Since it is Not a very important moment in Italian Culture, but because I'm a Texas Hold'em Fan, Maybe I'm the only one that was excited :) 

Italy are the new PokerStars? sponsored World Cup Of Poker Champions, after triumphing at a gruelling eleven and a half hour final table which concluded at 1am on the 15th January.

The coveted tournament was played in the Bahamas during the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and team Italy managed to overcome the other eight team?s at the final to lift the coveted trophy and collect the $100,000 first place prize.

The Italian team consisted of Davide Scafati, Litterio Pirrotta, Marco Mancini, Ravel Furfaro and Luca Pagano each of whom were rewarded with a $25,000 share of the prize for their splendid efforts.

As the final table got underway, France were sitting on a 50k stack and held a slight lead in the competition, with the Philippines (45k) and Ukraine (41k) close behind. Also making it through to the finals were Argentina (37k), Spain (34k), Italy (31k), Slovakia (29k), United Kingdom (27k) and a short-stacked United States on 25k.

Amazingly, the first team to exit the final table was the Philippines in 9th ($5,000) after their pocket aces were beaten by the UK?s pocket kings, followed by the USA in 8th ($5,000) holding A-9 to their opponent?s pocket aces.

Argentina were then consigned to the rail when they found themselves all-in holding Ah-Qh to Ukraine?s Kc-Ks on a 6h-4s-4h flop. Argentina?s holding failed to improve and so they exited in 7th for a $10,000 pay-day.

It took a further four and a half hours before France dispatched Spain in 6th ($10,000), and then Italy added to their stack by eliminating Slovakia in 5th ($10,000), who moved all-in with Ac-4c only to be called by Italy with Ad-Jh.

Unfortunately for France, Arnaud Mattern misread a Ukraine raise and so moved all-in with 8h-6h only to discover his opponent was in fact holding pocket queens. France received $30,000 for their 4th place finish, and after Italy eliminated the Ukraine in 3rd ($50,000), the stage was set for an Italy versus UK heads-up battle.

Eventually, Liv Boeree moved all-in with A-3 only to be called by Italy with A-Q, and with the board running out K-Q-4-8-3, it was all over and the UK walked away with $70,000 for their runner-up finish.

In the meantime, Italy were crowned World Cup Of Poker Champions 2011 for the first time in the competition?s history since the coveted tournament started back in 2004.

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