Press Release
BOBBY OBOODI BESTS LARGEST FIELD IN WPT HISTORY TO WIN BORGATA POKER OPEN
BOBBY OBOODI BESTS LARGEST FIELD IN WORLD POKER TOUR® HISTORY TO CAPTURE WPT® BORGATA POKER OPEN
Atlantic City, NJ (Sept. 24, 2011) – The biggest and most prestigious poker room in Atlantic City was bursting at the seams this week as WPT® Borgata Poker Open set the record for largest tournament in World Poker Tour® history. In total, a massive field of 1,313 players battled for their share of the $4,192,913 prize pool.
The previous mark for largest WPT tournament was set at last year’s WPT Borgata Poker Open, with 1,042 players.
“To have back-to-back record breaking events is a testament to the strength of WPT and the draw of the premier casino in Atlantic City,” said WPT’s Hall of Fame commentator Mike Sexton. “Players want to play in innovative, interesting events against top competition in the most celebrated locations, and obviously WPT is giving them that opportunity.”
The world’s top players flocked to The Borgata Casino for the re-entry format and the $3 million guarantee, which was easily eclipsed.
This year’s field included many of the game’s most respected players, including Season IX WPT Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger, 2010 WPT Borgata Poker Open champion Dwyte Pilgrim, Season X WPT Legends of Poker champion Will “The Thrill” Failla, WPT World Champions Scott Seiver and David Williams along with many of the best young players in the game, including Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Vanessa Selbst, Jeff Madsen, WPT Ones to Watch Maria Ho and Matt Affleck, and WPT’s own Tony Dunst. Williams, Selbst and Failla made deep runs at Borgata, all finishing in the top 35.
Overall, 20 members of WPT Champions Club entered, all gunning to win another WPT title. But when the final card fell, it was Bobby Oboodi who captured the WPT Borgata Poker Open title and raised the WPT Champions Trophy, taking home $922,441.
Oboodi and Fred Goldberg entered the final table neck and neck as the top two in chips. After falling behind early to Fred Goldberg, Oboodi battled back and took command of the action. When play reached heads up, Oboodi was faced with the challenge of defeating Jin Hwang. Hwang was on a remarkable run, entering the final table as the short stack. In the end, Hwang’s two pair lost out to Oboodi’s spade flush, giving Bobby Oboodi his first WPT title.
Bobby Oboodi will be immortalized with the legends of the game as his name will be engraved on the towering WPT Champions Cup trophy. He will also receive a replica of the WPT Champions Cup, a sterling silver Tiffany & Co. WPT Champions Award and entrance into the WPT Champions Club, which offers all WPT champions exclusive benefits, a WPT personal concierge and VIP treatment at WPT events.
Due to number of players and size of the prize pool, Oboodi vaults into second place in the WPT Player of the Year race. He trails only Failla, whose Legends of Poker title combined with the 400 points he picked up for his 11th place finish at Borgata pushed “The Thrill” to the top of the POY leaderboard.
Final Table Standings
1. Bobby Oboodi – $922,441
2. Jin Hwang – $554,303
3. Daniel Buzgon – $335,433
4. Fred Goldberg – $280,925
5. Darren Elias – $230,610
6. Ricky Hale – $186,585
Player of the Year Standings
1. Will Failla – 1,600
2. Bobby Oboodi – 1,400
3. Matt Waxman – 1,200
3. Jin Hwang – 1,200
5. Daniel Buzgon – 1,100
6. Hugo Lemaire – 1,000
6. Ken Aldridge – 1,000
6. Fred Goldberg – 1,000
Media contact: press@worldpokertour.com
About World Poker Tour World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in over 150 countries and territories and is currently airing the ninth season on FSN in the United States. Season X of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com, a unique online membership site which offers inside access to the WPT as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club and is available in 35 states across the U.S. WPT participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of bwin.party digital entertainment plc. For more information, go to WorldPokerTour.com.
