3-Barrels of live tournament value after Mike Leah wins the same World Poker Tour $1k event in Fallsview for the third time in four years, Cord Garcia defends his Heartland Poker Tour title in Golden Gates, and Maurice Hawkins wins another World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
I recently conducted a straw poll of top pros to ask them if there was any science behind poker players winning at the same venue consistently, and apparently, it’s pure luck.
With that in mind, here are three very lucky poker players.
Maurice Hawkins could win an American Poker Award (APA) or two after being shortlisted for the Breakout Player of the Year, and Tournament Performance of the Year categories. Hawkins’ nominations resulted from his record-breaking achievement of winning three World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Events in a calendar year.
He is building up to the ceremony in fine fashion.
Hawkins has tied with Alex Masek at the top of the WSOPC gold ring collection charts. He earned his ninth title in Event #12: $365 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em at the WSOPC in West Palm Beach. Hawkins defeated 167 entrants to take the $13,527 first prize.
Talking to the WSOP press about his new record, Hawkins said that he was a ‘good dude,’ that most people are ‘pompous assholes,’ and if people didn’t like him they could ‘kiss his ass.’
I can’t wait to hear his award acceptance speech.
Cord Garcia Goes Back-to-Back
Most people remember the name of Cord Garcia as the player who won the WSOP Colossus.
Now there is another reason to remember him.
Garcia has successfully defended his Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Main Event title at the Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk. Garcia waded through a field of 787 entrants, beating The Fighting Chance podcast star Dan O’Brien in heads-up action to take the $248,732 first prize. Zo Karim and Benjamin Keeline also made the final table.
Final Table Results
1. Lance Garcia – $248,732
2. Dan O’Brien – $153,982
3. Andrew Dean – $100,881
4. Saad Vasquez – $69,760
5. Zo Karim – $50,903
6. Benjamin Keeline – $39,103
7. Edward Sebesta – $32,277
8. Justin Enger – $26,956
9. Toril Beeding – $21,634
Garcia defeated 488 entrants to win the same event back in September when he overcame a final table that housed the likes of John Beauprez to take down the $164,988 first prize. Garcia also made the final table of the HPT in Reno in October, finishing sixth.
Mike Leah Wins the WPT Fallsview $1k For the Third Time in Four Years
If you thought 787 and 488 entrant field sizes were impressive, get a load of Mike Leah.
The Canadian star has won the $1,000 side event at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Fallsview Poker Classic for the third time in four years.
Check these numbers out.
In 2014 he beat 649 entrants to win the C$118,982 first prize
In 2016 he beat 1,305 entrants to win C$210,108.
A few days ago, he beat 1,524 entrants to win C$244,256.
Take a bow young man.
Take a bow.
Final Table Results (CAD)
1. Mike Leah – $244,244
2. Matthew Grocholsky – $172,589
3. Danny Kalpakis – $112,201
4. Masoud Tavangari – $83,360
5. Timothy Deering – $62,620
6. Erik Tzvetanov – $50,498
7. Thomas Taylor – $41,333
8. Raymond Latinsky – $32,552
9. Jordan Grant – $24,421
