MATT JUTTELSTAD TOPS TOUGH FIELD AT WPT® LUCKY HEARTS POKER OPEN
Los Angeles (February 15, 2012) – When play began at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open, amateurs and pros alike gathered cheerfully in hopes of becoming the newest WPT Champion. The strong field of 295 entrants included many of poker’s top professionals and as the week wore on, nearly all would hit the rail. During the live streamed WPT final table on Valentine’s Day, passion for poker trumped love for fellow players as intense showdowns and gut-wrenching hands characterized the action. The strenuous final table saw more than 300 hands before 24 year-old student Matt Juttelstad captured his first World Poker Tour® title with a dramatic straight over straight.
As champion of the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open, Matt Juttelstad takes home the first-place prize of $268,444 including entry into the $25,000 WPT World Championship at Bellagio, Las Vegas this May. In addition, Juttelstad etched his name onto the stunning WPT Champions Cup, received the individualized WPT Champions Trophy and the Tiffany & Co.® WPT Champions Award. The Royal Flush Girls also congratulated the newest member of the WPT Champions Club with a special Valentine’s Day cake.
More than ten WPT Champions entered the non-televised WPT Main Event including fan favorite Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, WPT Player of the Year frontrunner Will “The Thrill” Failla and two-time WPT Champion Jonathan Little. Young Florida professionals such as Jason Mercier, Justin Zaki (21st - $8,629), Darryll Fish (23rd - $8,629) and Noah Schwartz (18th - $10,067) were in full force during the tournament. Schwartz had to sweat more than just players and cards, as he was scheduled for jury duty but luckily did not receive the call.
When the final table began, Gigi Gagne held a large chip lead and was looking to become the first female Champion of an open WPT Main Event. As the action broadcast online, WPT Live Streaming with Tony Dunst featured two very special guests, Season X WPT Ones to Watch Dan O’Brien and WPT TV Commentator Mike Sexton. Gagne took a big hit early on as she lost an all-in showdown to Keith Ferrera, although having him dominated until an unlucky river card fell. Juttelstad would soon gain the chip lead and maintained poll-position for much of the night, eventually knocking out Uri Kadosh in 3rd place ($105,463) to setup the final showdown with a resurgent Gagne. Holding a three-to-one chip lead, Juttelstad bided his time for nearly thirty hands. The thrilling conclusion saw Gagne move all-in on the turn with a 5-high straight only to have Juttelstad snap-call with one better, the 6-high straight.
Next up on WPT Season X is the world-renowned Los Angeles Poker Classic at Commerce Casino. As one of poker’s biggest events, the LAPC continues to attract huge turnouts year after year. During WPT Season IX, 681 players entered to create a massive prize pool of more than six and a half million dollars. This year’s WPT Main Event runs from February 24 – 29 with a $10,000 buy-in and features a Welcome Party for all participants on the night of February 23. Commerce Casino will also be hosting select WPT Champions Club members in their Staples Center suite for a Clippers game on February 28. In early March, the ever-popular Bay 101 Shooting Star kicks-off in San Jose, California. With chip leader bonuses,player bounties and a one-of-a-kind structure, this special tournament always delivers top-notch action.
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open was hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The venue has quickly become one of the poker’s top destinations, as players around the world enjoy the tropical weather and expansive property. World Poker Tour returns to Hollywood in April for the second edition of the televised Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. Last season’s tournament attracted 433 entrants and a prize pool of more than four million dollars. The following week, World Poker Tour remains in Florida for the debut of the televised WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open. Additionally, two WPT Regional Series events in Florida are scheduled for March. The first takes place at theSeminole Hard Rock in Coconut Creek and is followed by a three day tournament at the Derby Lane Poker Room in St. Petersburg.
