Verona, New York- Turning Stone Resort Casino, June 30, 2008- Dan Smith, a 19 year old University of Maryland student, was the last man standing today at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino winning over $100,000. Smith outlasted the field of 250 players to win the HPT Main Event Title. Smith went wire to wire in the tournament, establishing an early chip lead on day one of the event and riding it to victory. For Smith it was his first tournament cash in a live poker event at the 18 and over casino.
“I actually wanted to stay home and go to the beach,” said Smith. “My buddies talked me into coming out here this weekend. I guess it worked out pretty good for me.”
Smith, a die hard New York Yankees fan, was wearing his lucky Yanks Jaba Chamberlain jersey for the event.
For the Heartland Poker Tour, Smith is just the latest in a long line of “real people” to win an HPT event and take home “unreal” money. Smith says he plans to use his winnings to finish paying for his education.
Next up for the HPT is a return trip to the Majestic Star Casinos in Gary, Indiana. Qualifiers for that event start July 19th.
2008 – Island Resort & Casino -Harris, Michigan-Final table Sunday, May 11th
Total Players in the Main Event – 250
Total Prize Pool – $375,000
Heartland Poker Tour Final Table
- Dan Smith – Manalapan, NJ $101,960
- Nick Tollefson – Mountain Top, PA $62,710
- Greg Miller – Corning, NY $39,395
- Carl Doyon – Montreal, Canada $28,045
- Newton Graziano – Cheektowaga, NY $20,442
- Garen Nichaniam – Montreal, Canada $15,714
Founded by Todd Anderson and Greg Lang in 2005, Heartland Poker Tour is built on a grass roots strategy, “Real People, Unreal Money”. HPT provides poker enthusiasts a televised Texas No Limit Hold’em poker tour with affordable buy-ins. HPT owns and operates the Heartland Poker League where poker players can build their skills through local weekly tournaments. HPT is currently in Season IV and is viewed in over 74 million homes throughout the United States. For more information and a complete schedule of upcoming events, visit www.HeartlandPokerTour.com.
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