Monday, February 20, 2017 12:59 PM Local Time
Peter Vitantonio Does it Again at PBKC
Former Circuit Main Event champ wins second-career ring, both in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 17, 2017) — Peter Vitantonio just keeps adding to his record at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. The 2015 WSOP Circuit Main Event Champion took down the lone $1,125 event on the calendar for this stop, winning his second ring and the top prize of $41,162. Both of his rings have been won in this building.
Vitantonio is a 33-year-old professional poker player from Cleveland, Ohio. He’s been playing the game for about 15 years, and it quickly became his full-time occupation. “I don’t know,” he said. “I just kind of stuck with it. Just never stopped, really.” He now makes his home in Fort Lauderdale for most of the year, and he’s been enjoying some significant success in South Florida of late.
Vitantonio’s results at the Palm Beach Kennel Club includes six cashes, two wins, and more than $200,000 in combined earnings. When asked to pinpoint the reasons for his impressive stats here, Vitantonio didn’t have much of an answer. “I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “I honestly don’t know. I have no idea.” He said he does feel especially comfortable playing in this venue, and this victory was particularly easy, as far as victories go.
“It was really smooth,” Vitantonio said in his postgame interview. “Really smooth. I’m pretty sure I was never all in, and I never really had a short stack. It was super un-stressful.” He was second in chips behind Gediminas Uselis when the final table began, and the two were in the same positions when Day 1 concluded with four players left.
Uselis was the first one eliminated on Day 2, though, and his exit left room at the top for Vitantonio. The champ was soon heads-up with Steve Duncker, and for the first time in two days, he was challenged. Duncker fought for more than three hours before Vitantonio finally collected the last of his chips to seal the title.
After the last hand was dealt, Vitantonio quickly posed for photos, then jumped straight into Day 1A of the Main Event to try to repeat his title from two years ago.