Matt Giannetti

Matt Giannetti is a seasoned American poker professional from Las Vegas, Nevada. With over $4.89 million in live tournament earnings from 62 cashes, he ranks among the most accomplished players of his era. His career highlights include a second-place finish in the 2011 WSOP Main Event and two World Poker Tour championship victories. Known online as "hazards21", Giannetti is a University of Texas graduate who turned his early success into a lasting presence on the tournament circuit.

Giannetti first made his mark on the live poker scene in 2006, taking 35th place in the WPT Championship for $65,000. Three years later, he reached a final table at the 2009 World Series of Poker in a $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, finishing 2nd for $66,000—a result that showcased his versatility beyond No-Limit Hold'em. By the time he entered the 2011 WSOP Main Event, he had already accumulated nearly $500,000 in live tournament cashes.

Giannetti's most notable achievement came in the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event. Entering the November Nine with the third-largest chip stack of 24.75 million, he battled to a runner-up finish, earning $3,012,700—his largest live cash to date. The deep run placed him in the spotlight of the poker world. One memorable hand on Day 7 saw Giannetti open-shove all-in on a board of 8-5-7-2-7 with three clubs, holding a wired pair of deuces for a full house, and being called by Hilton Laborda's nut flush—a bold move that crippled Laborda's stack. Earlier that day, Giannetti had also spiked top set against Laborda's flush, with running nines giving him a full house to win a pot of over 12 million chips, further demoralizing the Brazilian player.

Giannetti has won two WPT main events:

• WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open (2012-2013 season) at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood: 1st place for $323,804
• WPT Portomaso (2011-2012 season) in Malta: 1st place for $273,200

He has also cashed in numerous other WPT events, including the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, WPT L.A. Poker Classic, and WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. His total WPT earnings exceed $946,000, with 14 cashes and 2 top-3 finishes.

Beyond his Main Event runner-up, Giannetti has recorded multiple WSOP cashes and final tables:

• 2025 WSOP Event #89: $3,000 Mid-States Championship – 437th ($6,004)
• 2025 WSOP Event #81: $10,000 Main Event – 612th ($27,500)
• 2024 WSOP Event #84: $600 Ultra Stack – 735th ($1,201)
• 2024 WSOP Event #48: $1,000 PLO – 86th ($3,008)
• 2019 WSOP Event #80: $1,500 Mixed NLH/PLO – 38th ($6,506)
• 2019 WSOP Event #45: $25,000 PLO High Roller – 18th ($50,759)
• 2019 WSOP Event #40: $1,500 PLO – 104th ($2,512)
• 2018 WSOP Event #49: $10,000 PLO Championship – 21st ($28,502)
• 2018 WSOP Event #7: COLOSSUS – 798th ($1,315)

According to WSOP.com, he has earned 7 WSOP final tables and 50 total cashes, though he has not yet won a bracelet.

Giannetti is widely regarded as a tight-aggressive player who combines patience with disciplined value betting. His deep runs in both No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha events demonstrate versatility across game variants. His calculated aggression, exemplified by his all-in with deuces in the 2011 Main Event, highlights his ability to seize pivotal moments.

Giannetti remains active on the tournament circuit, consistently adding to his results. His milestone of over $4 million in earnings was recognized with a $4,000,000 milestone award. He continues to compete in high-profile events, including the 2025 WSOP (where he cashed in both the Main Event and a $3,000 event) and WPT stops. With total live earnings now at $4,893,430 as of July 2025, he maintains a strong presence in the poker community.