Poker Player Aaron Massey Two Titles in Two Weeks
Fresno, CA - Aaron Massey's recent string of success continued today at Club One Casino when he captured his second Heartland Poker Tour Title in less than two months. The Chicago native will take home $77,760 for the win at Club One and now has a commanding lead in the HPT Player of the Year standings powered by BLUFF.
Lively table talk mixed with tension-filled silence will highlight the heads-up match between Massey and runner-up Danny Gonzalez when episodes from Club One air on national television. The 49-hand battle featured a multitude of all-ins and double-ups before Massey finally came out victorious, winning a race with king-seven to Gonzalez's pocket fives. Massey can add the Title to a long list of 2014 achievements that include two wins and a runner-up finish with HPT.
Gonzalez is also familiar with the tour, having won just over $35,000 at an event last year in Colorado. The Denver man will earn $48,384 this time around for second place.
Jed Hoffman is no stranger to the lights and cameras of an HPT Final Table either. The developer from Reno, Nevada finished in third place the last time the tour visited Club One in February. He was unable to better that performance this time around, walking away in fourth place for $21,600.
Club One employee Su Kim finished runner-up when HPT visited the property in February. This time around, family man and Club One host Chris Taylor was hoping to repeat Kim's performance. His quest fell short when his pocket tens ran into Gonzalez's pocket kings. The Exeter, California native cashed in for $13,248 with his sixth-place finish.
Several of the players at the table praised the friendly staff at Club One Casino. "I love this place. I don't play anywhere else," said retiree Dee Timmons. "... They treat you like family when you walk in." Timmons earned her seat among the final nine after investing just $365 in a Main Event qualifier. She ran that all the way up to a third-place finish that awarded her $29,376.
Kevork Vorperian reiterated Timmons' feelings on the employees at the Fresno venue. "I've never seen any casino's staff this friendly," said the Glendale, California physician. Vorperian was the first to exit the final table, taking home $8,640 for ninth place.
Billy Huynh has dealt many hands of poker over the years. Today, the poker dealer from San Mateo found himself on the other side of the fence. Hyunh was coasting along with the chip lead until he came out on the wrong end of back-to-back hands and was eliminated in fifth place. He plans to use the $16,128 in winnings toward the purchase of a new car.
"HPT is awesome," said seventh-place finisher Mario Sequeira. "I love it. I try to get to as many as possible." Sequeira, of Hanford, CA, earned $11,664 for his efforts. He plans to use the money to play in more tournaments down the road.
One of the players with the most experience among the final nine was Sean Drake. After spending most of Day 2 atop the leaderboard, he found himself with the smallest stack when play began Monday. The poker player from Ione, California was never able to get anything going. Hyunh sent him to the rail in eighth place for a $10,224 score.
"It's a prestigious honor," the repeat champion Massey said of his run at the HPT Player of the Year Title. "I'm glad to be part of the family... and be an ambassador for HPT moving forward."
The trip to Club One Casino was Heartland Poker Tour's fourth stop in the Golden State in a month. Now, the tour will travel to the Atlantic coastline for a series in Daytona Beach, Florida. Seven stops remain on the 2014 schedule. Information for each stop is available at HPTpoker.com.
