🇮🇹 Andrea Iocco wins the WSOP Circuit Mini Main Event 2026: 'The Ring is a dream come true!'

“It couldn’t have gone better. I still don’t know if the ring is real or fake, I have to realize it. It was a long, absurd, tough tournament. Winning a WSOP Ring is a small dream come true, and I’m happy for our colors too!” said Andrea Iocco at the Euro Rounders microphones, the winner of the WSOP Circuit Mini Main Event at King’s Resort in Rozvadov, as he touches the prize, looks at it, and tries it on his fingers. For the Italian player, it was a victory over 1,602 entries for a top prize of €62,000 plus a $5,000 package to spend at the WSOP Europe in Prague in April or the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas at the end of 2026.

Could you analyze the tournament? A flow characterized by many ups and downs? “Day 1s didn’t go well, and I qualified through the Turbo with 435,000 chips, entering Day 2 in the top 10. The field was very peculiar, and I faced many complicated and unpredictable tables. However, at the final table, the players were very strong, and I had to give my all to win.”

With many victories in your history on the ISOP circuit, several experiences at the WSOP in Las Vegas, and your best live cash being a $50,000 Deepstack: is this success a dream come true? “Actually, I haven’t been to Las Vegas since before Covid-19, and I want to go back. Here in Rozvadov, I hadn’t yet achieved such a great result, and winning such a prestigious tournament is wonderful. Also for our colors, since at the final table we were three Italians. The final table was very competitive, no one gave up, and it was very thrilling.”

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What were the key hands of the tournament? You had many great starting hands, but in the end, you won with the worst cards and a fold? “At the final table, I opened with AA, but everyone folded just like in the very first hand of the heads-up. In fact, I won a crucial pot with 5-3 offsuit with a hero call against Fatos Haxhaj. A difficult call based a lot on the player, timing, and image. I also picked up a few tells, and in the end, I called, crippling someone who had been the undisputed chip leader from the final day to three players left. However, I think the most important hand was a fold with JJ. The chip leader opened, and the button 3-bet, and I decided to fold from the small blind while the two opponents went all-in: QQ vs AK, and in the end, the ladies won, and I would have been busted out.”

Among the opponents, the toughest was Daniele Trippi, who finished sixth: “With him, I had the most significant clashes starting from a hand I lost. With three hearts on the board, he didn't assign me a flush and check-raised. During break, I told him that precisely because I understood his way of thinking, he could be bluffing. I thought my call with two pair QJ could be profitable, but he had completed a straight. I was wrong, but fortunately, it didn't compromise my entire run in the tournament. I also lost another hand to Daniele on Day 2, and he was my most challenging opponent!”

When did you think you could win? “It was when I chose to fold JJ. More than winning, I thought I could do something significant. I'm used to thinking step by step: you need to move from Day 1 to Day 2 and then to the final day. Then at the final table, you go from 9 to 6 and then to 3 left, and then you play for the win.”

Thinking about the dynamics at the final table and the deals, Andrea Iocco shares his thoughts: “I speak candidly. I don't like the mentality of many players who root for each other's exit or are there to take advantage of the money jump. I've seen too much intensity in many situations over the last few years, and I don’t have that mindset. Less ICM? Yes, I probably interpret the game as a sports competition, even if it can go wrong and I could earn less. Often, wrong dynamics develop among players. I respect the deal, but this aggression and creating uncomfortable situations that put others in difficulty to favor their exit is something I don’t like. Let’s focus more on playing and winning. Maybe I'll be criticized for this, but that’s how I feel.”

What about the upcoming tournaments? Starting from the $5,000 WSOP package, what will you choose? “More WSOP Europe than Bahamas, so I will use it in the spring in Prague (March 31 - April 12). I won't play the rest of the WSOP Circuit and the Main Event. We had planned to play the Mini Main, and the victory doesn’t change my schedule. The tournament was very tough, and I’m very tired. I’ll try some bigger tournaments right here at King’s Resort and play in Nova Gorica. For sure, the WSOP Europe, as we mentioned, especially thanks to this victory!”

Payout

| Player                  | Nationality | Payout              |
|-------------------------|-------------|---------------------|
| Andrea Iocco            | 🇮🇹         | €62,000 + WSOP package |
| Jinxuan Cheng           | 🇨🇳         | €41,500             |
| Fatos Haxhaj           | 🇨🇭         | €29,500             |
| Jan Tomsovic            | 🇨🇿         | €21,000             |
| Faramarz Safari         | 🇦🇹         | €15,500             |
| Luigi Pignataro         | 🇮🇹         | €15,500             |
| Daniele Trippi          | 🇮🇹         | €11,500             |
| Marcel Bormeth          | 🇩🇪         | €6,500              |
| Dominik Liebenwein      | 🇩🇪         | €5,027              |