Card Player's Player of the Year Update -- Giannetti, Oboodi and Pedersen Win Big Events

Here is a look at the Card Player Player of the Year movement from Sept. 21-28. Be sure to check back each Wednesday for another update from the world of tournament poker.

World Poker Tour Malta

The WPT is continuing to grow and expand the events it runs, with more regional and international events for its 10th season. An example of these new events was the inaugural WPT Malta, held at the Portomaso Casino. The €3,300 buy-in event attracted a 240-player field, building a $965,388 prize pool.

The eventual champion was none other than November Niner Matt Giannetti, shown this title just over a month before resuming play at the 2011 World Series of Poker main event. For his victory Giannetti earned $276,457 and 864 POY points, which is good for 423rd place overall, but with at least 300 more points guaranteed for his finish in the WSOP main event and as many as 3,600 points within his reach, Giannetti could become a big threat in this race.

Here are the payouts and POY points from the final table:

1. Matt Giannetti — $273,200 (828 POY points)
2. Cecilia Pescaglini — $159,412 (690 POY points)
3. Filippo Bianchini — $104,936 (552 POY points)
4. Simon Trumper — $72,985 (414 POY points)
5. Tristan Clemencon — $54,381 (345 POY points)
6. Fabien Sartoris — $41,977 (276 POY points)

World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open

The 2011 WPT Borgata Poker Open set a record for the tour, with a huge turnout of 1,313 entrants putting up the $3,500 buy-in. The massive turnout created a $4,332,900 prize pool and a $922,441 first-place prize, which was captured by Bobby Oboodi, along with 1,800 POY points.

Oboodi defeated a tough final that included 2007 WSOP bracelet winner Fred Goldberg and Darren Elias. Elias is currently 35th in the overall standings, with six final tables and a win in a $1,500 prelim at the Seminole Hard Rock Showdown in August.

Here are the payouts and POY points from the final table:

1. Bobby Oboodi — $922,441 (1,800 POY Points)
2. Jin Hwang — $554,303 (1,500 POY Points)
3. Daniel Buzgon — $335,433 (1,200 POY Points)
4. Fred Goldberg — $280,925 (900 POY Points)
5. Darren Elias — $230,610 (750 POY Points)
6. Ricky Hale — $186,585 (600 POY Points)

PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker Main Event

The 2011 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) came to an end on Tuesday with the completion of its main event. The $5,000 buy-in event attracted 1,627 players, creating an $8.1 million prize pool. The last man standing was Denmark’s Thomas “Kallllle” Pedersen, who took home $1,260,018 and 2,400 POY points for the win, which moves him into a tie for 30th place overall in the POY race. Third-place finisher Mike “GoLeafsGoEh” Leah won a Badugi prelim earlier in the series. He earned $560,000 and 1,600 POY points, which puts him in a tie for 103rd place in the overall standings.

Here are the payouts and POY points from the final table:

1. Thomas “Kallllle” Pedersen — $1,260,018 (2,400 POY points)
2. Vojtech “Vojta_R” Ruzicka — (2,000 POY points)
3. Mike “GoLeafsGoEh” Leah — (1,600 POY points)
4. Ramzi “BackDorrovic” Jelassi — (1,200 POY points)
5. “VadziMoney” — (1,000 POY points)
6. “WhySoSrsSon” — (800 POY points)
7. “jle90” — (600 POY points)
8. Nicolaus “OU THE NICK” Hahn — (400 POY points)
9. Dan “dan82mur” Murariu — (200 POY points)

Some big names made deep runs but fell short of the final table, including reigning Player of the Year Thomas “kingsofcards” Marchese (23rd – $33,353), Dani “supernova9” Stern (13th – $45,556) and Niki “RealAndyBeal” Jedlika (12th – $53,691).

Looking Ahead

There a couple of big chances to pick up POY points over the next week. The biggest is undoubtedly the European Poker Tour’s London festival, which is set to run Sept. 29 – Oct. 6 and will feature 31 events, including a £20,000 high-roller tournament and the £5,250 buy-in main event starting Sept. 30.

Stateside, the Festa al Lago tournament series is also set to begin on Sept. 29 at the Bellagio Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. The series will play host to 17 events, including a $5,000 championship.

In California, the Summer Slam Finals is taking place at the Garden City Casino in San Jose. The series will feature 10 tournaments, highlighted by a $1,000 no-limit hold’em re-entry main event on Oct. 2.

The TJ Cloutier Choctaw Poker Challenge is also getting underway at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. The series features 29 events, with a marquee $1,500 championship event starting Oct. 7.

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