WPT VENICE: O'DWYER FIVE AWAY FROM MOVING UP TO #1

PHOTO/SOURCE: WPT.com

We have reached the Final Table of six players at WPT Venice and Steve O'Dwyer is the man of the hour.

O'Dwyer is five eliminations away from taking over from Ben Lamb on the 2011 PTPR Tournament Poker Player of the Year Leaderboard, and, with only a few other events remaining in 2011, more than likely win Player of the Year honours.

O'Dwyer has had a great 2011 - collecting PTPR Scores around the world ... Connecticut, Las Vegas, Barcelona, London, Cannes and here in Venice - the man has truly played on the World circuit this season.

O'Dwyer will enter Final Table play fourth in chips - the chip leader, Michele Caroli, holds about a 4:1 chip lead on the man who will enter the Top 5 on the PTPR Leaderboard on Sunday. A win and it's the #1 spot.

Sadly, we lost two key players today. Both Marvin Rettenmaier and Roberto Romanello are gone - neither player able to make it to Sunday play.

For Mad Marvin, it's a eight PTPR Score this season - the most by any player in 2011 (NOTE: Once O'Dwyer cashes in on Sunday, he will join Rettenmaier with number 8). Rettenmaier was our chip leader coming in but he just couldn't make it through Day 4 play.

For Romanello, the elimination is bitter sweet. Romanello will more than likely finish in the Top 10 this season but he cannot be happy with the way this ended - Romanello was the first one out today, surely, he was hoping for a much better result.

WPT VENICE FINAL TABLE SEAT ASSIGNMENTS/CHIP COUNTS:
Seat 1: Edoardo Alescio - 1,714,000
Seat 2: Michele Caroli - 2,097,000
Seat 3: Andrea Dato - 461,000
Seat 4: Andrea Benelli - 1,143,000
Seat 5: Steve O'Dwyer - 501,000
Seat 6: Alex Dovzhenko - 480,000

WPT VENICE FINAL TABLE PAYOUTS (IN USD):
1- $255,842
2- $125,740
3- $86,990
4- $56,822
5- $45,087
6- $35,585

PTPR PREMIER EVENT
World Poker Tour Venice
WPT Venice NLH Main Event
December 13-18, 2011

Casino Di Venezia | Venice
Buy-in: $4,295 | Prizepool: $841,345 | Entries: 213

PTS AT STAKE::
1st position 127
2nd position 77
3rd position 47
4th position 37
5th position 32
6th position 27
ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ 27
MARVIN RETTENMAIER 12
CHRISTOPHER CREUS 12
DARIO RUSCONI 12
ARNAUD MATTERN 12
FERNANDO CIMAGLIA 10
RONNIE BARDAH 10
WANNY PIAZZA 10
ROBERTO ROMANELLO 10
UMBERTO CALABRO 7
MASSIMILIANO ROSA 7
JOHAN GUILBERT 7