Italy wins first ever Global Poker Masters

The first ever Global Poker Masters debuted this weekend and there was plenty of excitement for both the players and the fans. After two days of poker, and to the surprise of many, Italy won the team competition defeating Team Russia in the heads-up phase.

As we have previously reported, Alex Dreyfus, head of the Global Poker Index (GPI) has launched a team competition series called Global Poker Masters.

The first stop was organized at the Portomaso Casino in Malta, and eight teams from the top eight countries on the GPI participated in the competition on March 21 - 22.

On Saturday players participated in a Playoff, they played five Heats with each Heat consisting of five 8-handed Sit n' Gos. Players earned points for their country, they received 9,000 points for winning, 5,000 for second place, 2,000 for third and 1,000 for fourth.

Italy, which was considered as an underdog in the competition managed to gather 20,000 points in Heat 1, leading Russia by 1,000 points. The Italians continued to deliver but eventually Team USA and Team Germany made the most points in the Playoffs, while Team UK was eliminated after finishing last.

Day 1 results:

Team United States - 68.000 points     
Team Germany - 67.000 
Team Italy - 62.000 
Team Russia - 60.000
Team France - 52.000
Team Ukraine - 50.000
Team Canada - 43.000
Team United Kingdom - 23.000

Most successful players of Day 1

Guiliano Bendinelli (Team Italy) - 29.000 points
Oleksandr Gnatenko (Team Ukraine) - 28.000
Isaac Haxton (Team United States) - 23.000
Ole Schemion (Team Germany) 21.000
Christopher Frank (Team Germany) - 21.000
Patrick Bruel (Team France) - 21.000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy (Team Russia) - 21.000
Vanessa Selbst (Team United States) - 18.000
Erwann Pecheux (Team France) - 17.000
Oliver Price (Team United Kingdom) 17.000

On Sunday the teams played down to the winner after participating in quarterfinals, semifinals and the finale.

6 teams battled in the quarterfinals, the most successful team (USA) didn't have to play, while Team UK was eliminated on Day 1.

France was eliminated during this round and the remaining teams continued with the following points:

Team United States - 118.000     
Team Russia - 111.000     
Team Germany - 101.000     
Team Ukraine - 84.000     
Team Italy - 79.000     
Team Canada - 60.000

In the semifinals each country was represented by one player which means the players essentially played a 6-max Sit n' Go. Teams had the opportunity to change players every blind level, play started with the following stacks.

Seat 1. Eugene Katchalov (Team Ukraine) - 84.000
Seat 2. Marvin Rettenmaier (Team Germany) - 101.000
Seat 3. Isaac Haxton (Team United States) - 118.000
Seat 4. Vitaly Lunkin (Team Russia) - 111.000
Seat 5. Andrea Dato (Team Italy) - 79.000
Seat 6. Sorel Mizzi (Team Canada) - 60.000

Play started during level 100/200 but there was already an elimination during the 300/600 blind level, Ukraine busted with a tough bad beat after Dan Smith's K-K hit a King on the river against Oleksandr Gnatenko's 7-7 after the two players got the money in on the 7-5-J-Q board.

Canada was busted soon after, Ami Barer's A-K couldn't improve against Smith's 7-7. Italy's Giuliano Bendinelli then won a flip with A-Q against Germany's Ole Schemion's 9-9. Germany finished in fourth place after Schemion lost a flip with 9-9 against Bendinelli again, this time the Italian player had K-Q.

Team USA started the 3-handed phase as the leader but they finished in third place after Dan Smith 5bet shoved with 7-7 just to run into Dario Sammartino's A-A.

Team Italy started the heads-up with 404.900 chips while Team Russia had 148.100 chips, the teams had to win 3 out of 5 heads-up matches to claim the title.

Palumbo, Sammartino and Kanit each won their matches and with that, to the surprise of many, Italy won the first ever Global Poker Masters.

Global Poker Masters Malta results:

1. Team Italy
2. Team Russia
3. Team USA
4. Team Germany
5. Team Canada
6. Team Ukraine
7. Team France
8. Team UK