HPT Updates: February 2016

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wrapping Up Blackhawk

The 10th consecutive Million Dollar-Plus prize pool for a HPT Main Event at Golden Gates Casino in Blackhawk, CO produced a 781-entry field, four starting flights and great action all the way to the final hand with Aaron Thomas taking the title and the $246,833 top prize.

You can find below all the Live Updates going back to Wednesday's Day 1A and here is the article on the entire Main Event.

The next HPT stop is Belterra Casino in Florence, IN, with an $1,100 buyin Main Event, three starting flights beginning Thursday, March 17 and the TV Final Table on Monday, March 21.

-- Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Monday, February 22, 2016

Aaron Thomas - 1st Place - $246,833

Aaron Thomas led out for 380,000, Matt Livingston made it 1,085,000 preflop, and Thomas made the call.

The flop was 4♦️ 3♦️ 9♠️, Livingston checked and Thomas led out again, this time for 875,000. Livingston move all-in and Thomas snap-called.

Livingston - K♣️4♣️ for middle pair

Thomas - 9♦️ T♦️ for top pair and a flush draw also

The turn was J♠️ and the river A♦️ completed the nut flush for Thomas and gave him the win.

Aaron Thomas - Winner - $236,833

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Level
Blinds -

Antes -
Players -

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Matt Livingston - 2nd Place - $152,808

Aaron Thomas led out for 380,000, Matt Livingston made it 1,085,000 preflop, and Thomas made the call.

The flop was 4♦️ 3♦️ 9♠️, Livingston checked and Thomas led out again, this time for 875,000. Livingston move all-in and Thomas snap-called.

Livingston - K♣️4♣️ for middle pair

Thomas - 9♦️ T♦️ for top pair and a flush draw also

The turn was J♠️ and the river A♦️ eliminated Livingston.

Matt Livingston - 2nd Place - $152,808

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Time to Play Heads Up

Matt Livingston (left) v Aaron Thomas (right) for $246,833

Level 31
Blinds - 80,000/160,000
Antes - 15,000
Players - 2

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Rich Monroe - 3rd Place - $100,112

The flop is 4♠️ 5♠️ 6♠️ and Rich Monroe is all in and called by chipleader Aaron Thomas.

Monroe - QQ

Thomas A♠️ 2♠️ for the nut flush

The turn is a 9♣️ to close it out, and again to rub it in, there is a Q on the river, a set for Monroe.

Aaron Thomas - 17,875,000

Rich Monroe - 3rd Place - $100,012

Level
Blinds -
Antes -
Players -

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Al Hart - 4th Place - $69,229

Al Hart moves all in and is called by chipleader Aaron Thomas.

Hart - 99

Thomas - JJ

The board runs out K-A-5-3-J.

Aaron Thomas - 15,500,000

Al Hart - 4th Place - $69,229

Level 30
Blinds - 60000/1200000
Antes - 15000
Players - 3

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Joseph Pergola - 5th Place - $50,515

Joseph Pergola raises to 250,000 and Aaron Thomas 3-bets to 600,000. Danny Gonzales is all in from the BB for less than the 3-bet raise. Pergola 4-bets all in and Thomas calls, having both stacks covered.

Gonzales - JT
Pergola - AK
Thomas - QQ

The board runs out 8-2-4-7-3 and Thomas scores a double-knockout.

Aaron Thomas - 9,215,000
Joseph Pergola - 5th Place - $50,515
Danny Gonzales - 6th Place - $38,805

Level 30
Blinds - 60,000/120,000
Antes - 15,000
Players - 4

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Danny Gonzales - 6th Place - $38,805

Most of his stack gone when his KK failed to hold against the 22 of Aaron Thomas, Danny Gonzales is all in from the BB for less than the 3-bet raise of Thomas. Joseph Pergola 4-bets all in and Thomas calls, having both stacks covered.

Gonzales - JT
Pergola - AK
Thomas - QQ

The board runs out 8-2-4-7-3 and Thomas scores a double-knockout.

