Austin Peck Wins Heartland Poker Tour Golden Gates Main Event For $152,671

Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) is a popular US-centric poker series that commenced its journey in 2005. After nine successful seasons, the internationally syndicated television program has produced more than 230 episodes and awarded over $90 million in Main Event prize money.

HPT came visiting the Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour for the 29th time last week. The flagship $1,100 Main Event at the stop crowned a champion in WSOP Circuit ring winner Austin Peck (cover image) who came out on top in the 732-entry field to take home the $152,671 top prize. The latest win helped Peck cross the half-million mark in career winnings.

Surprisingly, Peck was among the short stacks coming into the final day. However, he worked his way up the ranks by making timely moves and even got lucky a few times. Peck told the HPT reporters that this was his last stop on his way home after spending the last six weeks in Las Vegas. Moreover, this victory had helped him recoup some of his losses over the summer.

Final Table Recap

Igor Leshchinskiy was the first one out in ninth place.

Soon after that, Peck doubled-up holding ace-king suited against Dapo Ajayi’s .

Ajayi was still in contention, and he staged a strong comeback by eliminating two players in quick succession – both hands turning out to be coin flips.

He first eliminated Rich Dixon in eighth place with his pocket sixes holding on against Dixon’s ace-ten. Ajayi was dealt pocket nines next against Nick Pupillo’s ace-king, and he eliminated the latter in seventh place.

The next two hours saw Peck piling on enough chips to take the lead even though no eliminations took place.

Dapo Ajayi who had so far seen his fate swinging wildly ultimately hit the rail in sixth place when his pocket tens lost to Scott Horvath’s ace-queen.

Horvath went on a rampage that saw him eliminating three players from the final table in no time. He took out two players in one go when his ace-queen dismissed both Albert Winchester () and Nathaniel Zoller () after he spiked an ace on the river.

A few hands later, Horath eliminated short-stacked Maxx Holland in third place.

Scott Horvath was holding a 2:1 chip lead over Peck at the start of the heads-up play, and he further pulled ahead to take over a 4:1 lead! Peck, however, started bridging the gap by winning a few pots. Before long, Peck had taken the lead after winning a massive pot at showdown with two pairs.

On the final hand of the tournament, Peck’s pocket fours prevailed over Horvath’s ace-five crowning him as the latest HPT Main Event champion!

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Austin Peck – $152,671
2. Scott Horvath – $94,506
3. Maxx Holland – $61,915
4. Nathaniel Zoller – $42,815
5. Albert Winchester – $31,242
6. Dapo Ajayi – $23,999
7. Nick Pupillo – $19,810
8. Rich Dixon – $16,544
9. Igor Leshchinskiy – $13,278