Giuliano Bendinelli

Giuliano Bendinelli began his live tournament career in the early 2010s, making his first notable cash at the 2011 PokerStars.it EPT San Remo Main Event, where he finished 70th for €13,000. Over the next few years, he steadily built his resume with cashes across European stops, including EPT Deauville, EPT Malta, and various WSOP events. In 2015, Bendinelli was a key member of the Italian team that claimed victory in the Global Poker Masters World Cup, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure in team formats.

The defining moment of Bendinelli's career came at the 2022 PokerStars EPT Barcelona Main Event. This tournament set a record as the largest EPT Main Event ever, with 2,294 entries. Bendinelli navigated through a stacked field that included players from 78 countries. He reached the final table with the shortest stack at six-handed, surviving with just one big blind at one point. A key hand saw his KQ hold against Neville Costa's KJ, propelling his comeback. After a lengthy heads-up battle with Jimmy Guerrero, Bendinelli secured the title and the top prize of €1,491,133 following a deal that left €68,653 and the trophy in play. He described it as "the best day of my life."

Bendinelli has consistently performed at the World Series of Poker. In 2018, he narrowly missed a bracelet, finishing fourth in the WSOP Europe €1,650 6-Handed Deepstack event for €22,210. He finally broke through in 2025, winning WSOP Europe Event #4: €2,000 No-Limit Hold'em Monsterstack for €169,850. His overall WSOP cashes include multiple deep runs in both Las Vegas and Europe. Beyond EPT and WSOP, Bendinelli has won tournaments in Monaco, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, and has collected over $2.8 million in live earnings according to PokerNews.

Described as a resilient and patient player, Bendinelli's greatest strength is his ability to survive and thrive in high-pressure situations, as demonstrated by his EPT Barcelona comeback. He emphasizes a mix of skill and luck, acknowledging the role of both in his success. He is ranked 11th on the Italy All Time Money List and has earned the respect of the European poker community. His legacy includes inspiring Italian players and proving that even those with moderate rankings can achieve elite success through perseverance and adaptability.