Aaron Thomas - 9,215,000
Joseph Pergola - 5th Place - $50,515
Danny Gonzales - 6th Place - $38,805

Level 30
Blinds - 60,000/120,000
Antes - 15,000
Players - 4

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Don't Chirp Until the Hand is Over

Aaron Thomas makes it 275,000 and Danny Gonzales raises to 600,000 from the BB. Thomas moves all in and Gonzales not only snap-calls but he starts telling Thomas how he was going to catch him and get him all in, and starts celebrating with friends.

Gonzales - KK

Thomas - 22

Gonzales continues talking and talking about how he knew this was going to happen. "I made you play bad," he says to Thomas.

The flop is A - 2 - 6 ... deuce on the flop, and Gonzales goes completely quiet. The turn in a T and the river is a 7 and these stacks are very very close.

Thomas is all in for 2,835,000 and this leaves Gonzales with less than 300,000

Aaron Thomas - 6,400,000
Level
Blinds -
Antes -
Players -

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Rich is Gone, oh Wait

Rich Monroe 3-bets all in and Danny Gonzales reraises all in fast and starts to table his cards, forgetting Al Hart is also in the hand. Hart folds.

Monroe - JJ
Gonzales - QQ

The flop is 5-7-9, turn 6 and river 8 and that's a straight on the board.

Nothing to see here, folks.

Level 30
Blinds - 60,000/120,000
Antes - 15,000
Players - 6

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Back At It

Players are back, and work is taking place to get the LiveStream started. We'll keep you up to date on that

Level 30
Blinds - 60000/120000
Antes - 15000
Players - 6

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Updated Chipcounts

Check out the "Chipcounts Tab' for updated chipcounts on first break today

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Give 'em a Break, Jeremy

The 6 remaining players at Golden Gates in Blackhawk, Colorado are on their first 15-minute break of the day. We'll get official updated chipcounts in a moment and post those under the 'Chipcounts' tab on this HPT Updates Blog.

When players return, they'll be playing

Level 30
Blinds - 60000/120000
Antes - 15000
Players - 6

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

What They're Playing For

Here's what the final 6 players in the Golden Gates Main Event are playing for.

Place	Payout
1	$246,833
2	$152,808
3	$100,112
4	$69,229
5	$50,515
6	$38,805

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

3rd Blackhawk FT in a Row for Gonzales

Danny Gonzales definitely knows his way around the HPT Final Table at Golden Gates in Blackhawk, as this is the third time in a row he has final tabled here.

Gonzales was 5th here last September for $46,634. That was his second HPT FT at Blackhawk, as he also final tabled in February 2015, finishing 7th for $31,211.

This is not the only place Gonzales has final-tabled an HPT event, as he was the runner-up in Fresno in October 2014, cashing for $48,888. Three weeks before that he was 27th here at Blackhawk for a $6,656 cash.

In Sept. 2013, Gonzales was 35th at Blackhawk for a $3,339 cash, and he final tabled Blackhawk in February 2013, taking 6th for $35,932.

He also has a 15th at Blackhawk in 2012 ($13,418) and a 24th in 2010 for $3,401.

Now, if you were not counting .. that means Gonzales has

4 HPT FT's at Blackhawk (including today)
1 HPT FT in Fresno
8 HPT Cashes at Blackhawk (including today)
$101,320 in Blackhawk cashes.

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Christopher Busch - 7th Place - $32,031

Chris Busch moves all in for his last 650,000. Action folds around to Matt Livingston and he makes the call.

Busch - 88

Livingston - TT

The flop is Q-T-9, a set for Livingston and a gutshot for Busch. Livingston hits a boat with the 9 turn, and to rub it in there's a J on the river for a straight for Busch.

Matt Livingston - 7,700,000

Chris Busch - 7th Place - $32,031

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 6

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Down BIG, and Back Big

Rich Monroe calls the all-in from Joe Pergola on a 9♥️ J♦️ 2♥️ flop, and MOrnoe had Pergola covered by about 400k.

Monroe - Q♥️ T♦️ for open-ended straight
Pergola - A ♥️T♥️ for a nut flush draw

The turn is T♣️, pairing both players.

The river is J♥️ for the flush

Pergola - 3,200,000
Monroe - 385,000

An orbit later and Monroe is all in for his last 225,000 and he gets 3 callers.

The flop is 6-Q-Q and Al Hart bets out 450,000, with the other two players folding.

