2019 Heartland Poker Tour Meadows

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2019 Heartland Poker Tour Meadows

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
95
Prize
$61,080
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,100
Entries
266
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000

Calvin Snead Wins HPT Meadows Main Event for $61,080

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Calvin Snead
Calvin Snead

The HPT Meadows Main Event has concluded after 4 hours of final table action and emerging, as the winner was Calvin Snead who took home the HPT trophy and the $61,080 first place prize as well as the $3,500 prize package for the HPT championships in St.Louis.

The Pittsburgh local electrician by trade, whose previous biggest cash for just a bit over $12,000 could not believe the moment he found himself in today.

“It was exciting to play Greg, I watched Greg on TV” said Snead as he discussed the big moment defeating Greg Raymer heads up. He then went on to discuss how he rode a great run on days 1 and 2 to put himself in a good position for the victory at the final table.

“I’m not sure yet, I’m just gonna let this soak in” when asked what he will be doing with the new $61,080 in his pocket.

One thing that Snead could do with some of his new money is play more poker, including the HPT championship that he is now qualified for which he mentioned how excited he he was for it. “Oh yeah I can’t wait to play that, see Greg again and hopefully do it again”.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Calvin SneadPittsburgh,PA$61,080
2Greg RaymerRaleigh,NC$37,669
3Frank BonacciPitssburgh,PA$25,452
4Mike O'NeillRoyal Oak,MI$18,071
5David SantucciMonoreville,PA$13,999
6Bill DopicoPittsburgh,PA$11,453
7Bobby NoelJohnstown,PA$9,545
8Mike IacovoneCleveland,OH$8,017
9Thomas GustovichN/A$6,618

Action of the Day

The final table played pretty much as straightforward as possible as each player was eliminated in the chip position they started the day in from 9th until 3rd. The day began with Thomas Gustovich going out on the very first hand of the day and action would not slow as the field was suddenly cut to five in barely over an hour with rapid eliminations. The field was cut from five to three in no time as one of the most dramatic hand occurred when Raymer knocked out both David Santucci and Mike O’Neill in the same hand when his pocket kings held up in a preflop all in to give him a chip lead heading into three-handed play.

Three-handed play slowed things down considerably as it took nearly three hours of trading chips and moderate to small hands before Frank Bonacci was eventually eliminated in 3rd place.

Heads up play took exactly one hand as Snead got it in ahead with a pair on the flop. He could practically feel the trophy in his hands but the ace on the turn snatched it away as it sent Raymer into the lead. But the dramatic nine on the river gave Snead the title as he threw up his hands in celebration.

That wraps up the PokerNews coverage of HPT Meadows. Coverage of the HPT will pick back up in Daytona Beach later in October.

Greg Raymer Eliminated in 2nd Place ($37,669)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Greg Raymer
Greg Raymer

On the very first hand of heads up play, Greg Raymer min raised from the small blind and Calvin Snead called.

The flop came {2-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{8-Spades}. Snead checked, Raymer bet 160,000 and Snead quickly came over the top with an all in jam. Raymer thought for about 10 seconds before calling.

Snead had the lead with the {9-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} against the {a-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} of Raymer.

The turn however turned things on its head as the {a-Hearts} peeled off to give Raymer the lead. But the final card of the tournament would end of being the {9-Spades} as it came on the river to give Snead the two pair and the HPT championship in dramatic fashion.

Player Chips Progress
Calvin Snead us
Calvin Snead
8,100,000
1,200,000
1,200,000
Day 1 Chip Leader
Greg Raymer us
Greg Raymer
Busted
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner

Frank Bonacci Eliminated in 3rd Place ($25,452)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Frank Bonacci
Frank Bonacci

Frank Bonacci moved all in from the button. Calvin Snead called from the small blind. and Greg Raymer got out of the way in the big blind.

