The Welsh Wizard Discovers a Love for Online Poker at the Perfect Time

Roberto Romanello

“I have always played live and I loved it as a massive part of my game is getting live reads, and I think that's what has given me some good results over the years.”

That may be quite an understatement, though, as partypoker sponsored pro Roberto Romanello from Swansea has already racked up more than $3.45 million in cashes.

“I slowed down with the live circuit and don't travel as much as I used to.”

After signing with partypoker, Romanello has discovered his love for online poker. “Since joining up with partypoker, I have started playing online. They are really fun tournaments, not as long as back in the day, and the tournaments finish a lot faster during the week. That's a lot of fun for me, and I enjoy it.”

The "Welsh Wizard" made two final tables on the opening Sunday of the most recent Powerfest series, and claimed the title in the $530 Event 16-H: $25K Gtd FL 7CS. Fifty players fancied some stud action and put up the $530 buy-in, with Romanello outlasting them all, beating I-eat-rats heads-up to claim the title and $8,750.

“I slowed down with the live circuit and don't travel as much as I used to, but that works for me as well as now I got married, and we are expecting twins on July the 27th. I'm gonna be a dad, and that is very exciting for me.”

His father Frank and his brothers Nicky, Anthony, and Francesco all play poker as well. If one or more were to show up at your table in a big live event, would that cause any family trouble or lots of friendly banter? Roberto definitely has one preference for a dream final table.

“I got married, and we are expecting twins on July the 27th.”

“I think I prefer my dad if it was up to me for a WSOP Main Event final table; to have my dad on the table with me would be incredible because I know he loves playing. He loves it more than me; he loves being around his boys, he loves traveling when I take him away with me, and it's nice to give something back. We are a very close family, and he has done so much for us when growing up, we are what has been taught to us. And I know how much he would love that. The other fact is, every time we play he comes after me every time, so I know it would be exciting because he always loves to take me out of a tournament."

The sudden rise of his employer doesn't come as much of a surprise for the Welshman. “It's incredible what partypoker is doing; they are just doing stuff that is amazing for the players, what the players need. The players need the competition in the market which they haven't had for a long time since the demise of Full Tilt. It keeps the competition healthy. And as we all know, they have taken heaps and bounds with the poker.

Among those behind the scenes, one particular name in the UK live poker scene he deems vital for that development.

“What they are doing is gutsy, and they have come a long way in a short time. The first events here in Barcelona have all hit the guarantee, and it's nice to see the players supporting them, they deserve it. There aren't many people in poker that do what they are doing. With the team at Dusk Till Dawn and Rob Yong, the experience he has is what's making this work.

Roberto Romanello Stats (April 2018)

Total Live Earnings$3,450,240
Wales All Time Money List1st
All-Time Money List347th
Global Poker Index Ranking768th

Roberto Romanello Six-Figure Scores (April, 2018)

YearEventPositionPrize 
2010EPT Prague Main Event1st€640,000$846,180
2009partypoker European Open1st $200,000
2011WPT Bratislava1st€140,685$197,861
2011EPT Barcelona €5k side event1st€110,250$158,834
2016WSOP $1,0003rd $142,926
2011Eureka Prague2nd€100,000$133,892
2010The Poker Lounge1st $120,000
2015EPT Malta High Roller6th€99,620$109,923
2010EPT Copenhagen side event6thDKr570,000$104,355
Roberto Romanello
Roberto Romanello
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Live Reporter

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