinos. Keep it here for live updates from these three casinos.