Frank Bonacci: {k-Clubs}{q-Spades}
Calvin Snead: {6-Spades}{6-Hearts}

The flop zoomed Snead further ahead as it came {6-Clubs}{3-Spades}{a-Spades}. The turn was the {8-Clubs} and the river the {8-Hearts} and Bonacci was eliminated in 3rd place.

Player Chips Progress
Calvin Snead us
Calvin Snead
6,900,000
3,500,000
3,500,000
Day 1 Chip Leader
Frank Bonacci us
Frank Bonacci
Busted
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Calvin SneadFrank BonacciGreg Raymer

David Santucci Eliminated in 5th Place ($13,999), Mike O'Neill Eliminated in 4th Place ($18,071)

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Mike O'Neill
Mike O'Neill

David Santucci moved all in from the cutoff. Mike O'Neill re-shoved his larger stack from the button. Greg Raymer was in the small blind and called the all in, the big blind got out of the way quickly and the three-way all in was underway.

David Sabtucci: {a-Hearts}{q-Clubs}
Mike O'Neill: {j-Spades}{j-Diamonds}
Greg Raymer: {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}

The flop strengthened Raymer's lead as it came {q-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{k-Spades}. The turn all but sewed it up as the {q-Spades} came off. The {5-Hearts} on the river confirmed the double knockout and gave Raymer the huge boost in chips.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Raymer us
Greg Raymer
2,900,000
1,200,000
1,200,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
David Santucci us
David Santucci
Busted
Mike O'Neill us
Mike O'Neill
Busted

Tags: David SantucciGreg RaymerMike O'Neill

William Dopico Eliminaed in 6th Place ($11,453)

Level 23 : 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
William Dopico
William Dopico

Frank Bonacci raised from the button and William Dopico re-raised all in from the big blind which Bonacci quickly called.

It was the classic race as Dopico was at risk with the {q-Spades}{q-Clubs} up against the {a-Hearts}{k-Hearts} of Bonacci.

The flop was a dynamic one as it came {q-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{7-Hearts} to give Bonacci the nut flush and Dopico top set and would need the board to pair.

The turn was the {10-Diamonds} and the river came the {k-Diamonds} to leep the board unpaired and Dopico was gone in 6th place.

Player Chips Progress
Frank Bonacci us
Frank Bonacci
2,600,000
190,000
190,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
Calvin Snead us
Calvin Snead
1,800,000
210,000
210,000
Day 1 Chip Leader
Greg Raymer us
Greg Raymer
1,700,000
270,000
270,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Mike O'Neill us
Mike O'Neill
1,100,000
-175,000
-175,000
David Santucci us
David Santucci
355,000
-250,000
-250,000
William Dopico us
William Dopico
Busted

Tags: Frank Bonacci

Mike Iacovone Eliminated in 8th Place ($8,017)

Level 23 : 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Mike Iacovone
Mike Iacovone

Mike Iacovone moved all in from the big blind over a raise from Greg Raymer who called.

Mike Iacovone: {a-Clubs}{q-Spades}
Greg Raymer: {a-Hearts}{7-Hearts}

The flop was good to Raymer as it came {8-Hearts}{9-Clubs}{7-Spades} the turn was the {10-Clubs} and the river was the {4-Spades} and Iacovone was eliminated in 8th place.

Player Chips Progress
Greg Raymer us
Greg Raymer
1,430,000
235,000
235,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Mike Iacovone us
Mike Iacovone
Busted

Tags: Greg RaymerMike Iacovone

Thomas Gustovich Eliminated in 9th Place ($6,618)

Level 23 : 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Thomas Gustovich
Thomas Gustovich

On hand #1 of the final table, Thomas Gustovich moved all in for his remaining short stack from the cutoff and was called by Mike O'Neill from the big blind

Thomas Gustovich: {6-Spades}{2-Spades}
Mike O'Neill: {q-Hearts}{3-Hearts}

The flop came {k-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{3-Spades} the turn the {8-Hearts} and the river came the {a-Hearts}. And Gustovich was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Mike O'Neill us
Mike O'Neill
1,275,000
85,000
85,000
Thomas Gustovich us
Thomas Gustovich
Busted

Tags: Mike O'Neill

Raymer Highlights Exciting HPT Meadows Main Event Final Table

Greg Raymer
Greg Raymer

It is time for a scintillating Day 3 final table of the HPT Meadows Main Event. Yesterday provided an action packed day that cut the field from 47 down to a final table of 9. And what a final table it will be that will battle foe the grand prize of $61,080 and a new HPT trophy.

