Milner Prevails Over 731 Entrants in Black Hawk
Black Hawk, CO - Doug Milner’s poker accomplishments pale in comparison to many in HPT’s field of 731 at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour, including world champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, Bryan Devonshire, and Dan O’Brien. The 73-year-old from Salt Lake City had just two career cashes totaling $1300. He last cashed three years ago for $376. Although he advanced to Day 2 at Golden Gates on Sunday, he had a lackluster stack towards the bottom of the chip counts. He made the best of the chips he had, climbing his way to a seat at HPT’s nationally-televised Final Table. After a 10-hour battle, Milner came out on top for the $230,582. The retiree plans to use his winnings to play golf.
“$230,000 will change my lifestyle,” said the champ. “I am comfortable retired but not overly retired.”
Runner-up Colin York is having a good year on HPT. He scored his biggest career cash in 13th place last month at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The Las Vegas pro topped that in Black Hawk earning $142,857.
The 111-hand heads-up battle was one of the longest in HPT history. Both players got their chips into the middle with York having Milner covered by less than one big blind. York had the lead in the hand with a pair of aces while Milner had a straight draw and a flush draw. The river delivered the straight for Milner. On the very next hand, York was all-in before the cards were dealt. His ace seven was unable to improve against Milner’s ace-ten.
York was responsible for many of the eliminations Monday, including third-place finisher Ryan White from Leawood, Kansas. He walked away with $92,806 after his ace-five did not improve against York’s pocket sevens. Denver’s James “J.R.” Richards was eliminated in fourth place when he moved all-in with jack-eight against York’s queen-eight. Unable to catch a jack, Richards collected $65,507 for his efforts over the weekend.
When the Heartland Poker Tour episodes filmed in Black Hawk air nationwide, the TV audience will see fireworks when Colin York, Steven Levy, and Adam Hudson get into a pre-flop raising war. With Hudson and Levy all-in, York caught an ace on the river for the double elimination. Hudson of Denver was eliminated in sixth place for $36,684, while Steven Levy from Larkspur, California got $47,899 for fifth place.
It looked like Love could prevail in the Valentines’ weekend tournament as Keith Love made his third HPT Final Table. He finished painfully close to a championship twice before. “I am looking for a win this time,” said Love, who has second- and third-place finishes on HPT. Love advanced to Monday’s Final Table as the chip leader but quickly fell to the middle of the pack. Eventually, York caught an ace on the flop to eliminate Love with tens in seventh place for $30,710.
With over $4 million in career winnings, eight wins, and 54 Final Tables, Dan Heimiller went into Monday’s Final Table with a solid plan. "I will have to gamble it up and get lucky,” he said. Heimiller was able to get lucky once early in the action and again when his ace-queen caught a straight on the turn. Unfortunately, Colin York got luckier when he caught a full house on the river to eliminate Heimiller in eighth place for $25,679.
When Max Chrisp played HPT for the first time last year, he was eliminated in the first hand of the tournament with pocket aces. He was back with a vengeance and advanced all the way to the Final Table, although he was the short stack. He doubled up early but it wasn’t enough to extend his tourney life. The Arvada, Colorado man collected $20,962 in ninth place. “I hope to see you guys in the future at another Final Table,” Chrisp said.
His next opportunity is at River City Casino & Hotel in St Louis February 20th to March 3rd, before HPT continues to California, Mississippi, and Florida in March.
Results
All Paid Players Listed at HPTpoker.com
Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour
Black Hawk, CO
February 17, 2014
Buy-in: $1650
Main Event: 713
Total Prize Pool: $1,048,110
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
