73-Year-Old Retiree Doug Milner Wins Heartland Poker Tour Golden Gates for $230,582
On Monday, the Heartland Poker Tour Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour came to a close in Black Hawk, CO. The $1,650 buy-in Main Event attracted 713 entries and created a whooping prize pool of $1,048,110. The tournament attracted quite a few notables such as Greg Raymer, Bryan Devonshire, and Dan O’Brien, but it was 73-year-old retiree Doug Milner of Salt Lake City, UT who emerged victorious to capture the $230,582 first-place prize.
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Doug Milner | Salt Lake City, UT | $230,582 |
| 2nd | Colin York | Las Vegas, NV | $142,857 |
| 3rd | Ryan White | Leawood, KS | $92,806 |
| 4th | James Richards | Denver, CO | $65,507 |
| 5th | Steven Levy | Larkspur, CA | $47,899 |
| 6th | Adam Hudson | Denver, CO | $36,684 |
| 7th | Keith Love | Denver, CO | $30,710 |
| 8th | Dan Heimiller | Las Vegas, NV | $25,679 |
| 9th | Max Chrisp | Arvada, CO | $20,962 |
*Prize includes $3,000 HPT Championship package
The first elimination of the final table was Max Chrisp, who according to the HPT was felled on the very first hand of the first HPT tournament he ever played last year when his pocket aces were cracked. Chrisp found some redemption by making the final table at Golden Gates, albeit as the short stack. Despite an early double, Chrisp was the first to fall. “I hope to see you guys in the future at another Final Table,” Chrisp said as he made his way to the payout desk to collect $20,962 for his ninth-place finish.
The next to go was the most accomplished player at the final table — Dan Heimiller. With over $4 million in career winnings, eight wins, and 54 final tables, Heimiller was the headliner at the final table, though he was sent to the rail early when his turned straight with AxQx was beaten by Colin York’s rivered full house. Heimiller was eliminated in eighth place for $25,679.
Even though he began the final table as the chip leader, Keith Love — who was at his third HPT final table, previously finishing second and third — was sent to the rail in seventh place for $30,710, and he was followed out the by both Adam Hudson and Steven Levy, who were eliminated on the same hand by York. Hudson, of Denver, was eliminated in sixth place for $36,684, while Levy, from Larkspur, CA, got $47,899 for fifth place.
Denver’s James “J.R.” Richards was eliminated in fourth place when he moved all in with Jx8x against York’s Qx8x. The board ran out clean, and Richards took home $65,507 for his efforts.
York went on to dispatch Ryan White from Leawood, Kansas in third place, good for $92,806, and that set up a heads-up match between Milner and York. The affair lasted a marathon 111 hands, one of the longest in HPT history, but eventually came to a head in Level 36 (250,000/500,000/50,000). According to the HPT live blog, it happened on Hand #260 of the final table when Milner limped and then called a raise to 1.5 million from York. Milner then called a bet of 1.2 million on the A♠K♣2♣ flop, the 3♣ turned, and York checked. Milner moved all in and York, who had him covered by less than a big blind, called with the A♦5♠. The aces were good against Milner’s gutshot straight and flush draws with the J♠10♣, but the Q♠ spiked on the river to give Milner Broadway and the double.
On the very next hand, York was already all in and at risk as the cards were dealt.
York: A♣7♠
Milner: A♦10♦
York was in need of some help, but he was left wanting as the board ran out A♠K♣2♣9♥6♦. York had to settle for runner-up and $142,857, while Milner became the latest HPT champion and took home the $230,582 top prize.
“$230,000 will change my lifestyle,” said the champ. “I am comfortable retired but not overly retired.”
The HPT’s next event will take place from Feb. 20 to March 3 at the River City Casino & Hotel in St. Louis. For a look at some other HPT stops in 2014, click here.
*Data and photos courtesy of Heartland Poker Tour.
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