After the success at IPO Sanremo 2024, Alessio Albore, an osteopath by profession turned poker player with excellent results, continues his personal hunt for another big shot after narrowly missing the final table at the record-breaking EPM this summer.
It’s been a remarkable year for the Ligurian player, who might return to the tables at the upcoming EPO - European Poker Open, scheduled from December 18 to 23 at King’s Resort in Rozvadov. This event considered a “big brother” to the IPO due to its €1,100 buy-in, has already caught his attention:
“Doubling the buy-in is a good choice because it slightly reduces the presence of casual players in favour of regulars. I’m one of those who prefers sitting at a table with skilled players because I feel more comfortable.”
Mystery Bounty: Mixed Feelings
The first edition of the EPO will feature a Mystery Bounty format, popular with recreational players but one that sparks mixed opinions:
“The chance to draw the biggest bounty can indeed be appealing for recreational players, but it’s not a format I’m passionate about because it alters the tournament’s playability. And I’ve never really studied KO formats; I won’t rule out that I might enjoy it if I dedicated some time to it!”
What a 2024!
It wasn’t just the victory in Sanremo that marked Alessio’s year. As mentioned earlier, 2024 has been stellar, including a 5th place finish at the Skill Poker Master in San Marino:
“Yes, I can say I’m more than satisfied, but not without some regrets. At the €2 million guaranteed EPM, for instance, there was a spot where I lost a big portion of my stack with A-Ts against A-K. Looking back, I would make different choices, but experiences like these help you improve.”
That Crazy Deal in Sanremo
If you missed the recap of the IPO Sanremo 2024, you can catch up by CLICKING HERE. Still, Alessio found himself so far ahead during the 3-handed phase (about 160 BB versus around 10 BB for each opponent) that the tournament ended unusually.
Instead of agreeing on ICM, his opponents preferred to end it there, awarding him the first prize and trophy outright:
“Even a year later, people still ask me about it! It was certainly a unique situation, but not that surprising: I was 3-handed with two recreational players who weren’t used to winning such amounts at the table.
Given the massive disadvantage, they preferred to split the remaining prize pool, each taking €30,000/40,000 more than the third-place payout, without much fuss. It would have likely ended the same way if we had continued playing.”
A Matter of Mindset
The secret to his focus at the final table? Staying unemotional and avoiding the payout details:
“I played it as if it were a €5,000 tournament at a local club: focusing on the game and not the money. Sometimes, I even tried playing hands without looking at my cards, exploiting the moments and the players at the table. In tournaments like these, you always need a bit of luck, like when I pushed K-J of spades against K-Q at 30 left and hit the Jack on the turn.”
After his IPO victory, Alessio made a stop in Barcelona for the European Poker Tour, though the experience didn’t go as planned:
“I busted on Day 1, during the 9th level, in a hand I’ll never forget: A-K of hearts against A-K of spades. Flop rainbow, double spades…”
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