"I played as well as I could"

Former UT student wins $3 million in World Series of Poker

Matt Giannetti, front right with sunglasses
Photo by Hanna Olson
Matt Giannetti made it to the November Nine final event at the World Series ofPoker, falling just short of third place with $3 million in winnings.
Photo by Kim Dorfman/Let'sTalkPoker.com
The coveted World Series of Poker braclet[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_of_Poker_bracelet], awarded to thewinners of every game at the annual championship.
Photo by flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

"I'm not really happy with the results, but I played as well as I could," Matt Giannetti told CultureMap after taking fourth place in the "November Nine" — the nine-person championship finals at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

While falling short of the top-three ranking positions, he still brought home over $3 million in winnings.

A computer engineering major, Giannetti found his math background lent itself well to the critical number-crunching needed to succeed at poker.

Giannetti, who spent much of his early childhood in Kingwood, just north of Houston, represents a new generation of poker players inspired by the monumental upset by amateur player Chris Moneymaker at the 2003 November Nine.

"I was a senior in high school when Moneymaker won the event," he remembered. "I started off playing small games with my buddies and moved to bigger games in dorms and frat houses during my first semester at the University of Texas in Austin."

A computer engineering major, Giannetti found his math background lent itself well to the critical number-crunching needed to succeed at poker.

"By my second semester, it was all online games," he said. "You can play more that one table at a time on the Internet, which meant more chances to practice and improve."

Before long, Giannetti felt he could make more money playing poker than persuing a career in computer engineering, leaving school in 2005 after his second year to devote himself to the game full-time. He relocated to Las Vegas in 2007 for professional reasons.

"I love Austin, easily my favorite city," Giannetti said. "After I left school and began playing tournements around the world, I always kept a apartment in Austin. Even now that I'm in Vegas, I still make it back for at least one home game during UT football season." He sees himself back in Austin in years to come.

"I do plan to finish up my degree, but only at a time that's right for me," he said. "For now, I'm going to keep playing."

Next week, Giannetti will be on the road again for the Poker Premier League, a large international championship in London.

The November Nine event at the 2011 World Series of Poker yielded three top finalists: Ben Lamb ($4 million), Czech player Martin Staszko ($5.4 million), and German Pius Heinz with $8.4 million in winnings.

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chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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