'Mr. HPT' Wins Second Title and $153k
Mt. Pleasant, MI - Craig Casino has seen plenty of success with Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) since he won his first title over four years ago. He's won more money, been to more Final Tables, and cashed in more tournaments than any other player in HPT history. However, that second title has always eluded him. Until now. On Monday, the certified arborist from Winfield, Illinois defeated a star-studded Final Table that included a reality TV star and a former world champion to earn $153,323 at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.
"I love the HPT. It's my home game," said the man who has become known on tour by his nicknames 'Mr. HPT' and 'The Legend'. "I'm feeling very fortunate and it's great to have the second win."
It only took Casino two hands of heads up play to dispose of runner-up Jimmy Dennis. The two found themselves all-in before the flop with Dennis holding two sevens to Casino's king-ten. A ten on the flop all but sealed Dennis's fate. The turn nor the river produced a seven and he was sent home with $93,724. For Dennis, the payday was all profit. The poker dealer from Elmwood, Illinois won his seat by making the Final Table of HPT's cruise event back in February.
One of the biggest names at the table Monday was former world champion Joe Cada. With two previous HPT Final Tables and over $10 million in career earnings, Cada is no stranger to high-pressure situations. The Shelby Township, Michigan man came in with one of the smaller stacks but used his experience to climb all the way to a third-place finish. Cada earned $62,127 for his efforts.
Pro poker player and reality TV star Vanessa Rousso was making her first appearance under the bright lights of an HPT Final Table, though she is no stranger to the cameras. Rousso recently finished in third place on the hit TV show Big Brother. The Las Vegas resident had the support of hundreds of her fans on the virtual rail of the live stream. She was eliminated in eighth place, taking home $16,665.
The season-ending Championship Open event at Soaring Eagle drew a total of 465 players. It was also the last chance for players to earn points towards the Season XI Player of the Year race. Tour veteran Shawn Roberts finished in 23rd place, good enough to lock up POY honors. Roberts will receive complimentary buy-ins and hotel accommodations to six tour stops in 2016 for the accomplishment.
Things were looking great for West Bloomfield, Michigan's Danny Hannawa until he ran into the eventual champ's ace-king. Hannawa's king-five never caught up. He exited in fourth place, good enough for $43,196.
Not long before Hannawa's departure, Chan Pelton hit the rail. Pelton, a rancher from College Station, Texas, won an HPT event earlier this year in Mississippi. He would have to settle for fifth place this time around. Pelton collected $32,330.
Poker player Andrew Holland would also fall at the hands of Casino. The local man from Macomb, Michigan can add $24,998 to his career earnings for the sixth-place finish.
Steven Hagar became another of Casino's victims when he shoved his short stack with ace-queen. Casino called with a suited king-seven. A king on the turn sent Hagar home in seventh place with $20,331. The real estate developer from White Lake Township, Michigan plans to donate a large sum of his winnings to charity.
Ninth-place finisher Mark Johnson will invest his newfound earnings. The Warren, Michigan native was the first player eliminated Monday. A poker player by trade, Johnson was at the bottom end of the chip counts when play started and was never able to get much going. He earned $13,332.
HPT will take the rest of the year off before kicking off Season XII with a mid-January stop in East Chicago. To see details for that series as well as a list of other 2016 tour stops, visit HPTpoker.com.
