An old Italian commercial from the 1980s used to say, “For a big wall, you need a big brush.” And when it comes to a major event like 🌃La Notte degli Assi ONE Plus ONE🌃 — featuring a staggering €2 million guaranteed prize pool and €1 million guaranteed to the winner — Imperium Events had no doubt in choosing one of the most respected figures in the global poker industry: Sanaz Fattahi, Tournament Director — or more precisely, Tournament Operation Leader (TOL).

Of Canadian origin, Sanaz moved to Italy in the early 2000s. Almost by coincidence, she entered the poker world after playing a tournament where she criticized the dealer’s lack of professionalism and spontaneously decided to self-deal. At her table was Claudio Pagano, who noticed her talent and introduced her to the poker entertainment scene.

Thanks to her natural professionalism and passion, she quickly advanced within Pagano Events, later becoming a key figure in PokerStars live events across Italy and Europe, especially at the EPT. Her first roles as TD were at the IPT, but she also took part in prestigious events like the Bahamas, Tallinn, and the PartyPoker Millions finals in Nottingham.

In recent years, Sanaz has been working with the elite Triton Series, the most prestigious high-stakes poker circuit in the world. She joined the team at the invitation of longtime friend and collaborator Luca Vivaldi, now Live Events Senior Director at Triton. Today, Sanaz holds one of the highest-profile roles in live poker, co-leading tournament operations for Triton alongside Vivaldi.

When she’s not working, she resides in Rome with her partner Raffaele De Nicola — also a renowned TD, whose first experience as Tournament Director was precisely at La Notte degli Assi — and their son Wagner.

Now, Sanaz is ready for her first experience in Albania, having accepted the role of Tournament Director for 🌃La Notte degli Assi ONE Plus ONE🌃 at the Arena Casino in Tirana.

Here are her thoughts on this landmark event:

“I have a deep connection with La Notte degli Assi, which I directed back in the early 2010s in Campione. I still remember everything: Salvatore Vendemini, Claudio and Luca Pagano, and the sponsor ‘Chivas’ 🥃🤗. Coming back after 15 years is incredibly emotional — especially working with longtime friends like Giorgio Botter and internationally renowned TDs like Ferruccio Militello, both part of the Imperium Events team.”

“This event will offer players a brand-new Texas Hold’em experience — a millionaire dream with a €1,150 buy-in. I expect many Italians, many Albanians living in Italy, and above all, players from all over Europe. This could truly become a historic moment in the world of poker. What matters most is harmony within the team: respecting the staff and being respected in return. At the end of the day, whether we have 20, 1,000, or 10,000 players — if the tournament runs smoothly, I’m happy! See you in Tirana from June 14 to 24!”