The Welsh Wizard Discovers his Love for Online Poker at the Perfect Time
“I have always played live and I loved it, as 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.
After signing up 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 get to do both, 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 gonna be a dad and that is very exciting for me.”
His father Frank and his brothers Nicky, Anthony and Francesco 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 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 is not 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.