Robert Gianquitti Rallies From Shortest Stack to Win Pompano WSOP Circuit Main Event
The South Florida player won his first Circuit ring and a career-best $248,632 after starting the final day with 15 big blinds.
- Robert Gianquitti beat a 1,011-entry field in the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Pompano Beach Main Event for $248,632 and his first Circuit ring.
- He started the seven-player final day as the shortest stack with 15 big blinds before doubling through Marc Evanier.
- Nagui Yassa finished second for $165,725 after a heads-up match that lasted nearly two hours, while Evanier took third for $115,891.
- The victory surpassed Gianquitti’s previous best tournament cash of about $154,000.
- His Circuit ring also earns him a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package for the December festival in the Bahamas.
Robert Gianquitti won the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Harrah’s Pompano Beach, turning the shortest stack on the final day into a first Circuit ring. He outlasted 1,011 entries and earned $248,632 from a $1.53 million prize pool.
Gianquitti began the final day seventh of seven, with 15 big blinds. His initial aim was simply to ladder up to fifth place, but an early double-up with pocket kings against Marc Evanier’s pocket tens gave him room to work. He then steadily climbed the leaderboard, according to Poker.org’s event coverage.
Evanier ultimately finished third for $115,891, leaving Gianquitti to face Nagui Yassa heads-up. Their match lasted nearly two hours, with Yassa taking $165,725 as runner-up.
The win was Gianquitti’s first Circuit title after playing WSOP events since 2007. Born and raised in South Florida, he has worked in commercial paint sales for nearly 13 years, a job he said gives him the flexibility to play local tournaments and make occasional WSOP trips to Las Vegas.
The $248,632 prize also eclipsed his previous best tournament score of about $154,000. Gianquitti said he would not leave his job even for a WSOP Main Event victory. He said he loves spending time with his 7-year-old daughter.
The result came during the 18-event Pompano Beach Circuit stop that began Oct. 1 and concluded Oct. 12, as covered in our earlier preview of the series. The Main Event’s $1.53 million final prize pool comfortably exceeded its advertised $1 million guarantee.
As a 2026 Circuit ring winner, Gianquitti receives a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, including entry to the $2,750 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty and accommodations at Baha Mar Resort. WSOP Paradise runs in Nassau, Bahamas, from Dec. 2-17.
