IPS Malta: Alberto Furnari Turns the Tables to Claim Title and €200,000

Portomaso Casino wrapped up the 59th edition of the Italian Poker Sport (IPS) with a victory for Alberto Furnari. The Main Event, with a buy-in of €390, attracted a record-breaking 5,552 entries, significantly surpassing the original guarantee of €1,500,000. The final prize pool settled at €1,774,419, with a top prize of €200,000 for the winner.

Fifty-five players advanced to the final day, with Furnari gradually making his way to the final nine. At the televised final table, he brought over only 22,700,000 chips, the smallest stack. Danny Lewis Strange held the best position at that moment but eventually exited in fourth place with €69,000.

Final Table Live Stream Recording:

Even among the final three players, Furnari was not favorited based on his chip count. He entered the 3-way showdown with 47 million, while Manuel Persico held 106.2 million and Werner Schroons led with 124.5 million. The Italian player erased this deficit, turning his smallest stack into a championship title.

Werner Schroons had to settle for third place and €100,000. The final heads-up saw an all-Italian duel, with Furnari overcoming Manuel Persico.

Everything was decided by a preflop coinflip, where Persico needed his pair of 2 h 2 d to withstand the pressure of five community cards. Furnari held Q d J c, and the dealer kept the tension alive until the last card. The flop K h 5 d K c and turn 7 d still kept Persico ahead, but the river was against him.

One of those unwanted cards appeared—a J h, ending the tournament. Runner-up Persico took home €145,000, while Furnari finished his successful journey with the trophy and the top prize of €200,000.

Final Table Results of IPS Malta:

Sources: EuroRounders, YouTube, FB/EuroRounders