PartyPoker European Open V result

PartyPoker.com European Open V, $ 7,000 No-limit Hold’em, 6th – 13th February 2009

Entrants: 72

Buyin: $ 7,000

1. Roberto Romanello, $ 200,000

2. Marc Goodwin, $ 100,000

3. Andy Ward, $ 50,000

4. Craig Burgess, $ 30,000

5. Neil Channing, $ 25,000

6. William Taylor, $ 20,000

32-year-old Roberto Romanello was overcome with emotion after taking down the first major title of his career by scooping $ 200,000 and winning the PartyPoker.com European Open V in London. Romanello, a consistent professional on the UK circuit for three years hails from Swansea, South Wales and with his family own a chain of fish and chip shops.

Romanello had to overcome European number one Marc Goodwin heads-up after a tough final table that also included PartyPoker.com European Open IV runner-up Craig Burgess and World Open IV runner-up and Irish Open champion Neil Channing.

“I’ve made so many final tables but never managed to nail down a title – this win couldn’t mean any more to me,” said a tearful Romanello, who was a very popular winner. “The money will go straight back to my family.”

Romanello’s family own a chain of fish and chip shops that have been voted the best in Wales. Romanello’s triumph, however, wasn’t a case of him battering and frying his opponents – he had his fair share of good fortune from the poker gods.

“I think I played really well in the first heat and was disappointed to finish runner-up. That got me an entry into the turbo heat and I really felt during it that it was finally going to be my time. This was the big turning point for me.” Romanello, who ran deep in the WSOP Main Event in 2006 and has made three GUKPT final tables, is the first player in history to win a PartyPoker.com European Open or World Open title through the second chance turbo heats.

After finishing runner-up to Peter Wood in his heat, he secured his passage to the final table as the short stack by taking out Dale Hoy heads-up in the turbo. Commentator Jesse May was adamant throughout Romanello’s remarkable passage through the tournament that nobody could want the title more and the Welsh wizard continually fought against the odds. When the six seat final table went four handed Romanello found himself with over half the chips on the table but the eliminations of Andy Ward and Craig Burgess at the hands of ‘Mr Cool’ Goodwin meant the stacks were relatively level when it got heads-up, with Romanello slightly down on 685,000 to Goodwin’s 715,000.

Goodwin was fancied by many after a period of superb play and an ability to avoid marginal situations. Goodwin had made the final table of the World Open IV and on this final table managed to exact some revenge on Neil Channing, who spectacularly bust him with quad tens on the final table of that event.

Romanello played over 100 hands heads-up in his heat but his one-on-one with Goodwin was more rapid. Goodwin pushed with Ks-9h and Romanello woke up with As-10s. When an Ace came on the flop it was enough to give Roberto the victory. Goodwin, who won $ 100,000 for finishing runner-up, was gracious in defeat. “It would have been fantastic to have been European number one and European Open champion but I am so happy for Roberto. He has been knocking on the door for such a long time – it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” he said.

Belfast civil servant William Taylor went on to the final table as chip leader but some creative play from the likes of Andy Ward, Neil Channing, Marc Goodwin and Romanello changed the balance of power dramatically and he was the first to bust after his Q-Q ran into Ward’s K-K.

Next to go was Channing, whose ability to continually raise and take down pots without a flop was dominating the game. The Irish Open champion went all in with A-8 only to run into Romanello’s K-K. Another K on the flop sent Channing home in fifth.

Fourth place went to PartyPoker.com European Open IV runner-up Craig Burgess who had largely kept out of trouble during the final table. After going all-in with 7-7, he was called by Goodwin with A-8 and an 8 on the flop and the river ended his ambitions of going one better this year. Third place went to the much fancied Andy Ward, who had held the chip lead numerous times during the final table but after going all-in with Q-Q against Goodwin’s 10-10 failed to hold up after a brutal 10 came on the flop.

Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport said, “This PartyPoker.com European Open saw the events’ toughest field to date and Roberto Romanello was a worthy champion. It’s not often you see the winner of a poker event breakdown in tears and that’s a measure of just what this title means to the players.”

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “When the final table was set many could not look beyond Neil Channing and Marc Goodwin but Roberto Romanello is a truly deserving winner. We’d like to congratulate him and his strong group of supporters – there’s never been such a popular winner!”

Amongst the players who took part in the Matchroom Sport organized 72 runner $ 7,000 buy-in tournament included Annette Obrestad, Roland de Wolfe, Vicky Coren, Juha Helppi, Ciaran O’Leary, Eoghan O’Dea, Ian Frazer, Surinder Sunar, Barny Boatman, James Akenhead, Padraig Parkinson, Julian Thew, Donnacha O’Dea, Stuart Rutter, Nik Persuad, Karl Mahrenholz, May Maceiras, Thomas Bihl, Robin Keston and UK Open champion Michael Keiner.