The inaugural Gioco Digitale WPT National San Remo kicked off last week, attracting professional and casual players from all over Europe to fight for the WPT National title. A total of 354 entries took to the tables for the Main Event, generating a total prize pool of €309,042. Denis Karakashi battled his way through the field to take home €70,000 and the coveted crystal WPT National trophy.
Karakashi travelled to San Remo with a friend and didn’t intend to play the event, but won a seat in the last satellite the day before the Main Event. Karakashi entered the final table with 70 percent of the chips in play, and reached heads-up play against Antonio Rutigliano with a six-to-one advantage.
Heads-up play began with Denis Karakashi leading by about 9 million to 1.5 million. On the final hand, Rutigliano was all in and at risk with A3 off suit against the A9 of diamonds of Karakashi. Rutigliano failed to catch up, and Karakashi was crowned the champion.
Final Table Standings
| Place | Player | Prize |
| 1st | Denis Karakashi | € 70,000 |
| 2nd | Antonio Rutigliano | € 45,000 |
| 3rd | Dario Ciravegna | € 29,000 |
| 4th | Francesco De Vivo | € 21,000 |
| 5th | Alexandre Le Vaillant | € 16,000 |
| 6th | Cataldo Valletta | € 12,450 |
| 7th | Simone Giampaolo | € 10,000 |
| 8th | Gregory Grech | € 8,000 |
| 9th | Samir Bouchakour | € 6,200 |
Notable players included Italian football journalist Riccardo Trevisani, French professional poker players Paul Testud and Alain Roy, 2010 EPT Copenhagen runner-up Francesco De Vivo, and Tilt Events Pros Kara Scott and Giovanni Rizzo.