Jose Montes takes down the Heartland Poker Tour Main Event at the Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlor, in Black Hawk, after defeating Joe Serock, in heads-up action, to take home the first prize of $240,523.
Not many people have started 2015 like Jose Montes.
The man from the Bronx has picked up his second major title, in the first two months of the year, after picking up the victory in the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Main Event at the Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlor in Black Hawk.
In January, Montes topped a field of 1,363 players to win the first major title of his career, after beating Benjamin Keeline, in heads-up action, to take the $352,669 first prize in the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Event in Choctaw.
That’s a fine year right there.
Not by a long shot.
This event was the eighth consecutive million-dollar prize pool in Black Hawk. 761 entrants made sure $240,523 was reserved for first, and that now sits in the bank account of Montes, after he picked off the former World Poker Tour (WPT) Player of the Year (POY) Joe Serock in heads-up action.
It was a stacked final table.
We have already mentioned Montes and Serock. Jacob Bazeley, Danny Gonzalez and Craig Casino joined them. WSOPC gold ring winner, and three-time HPT final tablist, Bazeley finished fifth; HPT Fresno runner-up Danny Gonzalez finished seventh, and ‘The Legend’ Craig Casino finished eighth. Casino is the HPT all-time money earner, and also ties with Stan Jablonski with the most cashes.
“It’s overwhelming. I’m blessed.” Montes told the HPT after his victory. “This means so much for my family. I’m close to tears.”
The victory takes Montes over $800,000 in live career earnings. Over $500,000 of that has come in the past two months.
Heartland Poker Tour Final Table Results
1st. Jose Montes – $240,523
2nd. Joe Serock – $148,895
3rd. James Bryan – $97,548
4th. Alex Yen – $67,456
5th. Jacob Bazeley – $49,221
6th. Kane Lai – $37,811
7th. Danny Gonzalez – $31,211
8th. Craig Casino – $26,065
9th. Travis Northrope – $20,919
