Valter Farina, First Italian WSOP Bracelet Winner, Dies at 72
Valter Farina, the first Italian player to win a bracelet at the World Series of Poker, has sadly passed away at the age of 72.
Widely regarded as a trailblazer of Italian poker, Farina made history when he won the $1,500 Seven Card Stud tournament at the 1995 WSOP, earning $144,600 and the honor of being the first Italian to capture a gold bracelet.
A Seven Card Stud specialist, Farina recorded two consecutive seventh place finishes in the format at the 1994 WSOP, before defeating Steve Karabinas heads-up on April 26, 1995, to secure his maiden bracelet and cement his place in poker history.
Alongside his tournament success, Farina was also a regular on the Las Vegas cash game scene and is considered by many to be the first professional poker player from Italy.
From the early 2000s, the man from Genoa made his home on the island of Sint Maarten, where he was a popular figure among the local poker community, recording his final career cashes at the WSOP Circuit stop held on the island in 2023.
The news was reported by Assopoker on March 15, with tributes quickly flooding in from the poker world.
Remembering Valter Farina
Max Pescatori, a four-time WSOP bracelet winner and protégé of Farina’s, paid a touching tribute on Facebook, describing his mentor as a “legend.”
“It's hard to find the right words to say goodbye to a life and poker mentor like Valter. He was the first to believe in me and convince my parents that I could become a poker professional,” wrote Pescatori.
“I was honored to spend hours watching and learning from him as he played the highest-stakes game available at the Mirage in Las Vegas, where he was a regular 7-Card Stud player. Without his invaluable advice, I might not have had the courage to quit my job and pursue my dream of becoming a professional. Valter, you will always be a legend. Goodbye, Valter.”
Alessio Isaia, one of the most successful tournament players to come from Italy, also paid heartfelt tribute, remembering Farina as a “great friend, a great human being and a great poker player.”
Taking to Facebook, Isaia wrote, “We shared so many wonderful moments together, and you were one of the few people I truly admired.”
“I'm sure that with your skills and dedication, you'll find your way on this new path that awaits you. I want to dedicate this post and a special greeting to you because you were one of those people who occupy a special place in my heart.”
“I wish you all the best, and I look forward to our future together. A big hug, great Valter Farina! No tears, just celebration, as we always liked.”
The entire PokerNews team offers its condolences to the family and friends of Valter Farina, a true pioneer of Italian poker.
Imagery courtesy of Assopoker, Max Pescatori, Alessio Isaia.
