Boasting a field of 1,313 entrants, the 2011 Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City not only topped last year’s total of 1,042, it also set a record for the largest ever World Poker Tour event (although it should be noted that this year’s tourney allowed players to re-enter on Day 1B, so an apples-to-apples comparison is problematic). Bobby Oboodi entered the six-handed final table with a slim chip lead and held on to earn the victory and a healthy $922k. Jin Hwang took second, earning $554k, and Daniel Buzgon was third ($335k). Fourth place and $281k went to Fred Goldberg, whose play may have been a bit rattled after a verbal tussle with an apparent group of Oboodi-backing railbirds became sufficiently heated that security personnel were twice called in to break things up. Next stop for the WPT is the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods in Connecticut on Oct. 27.
Overseas, Matt Giannetti has taken the WPT Malta title, outlasting a field of 240 at the €3k buy-in event. Following his victory, Giannetti tweeted that he considered himself “a lucksack.” Given Giannetti’s status as a WSOP 2011 November Niner, he’s undoubtedly hoping his sack of luck holds a few more months. Giannetti’s €200k triumph spoiled runner-up Cecilia Pescaglini’s chance to become the WPT’s first ever female champ. (Giannetti, you sexist bastard!) Pescaglini earned €116k, while the rest of the six-handed final table finished thusly: Filippo Bianchini (€76k); Simon Trumper (€53k); Tristan Clemencon (€39k) and Fabian Sartoris (€30k).