Headlining the group is none other than Greg Raymer, who starts the day 3rd in chips at 1,195,000. As every poker fan knows Raymer will of course always be most known for his famous WSOP Main Event win during the poker boom in 2004, when he etched the “Fossilman” glasses into poker lore forever. Since then, he has made quite the name for himself on the Heatland Poker Tour, by winning four different HPT titles over the years. Today will mark his 7th HPT final table and a victory today would be his biggest live tournament cash since 2012.

The field will be looking to thwart Raymer’s attempt to take home another HPT title, led by two Pittsburgh locals. Frank Bonacci enters the day as chip leader with 2,235,000 in chips, which is 700,000 clear of the next closest competitor. Bonacci gained his big chip lead late in the day yesterday when he played the role of grim reaper for finishers 13 through 10, eliminating them all to bring the tournament down to it’s final table. A lot of is at stake for Bonacci as the $61,080 top prize would make for the largest score of his poker career.

Final Table Seat Draw

SeatPlayerHometownChip Count 
1Calvin SneadPittsburgh,PA1,590,000 
2William DopicoPitrsburgh,PA518,000 
3Thomas GustovichN/A85,000 
4Bobby NoelJohnstown,PA355,000 
5David SantucciMonoreville,PA605,000 
6Mike O'NeillRoyal Oak,MI1,190,000 
7Greg RaymerRaleigh,NC1,195,000 
8Frank BonacciPittsburgh,PA2,235,000 
9Mike IacovoneCleveland,OH210,000 

Calvin Snead, also representing Pittsburgh, brings the 2nd largest chip stack to the table with 1,590,000. Snead has been the tournament wildcard thus far, bringing his boisterous and aggressive style to the table, which thus far has been working as he has steamrolled the field throughout the event. His poker resume includes only 8 cashes with only 1 of those coming more recently than 2016. Although Snead will be aiming for the top prize, any finish 5th or better would make for the largest cash of his career as his previous largest was for $12,259.

Another player who will be contesting for more glory at HPT Meadows is Mike O’Neill, 4th in chips with 1,190,000 just a smidge behind Raymer. The Michigan native is one of the HPT regulars as al but one of his recorded cashes come from the HPT. He is currently 10th in the 2019 HPT player of the year rankings and any finish 3rd or better would launch him all the way into 2nd place in the race for player of the year. A win today would be his 3rd HPT title, to add to his win in Evansville in 2015 and to his win right here at HPT Meadows in 2018.

The rest of the field is full of storylines as well including a couple with some results; David Santucci looking for his 2nd big cash of 2019 and Bobby Noel looking for another HPT win right here in HPT Meadows to add to his win in March of 2018,

Three of the players at the table are newcomers to the big stage as Pittsburgh local William Dopico is looking for his biggest cash by far with his previous largest being a smidge over $2,000. Mike Iacovone of Cleveland, who only has 3 previous recorded cashes and Thomas Gustovich who has no recorded cashes or any poker resume to speak of thus far.

All of these players will create a very fascinating final table, which will begin at noon local time with the live stream beginning on roughly a 30-minute delay at 12:30 p.m. Play will begin with 2 minutes remaining at level 22 and will soon be into level 23 where blinds will be at 15,000/25,000 and 25,000 big blind ante.

PokerNews will be providing live updates for this final table via the live stream so as to not give any spoilers, so stay tuned for all the updates and big hands that will shape the course for this HPT title.

Tags: Bobby NoelCalvin SneadDavid SantucciFrank BonacciGreg RaymerMike Iacovone