Hart - JJ
Monroe - Q♣️ 2♣️

Monroe flops trips and quadruples back up to to a milly.

Level 29
Blinds - 50000/100000
Antes - 10000
Players - 7

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Michael Comisso - 8th Place - $26,750

Michael Comisso moves all-in preflop, Chris Busch folds, and Danny Gonzales snap-calls faster than any of you can open a refrigerator door when you REALLY need a beer.

Comisso - QQ

Gonzales - A♦️ K♠️

Comisso is at risk for his 1.8 million stack.

The flop is 2-J-4, an 8 on the turn, but Comisson is gone when the A♥️ hits the river, and Gonzales breaks into a big celebration with his rail of fans in the front row. Gonzales has eliminated the first two players of the day.

Danny Gonzales - 4,750,000

Michael Comisso - 8th place - $26,750

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 7

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

AA, Meet KK

Rich Monroe raises to 175,000 and Matt Livingston bumps it to 500,000. Monroe announces all-in and Livingston snap-calls.

Monroe - KK
Livingston - AA

Monroe, the bigger stack, shoved his KK into Livingston's AA. The all-in is for 2,130,000 total.

The board runs out 8-3-5-9-7 and Livingston doubles.

Matt Livingston - 4,335,000
Rich Monroe - 3,000,000

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 9

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

... and As Soon As We Post That ...

Michael Comisso (above) moves all in from the SB after it folds around to him .. and Chris Busch folds.
Rich Monroe raises the next hand and Danny Gonzales moves all-in preflop, and Monroe raises.

Back-to-back all-ins with no callers.

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 9

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

The No-Limping Zone

With blinds at 40,000/80,000 there is a standard preflop raise of 200,000 from the 8 players right now. There's been a few light three-bets and the occasional flop but few hands to the turn and only one to a showdown since Rex Clinkscales was eliminated on the opening hand.

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 8

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Rex Clinkscales - 9th Place - $21,469

Rex Clinkscales moves all in on the first hand of the day. He started with 285,000, slightly more than 3BB. He is called by Danny Gonzales and Joe Pergola. Clickscales and Gonzales were in these same places last September as both final tables this HPT 7 months ago.

The flop is 5♠️ 4♠️ 2♥️ and both players check. They also check down the 7♥️ turn and 4♥️ river.

Clinkscales - A♦️ K♦️
Gonzales - J7
Pergola - QT

Gonzales turns a 7 and eliminates Clinkscales in 9th place.

Danny Gonzales - 3,300,000
Rex Clinkscales - 9th place, $21,469

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 8

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

FT Cards in the Air

Cards are in the air for the final table here at Golden Gates Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado. Follow the LiveUpdates action right here - powered today and for all 2016 HPT Main Events, by the team from HoldemRadio.com.

Level 28
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 9

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

The Final Table

Michael Comisso - Seat 1 - 2,170,000

Rex Clinkscales - Seat 2 - 285,000

Chris Busch - Seat 3 - 1,100,000

Danny Gonzales - Seat 4 - 2,600,000

Al Hart - Seat 5 - 3,060,000

Joseph Pergola - Seat 6 - 2,520,000

Aaron Thomas - Seat 7 - 4,700,000

Rich Monroe - Seat 8 - 4,065,000

Matt Livingston - Seat 9 - 2,485,000

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Boudreau Bubbles

Kevin Boudreau moved in for his last 3BB and Al Hart called

Boudreau - A2

Hart - QJ

There's 2 on the flop, and a K and a blank. The board runs out T-9 and Hart gets a straight. Boudreau bubbles the final table and we are done for the night.

Cards are in the air at 3pm Monday.

Level 29
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 9

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Boudreau at 3BB

Kevin Bourdeau called for more than half his remaining chips on the river, betting his Ace high was good against Aaron Thomas, but Thomas had flopped top pair, and Boudreau is down to 3BB.

Level 29
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 10

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Comisso Doubles

Michael Comisso's AK turns a nut flush against Aaron Thomas. Thomas called the 12BB shove with QT.

Comisso - 2,050,000

Level 29
Blinds - 40000/80000
Antes - 10000
Players - 10

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Level Up

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Al Doubles Through Kevin

Kevin Boudreau made it 425,000 on a 9-high flop and Al Hart moved all in for 835,000 more. Boudreau made the call with A9, but Hart had QQ and doubled up.

