Press Release
ANTHONY RUBERTO DEFEATS IMPRESSIVE FIELD TO CAPTURE WPT JACKSONVILLE
ClubWPT.com Qualifier Artie Rodriguez Makes WPT Final Table
Twitter: @WorldPokerTour
Facebook.com/WorldPokerTour
WorldPokerTour.com
Jacksonville, FL (November 23, 2011) – World Poker Tour® shined in Florida this week, as WPT Jacksonville attracted an impressive turnout and created a historic prize pool of $1,277,250, the largest-ever in North Florida. The debut U.S. non-televised WPT Main Event drew in 393 runners, a strong field of talented amateurs, local grinders and well-known poker professionals all competing to become the newest member of the prestigious WPT Champions Club.
More than ten WPT Champions Club members battled for the WPT Season X title, including WPT Player of the Year frontrunner Will “The Thrill” Failla, reigning WPT POY Andy Frankenberger, and fan favorite Dwyte Pilgrim (16th - $17,524). However, outlasting them all was Anthony “Boston Tony” Ruberto. Displaying a fantastic array of skill and aggression, Ruberto triumphed to capture his first WPT title. For the win, Ruberto takes home $325,928, the WPT Champion Awards and 1,000 WPT Season X Player of the Year points.
Another big winner at this dramatic event was ClubWPT.com Qualifier Artie Rodriguez, who rose to the occasion and played brilliantly throughout the entire tournament. The ClubWPT VIP member made the final table and finished 5th, pocketing $55,077 for his sensational performance. Artie Rodriguez is a resident of Florida and earned his seat into WPT Jacksonville by winning a ClubWPT.com satellite this past October. Rodriguez has been playing poker for more than 25 years and stated, “My first week as a ClubWPT member I won this satellite, it just felt like destiny.”
WPT’s Raw Deal analyst Tony Dunst and WPT Season VI Player of the Year Jonathan Little called the final table action during WPT Live Streaming. When play began, Anthony Ruberto held a sizeable chip lead. Florida resident and poker professional Darryll Fish entered as the short stack and became the first casualty, busting to Lisa Hamilton in 6th place. Soon after, Sam Soverel doubled up against Artie Rodriguez when they both shoved pre-flop. Soverel’s AsQd held against Rodriguez’s AcJc, leaving Rodriguez with less than one big blind. A few hands later, Lisa Hamilton eliminated ClubWPT.com Qualifier Artie Rodriguez and began to look like a serious contender to become the first female to win an open WPT Main Event.
After some intense back and forth action, Vitor Coelho fell to Anthony “Boston Tony” Ruberto as his all-in pre-flop shove with pocket Fours was instantly called by Ruberto’s pocket Aces. Only ten hands later, Hamilton’s dream of making WPT history was dashed when she was eliminated by Ruberto in 3rd place. Ruberto took a commanding chip lead into heads up play against Sam Soverel and never looked back. Less than an hour later, Ruberto captured WPT Jacksonville with KcJh.
Anthony Ruberto has been immortalized with the legends of the game as his name was engraved on the towering WPT Champions Cup. He also received the WPT Champions Trophy, the sterling silver Tiffany & Co.® WPT Champions Award and entrance into the prestigious WPT Champions Club, which offers all WPT champions exclusive benefits, a WPT personal concierge and VIP treatment at WPT events.
Anthony “Boston Tony” Ruberto navigated a competitive field featuring many of Florida’s top poker professionals including WPT Ones to Watch Jason Mercier, John Racener and 6th place finisher Darryll Fish. Florida has quickly become a hot-bed for high-stakes poker. During Season X, World Poker Tour will make two more stops in the state for televised Main Events, and will be hosting Regional events in Tampa and St. Petersburg this December. For complete tournament details, visit www.WPT.com.
Final Table Standings
1st - Anthony Ruberto - $325,928
2nd - Sam Soverel - $187,762
3rd - Lisa Hamilton - $112,657
4th - Vitor Coelho - $75,105
5th - Artie Rodriguez - $55,077
6th - Darryll Fish - $46,315
Player of the Year Standings
1st - Will Failla - 1,600
2nd - Bobby Oboodi - 1,400
3rd - Jin Hwang - 1,200
3rd - Matt Waxman - 1,200
5th - Daniel Buzgon - 1,150
6th - Daniel Santoro - 1,050
7th - Anthony Ruberto - 1,000
7th - Adrian Allain - 1,000
7th - Fred Goldberg - 1,000
7th - Hugo Lemaire - 1,000
7th - Ken Aldridge - 1,000
The action of WPT Marrakech begins on Thursday, November 24 from the Casino De Marrakech in Morocco. WPT Marrakech features a €3,000 buy-in and concludes on November 27. A few days later marks the debut of WPT Prague, a €3,500 buy-in Main Event running from December 1 – 5 and showcasing WPT Live Streaming of the final table on www.wpt.com.
Coming up next in the U.S. is the Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio in Las Vegas. Last season, nearly 40 members of the WPT Champions Club competed in the renowned WPT Main Event, creating one of the most dramatic tournaments in WPT history. In the end, Antonio Esfandiari claimed his second WPT title, captivating the poker community with his magical resurgence. Buzz is already building for this popular Season X stop, which promises to electrify once again this year. Buy into the Five Diamond World Poker Classic at www.wptregistrations.com or visit www.wpt.com for more information including the full event schedule and tournament structure.
WPT Media Contact
Max Sloan: Press@WorldPokerTour.com
About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name 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 Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of bwin.party digital entertainment plc. For more information, visit WorldPokerTour.com.
