Michael Ermie Wins Largest-Ever HPO Regional Main Event in Toledo for $60,017

Michael Ermie is the Hollywood Poker Open Toledo $1,115 Regional Main Event champion! He topped a record-second field of 323 entries for an HPO regional main event and earned $60,017 in first-place prize money.

Ermie is now over $200,000 in lifetime tournament earnings and this is his third first-place finish. Normally a cash-game player, Ermie says he plays a few tournament every month. He certainly won't regret taking some time off of his normal grind for this event, as he booked the biggest live tournament win of his career.

With a deal taking place between the final three players, the tournament was over sooner than later. Ermie finished the tournament with more than half the chips in play, which allowed him to get the most money and the win out of the deal.

He earned most of his stack at the final table when he eliminated both Alex Barill in sixth place, then Zach Andrews in fifth place. On both hands, Ermie made a flush. Against Barill, he hit a flush on the river after both players were all in.Then, against Andrews, Ermie shoved all in over the top of a river bet from Andrews. Andrews called with a straight, but that was no good against Ermie's flush.

From there, it was relatively smooth sailing.

"I don't think I necessarily have a had edge three-handed," Ermie said. "But once I got to about half the chips in play, I thought I might win."

He will also earned an HPO $2,500 Championship seat, and the event will take place in Las Vegas this summer at the M Resort.

"It's a great tournament," Ermie concluded, having played the event before and always looking forward to it.

HPO ambassador Chris Moneymaker made yet another deep run, finishing 23rd. He got knocked out by eventual third-place finisher, Nick DePalma. As part of the deal, Palma earned $46,019. Bruce Peery earned second-place honors and $50,000.

This was the second stop of Season 4 of HPO. The next event will be March 10-20 at Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, and PokerNews hopes to see you there.