BY TOM SOMACH

If the intent of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is to bring a European flavor to a traditionally American event, it’s working.

After a German won the first-ever WSOPE event earlier this week, an Italian has now won the second WSOPE event.

And not only that, but Europeans finished in the top five spots in the competition.

Event #2 of the inaugural WSOPE, which took place at the Empire Casino in London, England, was a pot-limit Omaha tournament with a buy-in of 5,250 British pounds, or about $10,500 U.S.

The event drew 156 entrants and offered a total prize pool of about 2.3 million British pounds, or about $4.6 million U.S.

The winner was Dario “Poker Mafioso” Alioto, 23, of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, who earned 234,390 British pounds–about $468,780 U.S.–for his victory, plus the proverbial championship gold bracelet.

The runnerup was Istvan Novak of Hungary, who took home 137,280 British pounds or about $274,560 U.S.

Finishing third was Antanas “Tony G.” Guoga, a native of Austria who now lives in Australia and who runs his own online poker room, Tony G. Poker (www.tonygpoker.com).

He picked up 94,380 British pounds, about $186,760 U.S.

Finishing fourth was David Callaghan of Ireland, earning 65,520 British pounds or about $131,040 U.S.

Taking fifth was Antoine Arnault of France, who copped 49,530 British pounds or about $99,060.

Ending up in sixth place was Sherkhan Farnood of Afghanistan, who garnered 38,220 British pounds, about $76,440 U.S.

Finishing seventh was Sampo Lopponen of Finland, who earned 30,420 British pounds, about $60,840 U.S.

The highest-finishing American was Andy Bloch of Las Vegas, Nevada, who placed eighth and won 22,620 British pounds, about $45,240 U.S.

The victory by Alioto was his third money finish in WSOP/WSOPE competition.

Earlier this year, at the WSOP in Las Vegas, “Poker Mafioso” finished sixth in an Omaha hi-lo event, winning $33,759 U.S., and 35th in a pot-limit Omaha event, winning $22,137 U.S.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)