Our Verdict:
Dario is a top young Italian player who has learnt his skills online where his game is well respected. However, he has risen more clearly to prominence after a significant live poker win taking down the second event of the inaugural WSOPE - the £10K PLO. Beating off a field of 156 world class poker players this win netted him almost $500K and a coveted bracelet.
Alongside Max Pescatori, Luca Pagano and Dario Minieri, Alioto is a pioneering figure in the Italian game. Online poker was formally legalised in Italy in January 2007 and Alioto is at the forefront of popularising the game.
He was studying pharmacy in Budapest but quit his studies after busting out of the EPT Baden event in 2005. He played poker professionally in Hungary for two months before returning to Italy to play professionally online in his homeland. He now travels to major tournaments and festivals in Europe as well.
Evidence of Italy's growing interest in poker comes not only from Alioto's increasing profile but also the bustling activity on forums such as assopoker.com. The recent launch of Card Player Italia magazine, too, suggests plenty of people see Italy as the next growth area on the European poker scene.