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Anthony Zinno Wins CPPT Venetian Main Event – Taking Break From Poker

Anthony Zinno has been having one of his best live poker campaigns ever in 2018, but the one thing that’s been eluding him so far in 2018 is a win. That all changed on Thursday when Zinno took down the $5,000 CPPT Venetian Main Event for $466,670.

The event featured a stacked final table and proved to be the big win that Zinno was looking for in order to take a bit of a break from the game. His victory also pushed up up over $1.2 million in earnings, so far the second-best year of his live career.

Zinno Defeats a Superstar Final Table to Win CPPT Venetian

The $5,000 CPPT Venetian Main Event kicked off on July 14 and drew a field of 547 entries to create a prize pool of $2.52 million. This being one of the last big events in Las Vegas for the summer, it drew a superstar field and this was highlighted by those at the final table.

The final table kicked off this past Thursday and was a virtual “Who’s Who” of poker. Among those making the final were Dan Shak, Anton Wigg, Stephen Chidwick, Anthony Zinno, Bryan Piccioli and 2014 WSOP Main Event winner Martin Jacobson.

Ultimately, it was Ben Jones and Zinno that battled for the title heads-up. Prior to the start of heads-up play, the pair struck a deal and left $100,001 on top along with the title. Jones started the match with the chip lead but Zinno managed to wrestle it away prior to the final hand.

Hi guys. Exactly, yeah we took $100k out of the pool for the winner and did ICM (he had like 7.8m in chips and I had 5.8m)

Great playing with you, Bryan. Let's drink soon

— Anthony Zinno (@AntZinno) July 20, 2018

Jones was all-in pre-flop with A-K and Zinno called with A-J. After a king hit the flop, Zinno appeared the likely runner-up. However, jacks on both the turn and river gave him trips and the title. Including the money from the deal, Zinno walked away with $466,670 for first. Jones earned $390,956 for his runner-up finish.

After winning the event, Zinno told PokerNews that he plans to take a vacation from poker. He has been on the grind for months now and after just a single night off during the WSOP, he has decided to take a long vacation. With a $466k boost to his bankroll, one can’t fault him for taking some time off.

Zinno Enjoying Second Best Year of Career

With his Venetian win, Zinno moved up over $1.21 million in live earnings in 2018 and over $8 million in career earnings. This is now his second best year in his live tournament career.

He started the year off with a pair of cashes at the US Poker Open, including a 4th place finish in the $10k PLO. He then finished 8th in the LA Poker Classic later in February.

Zinno nearly won the parytpoker MILLIONS North America C$25k Super High Roller but finished runner-up to Chris Kruk. He then went on to the 2018 WSOP where he cashed 12 times and had a pair of final tables.

He finished third in the $565 PLO Online Six-Max and also finished third in the $10k Limit Hold’em Championship. Zinno is presently 10th in the WSOP Player of the Year race but would have to go on an insane run at the 2018 WSOP Europe to even have a shot at the POY title.

Zinno’s best year came in 2015 when he earned $3.77 million. He enjoyed two seven-figure scores that year. His first was when he won the L.A. Poker Classic for his second straight World Poker Tour title and $1.01 million. At the 2015 World Series of Poker, he won the $25k PLO High Roller for $1.12 million. So far, that’s the largest score of his career. There’s little doubt that we will see the three-time World Poker Tour champion win more in the near future.

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