May Showdown

With the multi-event World Series of Poker underway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, some might think the gloss has been removed from some of the European events. The WSOP, with its 4 month gap, runs from May 30 to November 11 and will attract plenty of big names.

However, such is the popularity of the game that there is still plenty of action available across the continent for a wide range of budgets.

Take the May Showdown at the Perla Casino and Hotel, Slovenia. This jamboree of international players, scouting for chips, provided five mid range tournaments, including the increasingly popular NLHE Turbo game. In these games, the blind levels change so quickly that players are forced to act on marginal holdings before their chips are consumed. Arguably, it is not a test for the purist, but they can be great fun, if a little like seeing The Godfather condensed to a clip on Youtube that provides video backing for a track by an Italian tribute band that apes the BackStreet Boys.

The main event was a Î 500, standard NL game and attracted 40 players. Eventual winner, Biagio Brognieri hoovered up Î 6,440 so could still build up his bank roll to a level that he could use to buy himself a shot at the dust up at the Rio All-Suite

May Showdown - Perla Casino & Hotel

1. Biagio Brognieri - ITA - Î 6,440
2. Dino Pilot - ITA - Î 4,232
3. Ciro Bossa - ITA - Î 2,208
4. Gianni Barazzutti - ITA - Î 1,840
5. Gaspare Raia - ITA - Î 1,472
6. Ljubisa Nazimova - SLO - Î 1,288
7. Salvatore Soricaro - ITA - Î 920