Final Table Standings
1 - Matt Juttelstad - $268,444
2 - Gigi Gagne -$158,194
3 - Uri Kadosh - $105,463
4 - Sharon Levin - $73,344
5 - Todd Jacobson - $54,649
6 - Keith Ferrera - $42,185
Player of the Year Standings
1 - Will Failla - 1,650
2 - Vitor Coelho - 1,500
3 - Bobby Oboodi - 1,400
3 - James Dempsey - 1,400
5 - Soi Nguyen - 1,250
6 - Andrey Pateychuk - 1,200
6 - Jin Hwang - 1,200
6 - Matt Waxman - 1,200
6 - Vanessa Selbst - 1,200
10 - Daniel Buzgon - 1,150
As champion of the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open, Matt Juttelstad takes home the first-place prize of $268,444 including entry into the $25,000 WPT World Championship at Bellagio, Las Vegas this May. In addition, Juttelstad etched his name onto the stunning WPT Champions Cup, received the individualized WPT Champions Trophy and the Tiffany & Co.® WPT Champions Award. The Royal Flush Girls also congratulated the newest member of the WPT Champions Club with a special Valentine’s Day cake.
More than ten WPT Champions entered the non-televised WPT Main Event including fan favorite Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, WPT Player of the Year frontrunner Will “The Thrill” Failla and two-time WPT Champion Jonathan Little. Young Florida professionals such as Jason Mercier, Justin Zaki (21st - $8,629), Darryll Fish (23rd - $8,629) and Noah Schwartz (18th - $10,067) were in full force during the tournament. Schwartz had to sweat more than just players and cards, as he was scheduled for jury duty but luckily did not receive the call.
When the final table began, Gigi Gagne held a large chip lead and was looking to become the first female Champion of an open WPT Main Event. As the action broadcast online, WPT Live Streaming with Tony Dunst featured two very special guests, Season X WPT Ones to Watch Dan O’Brien and WPT TV Commentator Mike Sexton. Gagne took a big hit early on as she lost an all-in showdown to Keith Ferrera, although having him dominated until an unlucky river card fell. Juttelstad would soon gain the chip lead and maintained poll-position for much of the night, eventually knocking out Uri Kadosh in 3rd place ($105,463) to setup the final showdown with a resurgent Gagne. Holding a three-to-one chip lead, Juttelstad bided his time for nearly thirty hands. The thrilling conclusion saw Gagne move all-in on the turn with a 5-high straight only to have Juttelstad snap-call with one better, the 6-high straight.
Next up on WPT Season X is the world-renowned Los Angeles Poker Classic at Commerce Casino. As one of poker’s biggest events, the LAPC continues to attract huge turnouts year after year. During WPT Season IX, 681 players entered to create a massive prize pool of more than six and a half million dollars. This year’s WPT Main Event runs from February 24 – 29 with a $10,000 buy-in and features a Welcome Party for all participants on the night of February 23. Commerce Casino will also be hosting select WPT Champions Club members in their Staples Center suite for a Clippers game on February 28. In early March, the ever-popular Bay 101 Shooting Star kicks-off in San Jose, California. With chip leader bonuses,player bounties and a one-of-a-kind structure, this special tournament always delivers top-notch action.
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open was hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The venue has quickly become one of the poker’s top destinations, as players around the world enjoy the tropical weather and expansive property. World Poker Tour returns to Hollywood in April for the second edition of the televised Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. Last season’s tournament attracted 433 entrants and a prize pool of more than four million dollars. The following week, World Poker Tour remains in Florida for the debut of the televised WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open. Additionally, two WPT Regional Series events in Florida are scheduled for March. The first takes place at theSeminole Hard Rock in Coconut Creek and is followed by a three day tournament at the Derby Lane Poker Room in St. Petersburg.
Final Table Standings
1 - Matt Juttelstad - $268,444
2 - Gigi Gagne -$158,194
3 - Uri Kadosh - $105,463
4 - Sharon Levin - $73,344
5 - Todd Jacobson - $54,649
6 - Keith Ferrera - $42,185
Player of the Year Standings
1 - Will Failla - 1,650
2 - Vitor Coelho - 1,500
3 - Bobby Oboodi - 1,400
3 - James Dempsey - 1,400
5 - Soi Nguyen - 1,250
6 - Andrey Pateychuk - 1,200
6 - Jin Hwang - 1,200
6 - Matt Waxman - 1,200
6 - Vanessa Selbst - 1,200
10 - Daniel Buzgon - 1,150
