Lorenzo Sabato completed a front-running final day in Venice by winning the 2026 La Notte Degli Assi Main Event for €114,500. The tournament drew 2,630 entries to Casino di Venezia and ran from October 11 through October 19, according to PokerNews' event report.
Sabato entered the final day with 83.6 million chips, ahead of Enrico Esposito on 69 million and Marino Focarelli on 42.4 million. His lead briefly came under pressure, but he carried a large stack to the televised final table. Pocket aces against Emilio Izvira's queens delivered the first elimination there, and Sabato later knocked out Sabrina Corrias before his pocket nines held against Esposito's ace-king to set up heads-up play.
Sabato and Emanuele Biscaro agreed to adjust the remaining payouts once they reached the last two. Sabato locked up €109,500 and Biscaro secured €98,500, with the trophy and another €5,000 left to play for. Assopoker's on-site coverage also described Sabato's sustained lead through the decisive stages.
In the final hand, Biscaro held king-six of hearts against Sabato's queen-jack. A jack on the flop moved Sabato ahead, and the remaining cards left his pair in front. Biscaro took second place, while Esposito's third-place finish paid €56,600.
Corriere dello Sport independently confirmed the result and the heads-up agreement. Sabato's victory closed a nine-day Main Event in the historic Ca' Vendramin Calergi setting and converted his final-day chip lead into the title.
