Rob Wazwaz Ships HPT East Chicago Main Event for $173,385!

It was a talent-filled field with 526 entrants here in East Chicago. After a very fast final table which lasted less than four hours, Rob Wazwaz just closed it out.

Wazwaz and Matt Culp went into the heads up match close to even in chips, but Wazwaz won most of the big pots in the match early on. In the final hand, Wazwaz opened to 200,000 on the button, Culp three-bet to 725,000 in the small blind, and Wazwaz went all in. Culp thought for a little while and called for his remaining stack, around 2,000,000.

Wazwaz: 
Culp: 

Wazwaz was ahead with his nines, and the  flop was safe for him. The  turn gave Culp additional straight outs, but he couldn't get there on the  river. And just like that, Culp is the runner up, taking home $105,990 and Wazwaz gets the win.

Rob Wazwaz has several tournament wins in Minnesota where he resides, but this is his first HPT title. It also happens to be his first six-figure score, and also takes him over the $1,000,000 mark of career winnings according to Hendon Mob.

Congratulations to Rob Wazwaz and all the players who cashed in this Main Event. You can see the complete payouts above in the Results tab. Here are the final table results:

1st - Rob Wazwaz - $173,385 plus a $3,600 championship package
2nd - Matt Culp - $105,990
3rd - Casey Carroll - $70,258
4th - John Sun - $48,849
5th - Brian Berend - $36,561
6th - Gary Herstein - $28,269
7th - Al Krockey - $22,992
8th - Chris Moon - $18,846
9th - Paul Sokoloff - $15,077

-- Valerie Cross - Hold'em Live Updates

Rob Wazwaz Extends Chip Lead

On a flop of ,  Matt Culp checked in the small blind and called Rob Wazwaz's bet.

Both players checked the  turn and the river was the . Culp bet 550,000 and Wazwaz called.

Culp had   for a pair of nines, but it was no good against Wazwaz's .

A little while later, Wazwaz turned a straight against Culp's flopped set of eights and took down another big pot to extend his chip lead.

Rob Wazwaz - 11,000,000
Matt Culp - 5,300,000

Level - 29
Blinds - 40,000/80,000
Antes - 10,000
Remaining - 2/526

-- Valerie Cross - Hold'em Live Updates

Rob Wazwaz and Matt Culp Heads Up for $173,385!

With the elimination of Casey Carroll in 3rd place, Rob Wazwaz and Matt Culp will begin heads up play very close in chips. Wazwaz, who eliminated Carroll, has a marginal chip lead.

Both of these players are guaranteed a six figure payday. The 2nd place finisher will get $105,990 and the winner will receive $173,385 in addition to a $3,600 Championship Package and an HPT Main Event bracelet.

Rob Wazwaz - 8,220,000
Matt Culp - 7,560,000

Level - 29
Blinds - 40,00/80,000
Antes - 10,000
Remaining - 2/526

-- Valerie Cross - Hold'em Live Updates

No Repeat Win for 3rd Place Finisher Casey Carroll ($70,258)

After coming back substantially from a very short stack, Casey Carroll got all the chips in preflop again, and once again, it was Rob Wazwaz who had him at risk.

Matt Culp raised to 200,000 on the button, Carroll raised to 625,000 in the small blind, and Wazwaz four-bet to 1,400,000 in the big blind. Culp folded, Carroll went all in for 3,200,000, and Wazwaz called.

Carroll: 
Wazwaz: 

Carroll had Wazwaz in bad shape and the flop came , giving both players a pair of aces but Carroll with the best kicker.

The turn was the , changing nothing, but the dramatic  fell on the river, giving Wazwaz two pair to win the hand.

Carroll, who won this event exactly one year ago, ran deep here once again, but fell just short of the repeat victory. His family and friends here rooting him on are surely proud of his performance here again.

Rob Wazwaz - 8,220,000
Casey Carroll - 3rd ($70,258)

Level - 28
Blinds - 30,000/60,000
Antes - 10,000
Remaining - 2/526

-- Valerie Cross - Hold'em Live Updates

Casey Carroll Doubles Twice Through Rob Wazwaz

Casey Carroll and Rob Wazwaz have been playing many big pots together of late.

In one hand, Casey Carroll got all in with   against the  of Wazwaz and chopped when a full house ran out on the board.

A little while later, Carroll was all in for 625,000 in the big blind and Wazwaz on the button had Carroll at risk. Carroll had  against Wazwaz's . The board ran out  and Carroll's pair of kings is good for the double up.

A little while later, these two collided yet again. This time, Wazwaz raised to 125,000 on the button, Matt Culp called in the small blind, and Carroll three-bet to 325,000. Wazwaz thought for a long while and four-bet to 1,300,000. Culp got out of the way and Carroll went all in for 1,460,000. Wazwaz called for a little more to put Carroll at risk yet again.

Carroll: 
Wazwaz: 

The board came  and Carroll doubled again.

Casey Carroll - 3,300,000
Rob Wazwaz - 4,900,000

Level - 28
Blinds - 30,000/60,000
Antes - 10,000
Remaining - 3/526

-- Valerie Cross - Hold'em Live Updates