Event 11: 1st Place - Bressler

$350 + $50 Seniors NLH

Arthur Bressler (Manalapan, NJ)
$15,175

It's been a few years since Arthur Bressler took down a Borgata tournament. Rewind back to 2006 when he won $45,500 in a limit Borgata holdem Event. So tonight's score is huge but not his largest cash.

Arthur says hi to his wife and two married kids, two grandsons and tells us another grandchild is on the way. First place finish couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Arthur was short stacked at the final table after his all-in pre-flop 9-9 call ran into a set of sixes from Jim Paluszek. Arthur then battled back and won a key K-Q vs JJ all-in race against Kevin Smith.

Finally, I watched him fold 6-6 in the big blind after Jim jammed all in on the button. "I just didn't want 6-6 to be the hand that did me in" confessed Bressler. Turned out to be the right fold. If Arthur called and lost that flip he would have be gone. But Arthur Bressler knows what it's like to survive and win.

The retired Civil Engineer for the Port Authority of NY & NJ is a 911 survivor. Arthur was in the first World Trade Center tower on the 82nd floor. He got out 20 minutes before it collapsed. As he exited the building, the 2nd tower came crashing down causing what felt like a hurricane vacuum.

Arthur was scooped up in the whirlwind, thrown and knocked unconscious. A NY firefighter found and rescued him.

God bless you Arthur - looks like Lady Luck was and still is on your side.

In today's Senior tournament Arthur was down to 4500, soared up to 10,000, dropped back down to 4500, then rebuilt again. The roller-coaster ended with Bressler on top with first place money and the Borgata trophy.

Congratulations again!

Champion!

Arthur Bressler finished in 1st Place earning $15,175.