Danilo Donnini Emerges Victorious Over 482-Player Field at PokerStars IPT Campione

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

Dec 06, 2011 3 min read Last updated Oct 02, 2014

The final table of the Italian Poker Tour Campione concluded on Tuesday, Nov. 29, as the final eight players of a 482-player field competed for their share of the CHF 1,136,122 prize pool. In the end, Danilo Donnini emerged victorious and captured the CHF 220,000 first-place prize.

Action was surprisingly swift, and it didn’t take long for the eight-player final table to conclude. The first to go was short-stack, Gaetano Mazzitelli. He was eliminated in eighth place for CHF 22,700 after running into Andrea Dato's pocket aces.

He was followed out the door by Russian Semen Apokorin, who moved all-in preflop with A♣8♣ and was favored against Mikica Mitrovic's K♥Q♥. Unfortunately for Apokorin, the K♦ on the flop paired his opponent and led to his elimination in seventh place for CHF 34,022.

Not long after, the last woman standing, Tania Scremin, was eliminated after her A♥K♥ ran into Mitrovic's K♠K♦. She failed to improve and promptly made her exit in sixth place, taking home CHF 45,500.

Dato was the next to go after he moved all-in preflop with A♥3♣ and was called by Donnini's 4♥4♣. The 6♥5♣2♦ flop didn’t change much, but the 4♦ gave Dato a straight. Much to his dismay, it would not hold as the 2♥ river paired the board and gave Donnini a full house. Dato made his was to the payout desk in fifth place to collect CHF 56,800.

Online poker grinder Alexander "bubukonan" Fasolis exited in fourth place when his 6♦6♠ failed to overcome the 7♣7♠ of Donnini. Fasolis collected CHF 68,000 for his efforts. The final three players struck a deal, setting aside an undisclosed amount, and played for the title.

A short time late, Giacomo Rosa pushed all-in with K♠J♥ on a flop of Q♣10♠7♥ and was called by Donnini, who was holding 8♦7♠. Rosa had 14 outs to a win, though the 7♣ turn took away many of them. The J♠ river was inconsequential and Rosa hit the rail in third place, good for CHF 135,000.

The heads-up battle between Mitrovic and Donnini was special considering both were life-long friends and members at the card club, Showdown Chiaddo. Mitrovic began the match with 7 million to Donnini’s 5 million, though that changed right off the bat.

It happened when Mitrovic opened from the button to 240,000, Donnini three-bet to 620,000, and Mitrovic made the call, leading to a flop of 7♥6♣9♥. Donnini fired out 800,000, Mitrovic called, and the 2♣ hit the turn. This time Donnini checked, Mitrovic bet 1.4 million, and Donnini check-raised all-in. Mitrovic thought long and hard before making the call, discovering his K♣7♦ was dominated by his opponent’s J♠J♣. The 8♠ river changed nothing and suddenly Donnini found himself with a 5-1 chip lead.

In the final hand of the tournament, Mitrovic got it all-in on a flop of 7♣6♥3♣ with J♣7♠ against the Donnini's 4♥3♦. The K♦ turn kept Mitrovic's hopes alive, but the 5♣ quickly dashed them as it delivered a straight for Donnini, and the win. Mitrovic was eliminated in second place and took home CHF 200,000.