The PokerStars Open Campione made a spectacular debut, attracting some of Europe's top poker players and generating a massive prize pool. Among them was Manel Montalbán "Ginobili1988", who turned a small investment in an online satellite into an incredible €123,760 payout by finishing fourth in the €1,100 Main Event.
With 2,324 total entries, the tournament easily surpassed its €1 million guarantee, amassing a €2,326,080 prize pool. The title and the €363,000 first-place prize went to Adrian-Sorel State from Romania, who bested Giorgio Soceanu from Italy in an intense heads-up battle.
Manel Montalbán entered the final table as the chip leader, making him one of the favorites to win the event. However, tough competition and an unfortunate key hand against State saw him exit in fourth place.
This unfortunate confrontation ended his deep run, but walking away with a six-figure payout solidifies his skill in live tournaments.
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Adrian State | Romania | €363,000 |
| 🥈 2nd | Giorgio Soceanu | Italy | €225,200 |
| 🥉 3rd | Barnaba Perone | Italy | €160,880 |
| 🎖️ 4th | Manel Montalbán | Spain | €123,760 |
| 5th | Salvatore Russo | Italy | €95,190 |
| 6th | Jakub Sterba | Czech Rep. | €73,210 |
| 7th | Gaspare Sposato | Italy | €56,330 |
| 8th | Andreas Puntz | Austria | €43,340 |
Despite falling short of the title, Manel Montalbán showcased his talent on the big stage. Transforming a small buy-in from an online satellite into a €123,760 prize is an outstanding achievement, proving he is ready for poker’s most demanding circuits.
The PokerStars Open concludes its first-ever edition in Italy with great success and now gears up for its next stop at the EPT Monte Carlo. Without a doubt, we can expect to see Montalbán competing in more top-tier tournaments.
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