2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
$183,899
Event Info
Prize Pool
$820,800
Entries
570
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000

Chris Moon Wins HPT Ameristar East Chicago ($183,899)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Chris Moon
Chris Moon

It's still a few days from the full moon, but a different sort of Moon shined brightly at Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event.

Chris Moon topped a field of 570 to take down a career-best $183,899 and a $3,500 HPT Championship package. It's the first live tournament win for Moon, who said it's been over a decade in the making.

"I've been trying to win a live tournament since I was like 18 years old," said the Michigan man. "So, this is a dream come true, truly."

HPT Ameristar East Chicago Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Chris Moon$183,899
2Artem Zverkhovskyy$113,605
3Eric Salazar$74,456
4Craig Casino$51,735
5Bryant Miller$37,596
6Mike O'Neill$29,178
7Paul Elfelt$24,519
8Dennis Ng$20,433
9Bret Martin$16,346

Moon utterly dominated the final 10 levels or so of play, as he rolled into the final day with a massive chip lead and a stack of more than 200 big blinds. If victory seemed predetermined to many observers who took a glance at the standings, which showed Moon holding more than double the chips of nearest competitor Craig Casino, it didn't feel that way to Moon.

Back in 2015, Moon made the final table of HPT Mount Pleasant in his home state of Michigan. There, he narrowly missed out on a title as he lost heads-up, taking a $101,823 consolation prize. He also had another final table in this same event in 2017, winding up with an eighth-place finish.

"I've been here before and came up short," Moon acknowledged. "I was just trying to play my hands and my ranges as good as I could."

Fortunately for Moon, there were plenty of big hands to play and he frequently found himself near the top of said ranges.

After staying relatively quiet during the first couple of levels, which saw a flurry of fast eliminations, Moon got busier when the table was shorter-handed. He busted short stacks Bryant Miller — aces over king-queen suited — and Craig Casino — ace-queen over king-queen — in the space of a few minutes to whittle it down to three.

Craig Casino
Casino has cashed for over $800K on the HPT.

Casino, while settling for a fourth-place finish, added to his HPT-leading cash total of over $800,000.

Moon had about two-thirds of the chips but three-handed play would see his momentum slowed a bit. Eric Salazar and Artem Zverkhovskyy hung in for over an hour before the latter busted the former, putting Moon heads up for the title in commanding position.

Chris Moon
Moon didn't hide his feelings when the final card was dealt.

However, Zverkhovskyy did get a little momentum when he coolered Moon for an early double with a straight over aces up. Moon quickly regained control though and sealed things with dominating ace-ten against ace-five all in preflop, after which he celebrated with some feeling, flexing and stalking away from the table.

He then turned to embrace Zverkhovskyy, a Chicago-area regular who can be found playing in most of the tours that run through the area.

Both players said they plan to put the money they won to use over the summer with a heavy poker schedule.

"Can't wait to see what the future holds," a grinning Moon said.

Tags: Chris Moon

Artem Zverkhovskyy Eliminated in 2nd Place ($113,065)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Artem Zverkhovskyy
Artem Zverkhovskyy

Artem Zverkhovskyy shoved on the button for 1.6 million with {a-Diamonds}{5-Clubs} and Chris Moon called with {a-Hearts}{10-Spades}.

The {6-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{a-Clubs} flop didn't change much but the {j-Clubs} turn left Moon fading far more cards as his foe picked up a flush draw. The river was a {q-Hearts}, ending the tournament in Moon's favor.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
17,000,000 2,000,000
Artem Zverkhovskyy ua
Artem Zverkhovskyy
Busted

Tags: Artem ZverkhovskyyChris Moon

Zverkhovskyy Doubles Through Moon

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Artem Zverkhovskyy
Artem Zverkhovskyy

Chris Moon opened to 200,000 with {a-Spades}{10-Hearts} and Artem Zverkhovskyy defended with {8-Clubs}{7-Spades}.

The flop came {9-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{6-Spades} and Artem Zverkhovskyy check-called 250,000. He checked again on the {a-Hearts} and Moon bet 650,000. Zverkhovskyy took some thinking time then ripped for 1.9 million and Moon quickly called.

