Seat 2: Giacomo Maisto, 39, Caserta, near Napoli, Italy �C 986,000
Maisto took up poker �C the Italian five-card version - some 15 years ago but switched to Texas Hold��em five years ago. Although sponsored, poker is not his full-time occupation; he runs a string of businesses including a call centre. He only played one EPT last season - in Prague �C but didn��t cash until this year. He won the DKK 15,000 event at EPT Copenhagen in February for approximately �48,000 and also had deep runs at EPT Vilamoura and EPT Vienna. He is being cheered on at Snowfest by a group of friends that includes serial EPT casher Nicolo Calia. Maisto��s wife Antonietta is supporting him from home where she is looking after the couple��s two young sons.