News / nono / 16 June 2008 / Leave a comment

The tournament winner was Max Pescatori, from Milan, Italy. Pescatori, who actually spends more time in Las Vegas than his home in Europe, tours regularly on the American poker tournament circuit. He is 37-years-old.

Pescatori collected $246,509 for first place. He also earned his second WSOP gold bracelet. Pescatori won his first gold bracelet in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event in 2006. This was his 17th WSOP career cash.

When Pescatori won his first WSOP victory on July 7, 2006, it occurred on the same day that Italy won the World Cup (soccer championship).

Pescatori (actually spelled "pescatore") means "fisherman" in Italian language. "It's really a good name to have in poker," he says.

Pescatori is nicknamed "the Italian Pirate." He got his clever name because he often wears a bandana at the poker table and looks very much like a swashbuckler.

"The joy (of this win) can never be the same as winning my first one when Italy won the World Cup," Pescatori said in a post-tournament interview. "The first bracelet is always the best one. But this second win is also important because it is the confirmation of skill. This serves to affirm to myself and gives me confidence that I am pretty good."