The {q-Diamonds} was a brick river and Moon sent over a double.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
12,200,000 -2,000,000
Artem Zverkhovskyy ua
Artem Zverkhovskyy
4,800,000 2,000,000

Tags: Artem ZverkhovskyyChris Moon

Eric Salazar Eliminated in 3rd Place ($74,456)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Eric Salazar
Eric Salazar

Artem Zverkhovskyy opened for a raise 220,000 and called the shove of Eric Salazar, who jammed just over 1.1 million in the big blind with {3-Spades}{3-Diamonds}. Zverkhovskyy had {a-Clubs}{10-Hearts} and the {6-Clubs}{a-Spades}{2-Spades} flop paired him. The {9-Spades} brought a flush draw for Salazar but the river was a {5-Diamonds}, meaning it's heads-up time and there's a short break.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
12,800,000 -200,000
Artem Zverkhovskyy ua
Artem Zverkhovskyy
4,200,000 1,000,000
Eric Salazar us
Eric Salazar
Busted

Tags: Artem ZverkhovskyyEric Salazar

Craig Casino Eliminated in 4th Place ($51,735)

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Craig Casino
Craig Casino

Eric Salazar opened for 125,000 with {q-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} and Craig Casino shoved with {k-Diamonds}{q-Clubs} for 580,000. Chris Moon woke up with {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts} and ripped it in to cover everyone, forcing Salazar to fold.

The {6-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{4-Hearts} flop had Moon calling for a jack for a sweat. It did come as the {j-Spades} fell. Casino needed to hit the river but it was a {2-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
11,000,000 1,000,000
Craig Casino us
Craig Casino
Busted

Tags: Chris MoonCraig CasinoEric Salazar

Mike O'Neill Eliminated in 6th Place ($29,178)

Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Mike O'Neill
Mike O'Neill

Mike O'Neill opened for 90,000 with {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds} and got action from Chris Moon on the button with {8-Clubs}{7-Clubs} and big blind Eric Salazar with {q-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}.

The flop came {q-Diamonds}{9-Spades}{k-Hearts} and O'Neill continued for 130,000, with Salazar check-calling. On the {2-Hearts} turn, Salazar checked and O'Neill bet 250,000. Salazar jammed for 1.3 million and O'Neill thought about 30 seconds and flicked in a call.

The players showed down and Salazar said the sweat was real. He needed to fade a decent chunk of cards but the river was a safe {8-Hearts}.

Left under a big blind, O'Neill busted in short order.

Player Chips Progress
Eric Salazar us
Eric Salazar
3,100,000 1,600,000
Mike O'Neill us
Mike O'Neill
Busted

Tags: Chris MoonEric SalazarMike O'Neill

Dennis Ng Eliminated in 8th Place ($20,433)

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Dennis Ng
Dennis Ng

Four players saw a flop of {6-Clubs}{a-Spades}{8-Spades}, with Dennis Ng raising to 75,000. Ng bet 160,000 with {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts} and Chris Moon in the small blind check-raised with {8-Hearts}{8-Clubs}. Ng moved all in for 1.5 million and Moon quickly called with his set. The turn was a {5-Diamonds} leaving Ng drawing dead to the meaningless {k-Spades} river.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
7,800,000 1,605,000
Dennis Ng us
Dennis Ng
Busted

Tags: Chris MoonDennis Ng

Bret Martin Eliminated in 9th Place ($16,346)

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Bret Martin
Bret Martin

In the cutoff, Bret Martin shoved for 440,000 with {a-Clubs}{5-Clubs}. Dennis Ng woke up with {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds} and called on the button. The blinds mucked and the dealer ran out a board of {q-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}{8-Spades}{j-Spades}, leaving Martin in need of an ace or queen. The river was a {4-Hearts} though and Martin was first out at the final table.

Player Chips Progress
Dennis Ng us
Dennis Ng
1,500,000 500,000
Bret Martin us
Bret Martin
Busted

Tags: Bret MartinDennis Ng