Hart - 3,250,000

Boudreau - 850,000

Level 28
Blinds - 30000/60000
Antes - 10000
Players - 10

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Lets Play 10

10-handed, that is, one away from the TV Final Table for tomorrow, as Krzysztof Stybaniewicz and Luke Amrein were just knocked out.

Level 28
Blinds - 30000/60000
Antes - 10000
Players - 10

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

3 FT's in a Row Here for Danny?

Danny Gonzales is making a serious bid to make his 3rd consecutive HPT Final Table here at Golden Gates. Gonzales was 6th for 446k last time HPT was here in September, and he was 7th for $31k a year ago.

He just doubled with a turned straight against the KK of Kevin Boudreau to move to 2.5 milly

Level 28
Blinds - 30000/60000
Antes - 10000
Players - 12

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Aaron KO's Another

Aaron Thomas flops an Ace, and gets Matt Lushin to move all in holding KK, knocking the shorter stack out in 13th place.

Thomas moves to the chiplead at 3.8 million, and Lushin cashes for 12,514

Level 28
Blinds - 30000/60000
Antes - 10000
Players - 12

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

New Chipcounts

Check here for official chipcounts with 13 players remaining and a level-jump coming when players return from their 15-minute break

Level 28
Blinds - 30000/60000
Antes - 10000
Players - 13

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Chiplead Grows

Joseph Pergola knocks out Ricardo Eyzaguirre and becomes the first player to more than 4 milly. He is sitting at 4,325,000, almost 1.6 milly clear of the field as we close in on another 15-minute break.

Level 27
Blinds - 25000/50000
Antes - 5000
Players - 13

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Comisso Gets Rex

Lost a huge pot AK < j6dd aiof of K8xdd he binks a diamond down to 10bbs. #HPTblackhawk
— Rex Clinkscales (@RexClinkscales) February 22, 2016

Level 27
Blinds - 25000/50000
Antes - 5000
Players - 13

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Monroe With Trips

There's a boatload of chips in the middle and Rich Monroe makes it 500,000 on the river, leaving himself 605,000 behind, on a board of 9♦️ 4♦️ J♠️ 4♥️ 3♥️. Krzysztof Stybaniewicz has 1.785 million behind and facing a tough call, but he finds the call.

Monroe turns over A♣️ 4♣️ for turned trips, and he is good, as Stybaniewicz mucks.

Rich Monroe - 2,650,000

Krzysztof Stybaniewicz - 1,180,000

Level 27
Blinds - 25000/50000
Antes - 5000
Players - 14

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Stammen Down

2014 WPT Champion Keven Stammen is all in with 44, and called by 2-time WSOP Circuit Ring winner Krzysztof Stybaniewicz with QQ. Stammen does not improve and he is eliminated from the main event.

Stybaniewicz - winner of the WSOP Circuit Main in Hammond last October - moves to 2,5 million.

Stammen cashes for $12,514

Level 27
Blinds - 25000/50000
Antes - 5000
Players - 15

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Boudreau is Back

Kevin 'Phwap' Boudreau had lost half of his stack in the last 90 minutes, but flopping a set of 2's against Greg Koutelidakis moves Boudreau back up to 1.9 million, while Greg Koutelidakis slides down to 500,000 just after Level 27 started.

For those unfamiliar with his story, take a look at this PokerNews article interview with his Dad, Jim, back in 2014

Level 27
Blinds - 25000/50000
Antes - 5000
Players - 16

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

7 to the End

The eliminations of Kevin Palmer and Lukas Volman bring us to 16 players remaining, and the night (day) comes to a close when we hit the final 9.

Those 9 come back later today (at a now-undertimed time, the final 9 need SOME rest after all) for the televised final table, LiveStreamed on Twitch with Greg Raymer (and maybe me) on the commentary.

Level 26
Blinds - 20000/40000
Antes - 5000
Players - 16

--Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

FInal 18 in Photos, Part II

Here is the second installment of the final 18 players in the main event, here's Table 10 and we'll work around the table in seat position order, starting with Luke Amrein in the 1 seat

Matt Livingston

Al Hart