The recent partypoker-sponsored WPT National Rozvadov festival in King’s Casino attracted quite a few well-known players, such as partypoker ambassador Tony Dunst; November Niner Federico Butteroni; WCOOP Main Event champion Fedor Holz; and many others, but few players have had as much success on the World Poker Tour as Marco Della Tommasino.
Marco might be less known outside his home country, Italy, but his poker experience with the WPT is impressive. He’s cashed in 19 WPT National Main Events, including 15 consecutive stops. WPT Regional Event Manager Sandris Cakarnis spoke with Marco about his poker journey and his relationship with WPT.
Congratulations on getting into money for the 19th time at WPT National Rozvadov. To begin with, can you please tell our readers how you got into poker?
Firstly, like many others, I learned the game by playing with my friends. Then I saw Chris Moneymaker win the WSOP in 2003. It impressed me, so I started to gather more information about poker, by watching poker-related TV shows and movies. My favorite film about poker is Rounders. I think it changed my life.
Later, I started to play in little clubs in my home town, Genova. Around the same time, I started to play online too. In 2006, I started to play cash games in casinos of San Remo. One year later, in 2007, I won the first live tournament money in a local poker festival. Two years later, I decided to become a professional poker player, by joining the PRO team of smartgames.
Our recent partypoker-sponsored WPT National Rozvadov is coming to an end. How did it go for you?
On Day 1B I was a cheap leader, and Day 2 was a good day too, as I progressed with my chips going up from 200,00 to 500,000. The final day was not as good as the ones before, but I am still happy, because after all I received much attention and support from friends.
Overall, it was a good experience, as it is my 19th cash in a WPT National Main Event.
What is your key to success in WPT National events?
I studied the strategy of the tournaments with smooth progression of levels. Knowledge is power. Sometimes I might have a low stack, sometimes it is big, but I am always trying to stay positive. I think this is very important.
What are your top 3 reasons to play events on the World Poker Tour?
My number one reason is the structure, especially the one you use in WPT National events, with the buy-ins around €1,000. I think it is the best, as players start with 30,000 chips, the levels are 60 minutes, and I like how smoothly they progress.
“The tour” is my second reason. I like the element of traveling and the opportunity to play with new players in different locations.
The third reason is quite obvious – World Poker Tour has a very good event organisation. I like the whole experience of main and side events, cash games, and entertainment like the WPT parties.
Christian Scalzi, WPT Tournament Director in Europe, is also Italian.. You must meet him quite a lot when you participate in European WPT events. What do you think of Christian as a professional?
For me, he is the number one Tournament Director in Europe, if not in the world. I have seen his work many times. He is very focused and does a great job. I see his passion about the game, and you can always see him in the middle of action on the poker tournament floor. Additionally, he can speak many languages, which is helpful too.
What are your poker plans for the future?
I am planning to play a lot of cash games with blinds 2/5, 5/10, both in PLO and NLH. Most likely it will be Barcelona and Las Vegas. Apart from that, I would like to play some more tournaments. Approaching WPT National stops in Vienna, Valkenburg, and Brussels are on my “To Do” list too. See you there!
Photographer: Mantas Ruzveltas