Third Time a Charm for Gutfreund on HPT

Mt. Pleasant, MI - David Gutfreund came oh-so-close to a Heartland Poker Tour championship twice before, but the cards didn't fall in his favor on either trip to HPT's TV table. The third time proved to be a charm at HPT's most prestigious event of the year, the annual Championship Open at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The Chicago man finally came out on top of a tough field that included most of the season's champs, picking up $156,649 for the win.

"I thought if I got here enough times, I'd run good at a Final Table," said the new champ. "It makes up for a lot of times when things didn't go my way... It's a great feeling and I can't wait to get paid."

Among Gutfreund's opponents in front of the cameras at the Final Table were a mother and son duo, a two-time HPT champ, and a former world champion.

The last player standing in Gutfreund's way was Reginald "Shawn" Roberts, who was making a run at his third HPT title. The lengthy heads-up match came to a close with Roberts holding jacks to Gutfreund's ace-eight. An ace on the river gave Gutfreund the championship he's coveted for years. Roberts, a business owner from Springfield, Missouri, will add $96,657 to his total earnings for second place.

Many champions from throughout 2014 made the trip to the Michigan property for the season-ending Championship Open. Among them was Aaron Massey who officially became HPT's 2014 Player of the Year. A big year with two championship titles gave him enough points to land the prestigious honor and the Main Event buy ins that go with it. He joins an elite list of past POYs including Greg "Fossilman" Raymer and Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler.

Vincent Fiorenza had a taste of success earlier this year when he won an HPT Title in Daytona Beach. The bar manager from Oviedo, Florida showed that his win was no fluke by making another Final Table at Soaring Eagle. His quest for a second Season X Title came up short when Gutfreund knocked him out in fifth place for $32,663.

Vincent wasn't the only Fiorenza among the final nine on Monday. His mother Antoinette also made the televised Final Table. She came into the day with the smallest stack, but managed to double on the very first hand. From there, the retiree from Daytona Beach was able to ride her chip stack to a seventh-place finish. She took home $21,931 for her efforts, bringing the mother/son duo's weekend earnings to a total of $54,594.

Joe Cada, 2009 WSOP Main Event Champion, was playing under the lights with HPT for the second time. He was in good shape to become the chip leader when he got all of his chips into the middle with pocket kings against Vincent Fiorenza's ace-ten. However, an ace on the river gave Fiorenza the pot and Cada, from nearby Shelby Township, was sent to the rail with $17,998 for eighth place.

At the start of the day, the chances of Michael O'Neill lasting very long were slim. Only one player had less chips than him when play began. O'Neill made the best of the stack and played his way to a third-place finish. The purchasing manager from Royal Oak, Michigan will take home $63,327 for his efforts.

Midland, Michigan resident Cuong Tran faced a tough decision on a flop that read ten-nine-four. After going deep into the think tank for several minutes, the nail technician finally made the call and put his tournament life on the line with king-nine. To his dismay, he was up against the ace-ten of Roberts. The turn nor river produced a king or a nine and Tran was sent home in fourth place for a score of $43,996.

Retired pipefitter James Wetherell had the least money invested of anyone at the Final Table. The Vietnam vet qualified for the tournament for just $370 and quietly parlayed that all the way to a $25,331 payday for sixth place. Wetherell, a native of Coleman, Michigan, plans to use his newfound earnings to play more poker.

Restaurant owner Yaroob Kaskorkis notched his highest career cash when he was eliminated in ninth place for $14,665. The Grand Rapids, Michigan man attempted to double up early but came out on the losing end of a coin flip with Roberts.

In its monumental tenth season, HPT had more stops than ever before and awarded over $11 million dollars in Main Event prize money. The first stop of Season XI will begin this weekend at Prairie Meadows Racetrack Casino Hotel just outside of Des Moines, Iowa. From there, the tour will end the year with a series at Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago. Log on to HPTpoker.com to view all upcoming stops.

Results

All Paid Players Listed at HPTpoker.com 

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

Mt. Pleasant, MI

November 24, 2014

Buy-in:  $1650

Main Event: 465

Total Prize Pool:  $666,600

1st: David Gutfreund (Chicago, IL) $156,649

2nd: Shawn "Reginald" Roberts (Springfield, MO) $96,657

3rd: Michael O'Neill (Royal Oak, MI) $63,327

4th: Cuong Tran (Midland, MI) $43,996

5th: Vincent Fiorenza (Oviedo, FL) $32,663

6th: James Wetherell (Coleman, MI) $25,331

7th: Antoinette "Toni" Fiorenza (Daytona Beach, FL) $21,931

8th: Joe Cada (Shelby Township, MI) $17,998

9th: Yaroob Kaskorkis (Grand Rapids, MI) $14,665