Biloxi, MS (January 7, 2009) – University of Texas student Michael Benvenuti won USD 63,898 at the fourth event of the 2009 Southern Poker Championship. Benvenuti is a fifth year college student majoring in neurobiology. After playing for 14 hours the first day, 207 players were eliminated. The final nine returned the next day to duke it out. Benvenuti looked relaxed as he eliminated the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers.