{"id":409,"date":"2024-08-12T13:15:12","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T13:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buckinghamshire-removals.co.uk\/?p=409"},"modified":"2024-08-28T10:58:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T10:58:02","slug":"gaspare-sposato-finds-some-houdini-magic-at-the-hippodrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/buckinghamshire-removals.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/08\/12\/gaspare-sposato-finds-some-houdini-magic-at-the-hippodrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaspare Sposato Finds Some Houdini Magic at the Hippodrome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blacksmith versus escapologist<\/h2>\n
In 1904, the Hippodrome in London played host to a high-profile challenge set to a very famous man by the Daily Mirror<\/em> newspaper. It was a showdown of sorts between a celebrated escapologist and a Birmingham Blacksmith who had spent five years perfecting a pair of handcuffs with a lock \u2018no mortal man\u2019 could pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thirty-year-old Hungarian-American Erik Weisz had wowed crowds all across the US but it was only his second visit to the English capital. With more than 4,000 people gathered and his reputation on the line, would he be able to unshackle himself? Ever the showman, Weisz examined the handcuffs and exclaimed: <\/p>\n
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I do not know whether I am going to get out or not. But I can assure you I am going to try my best.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The escape attempt began and Weisz vanished into a little cabinet onstage which he called his \u2018ghost house.\u2019 After 70 minutes and much apparent struggle, the accompanying band reached a stirring crescendo and he emerged victorious, the handcuffs held aloft. Weisz, better known by his stage-name Harry Houdini, had done it again.<\/p>\n
Sposato comes back to win<\/h2>\n
120 years later, in the same building, Gaspare Sposato was a modern-day Houdini, not once but twice escaping from the handcuffs of Atanas Pavlov. Sposato, who came into heads-up play in the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) London Main Event as a 6:1 underdog, overturned the deficit to take a commanding position only to find himself back under the cosh with just 17% of the chips. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, in what was an engrossing mano y mano encounter, the two did some business to flatten out the payout structure but it was clear that nothing changed in terms of their ferocity and will to win. Blows were traded. Pots went back and forth. After over two hours of battle, Sposato emerged victorious, the trophy held aloft, and a career-best \u00a3107,660 ($137,411) payday secured.\u00a0<\/p>\n