Filippo Candio returns to the World Series of Poker with 16.4 million in chips. The Cagliari, Itay native is vying to become the first Italian to win the Main Event and one of only a few Europeans to accomplish the feat. While many thought the young prodigy Dario Minieri might the man to do it for Italy, it’s Candio who now is carrying the flag deeper than any Italian has ever been. It’s no shock his breakout is in tournament poker as it is the only form of poker legal in Itay. Winning at Texas Holdem is nothing new for Candio. He has almost a 1/4 million of poker winnings in live tournament play. Candio won the bulk of that in the January 2009 Euro Campionato Italiano main event. He shipped the 2k buy-in to win almost 185k.
He knows how to play poker successfully in Europe and in the United States. In fact, this will not be his first World Series of Poker cash as he finished in the money (157th) for just under 4k at $1500 No Limit Hold ‘Em event this year. He’s also made two five figure scores, both in Europe. At the 2010 EPT Deauville Main Event (he finished 97th) for a little over 11k and at the 2009 Euro No Limit Hold Hold’Em IPT San Remo 4, 500 Euro (buy-in) he went to the cage to collect a touch over 11k for a second place finish. In 2008, he won just under 9k for his 300 Euro (buy-in) at the No Limit Hold’Em Royal Poker Tour, where he also finished second.
Candio played a huge hand against Joseph Cheong that really propelled to the November Nine. On day 8 of the World Series of Poker main event Candio called a 3 bet from Cheong prior to flop. Candio took a risk with 7s5s and stuck to his hand. The flop was six of hearts, five of clubs and six of clubs. Cheong fired again. Candio cagelily raised Cheong’s 1.1 million chip bet to 4.4 million. Action back to Cheong who shoved. After some time in the tank, Candio put his tournament at risk with his two pair.
Cheong flipped over pocket rockets just the kind of a hand that would 3bet preflop. The turn gave Candio new life. Unlike the Italian national soccer team the Azzuri in the World Cup four years ago, Candio had to catch up and catch up fast. A country that stakes it’s national identity on hard-nosed defense had a poker player in desperate need of some instant offense.
The turn was kind to Candioas an 8 fell. He caught his breath as the river was even kinder. A 4 ended Cheong’s hopes of knocking out Candio and Candio’s risky play was rewarded. This type of risk taking with a pair of fives was atypical for Candio. As the bubble for the final table neared Candio did what many before him has done. Perhaps, understanding far more was at stake than just another final table, Candio was going to get there regardless. While others opened up their games and grew their stacks, Candio sat tight and just waited for premium hands.
Surrounded by sharks like Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, John Racener, John Dolan, the sledding will be rough for Candio. His father is an extremely famous lawyer and Candio was supposed to follow in his fathers footsteps. Like a Italian version of the movie Rounders Candio was drawn to poker and not to the legal profession. He studied the classics in college including Greek and Latin but found the drama in the live poker tournaments too tense to resist.
Candio, who is an entrepreneur, has his own poker themed clothing line but would like nothing better than to get into the jewelry business in November.