HPO Tunica Regional Championship
Day 2 Completed
2014 Hollywood Poker Open Tunica Regional Event
HPO Tunica Regional Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Hollywood Poker Open Tunica Regional Event
Buy-in
$1,629
Prize Pool
$32,580
Entries
20
Level
16
Blinds
1,200 / 2,400
Ante
400
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Toby Mathews started Day 2 third in chips, and was very short during three-handed play, but thanks to a few coin flips and a bit of persistence he is the winner of the Hollywood Poker Open Tunica Regional Championship.
Mathews reached heads-up play against Jonathan Taylor with a significant chip disadvantage, and the 2013 World Series of Poker bracelet winner extended the lead. Mathews was able to double, flopping a straight against Taylor's middle set, and brought the stacks back to even.
On the final hand, Mathews five-bet shoved with pocket kings and Taylor called with pocket fives. The dominant hand held up, and Mathews was crowned the champion.
"I've got to call my wife," Mathews said excitedly while the staff was preparing for pictures. "This is so cool."
Mathews earned $15,040 for first place along with a $2,500 seat to the Hollywood Poker Open Championship at The M Resort Spa Casino Las Vegas in June. Ironically, the event takes place near his wife's birthday.
"We were thinking about going to Vegas anyway," Mathews said in a post-win interview.
Team PokerStars Pro and HPO ambassador Chris Moneymaker entered the day as the chip leader, and eliminated Lee Childs on the bubble. Childs was very short and open-jammed for around 10 big blind with pocket tens. Moneymaker made the call in the big blind with 
, and ended up making quad threes.
During three-handed play, Moneymaker struggled.
"I didn't win a pot," Moneymaker said afterwards.
The 2003 WSOP Main Event winner quickly went from first to last in chips, then tried to make a move on Mathews. He check-raised all in on a flop of 
with 
, and Mathews called with 
. The pocket queens held up, and Moneymaker hit the rail.
Mathews credits both the deep structure and the lucky tiger his nephew Nicholas gave to him for the victory, and is exited to play in the Hollywood Poker Open Championship.
That's it for our coverage of the HPO Tunica Regional Championship. We will be back for the next regional championship event on March 1 in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Until then, goodnight from Tunica!
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Jonathan Taylor raised to 5,200 on the button, Toby Mathews three-bet to 17,500, and Taylor went deep into the tank. The 2013 WSOP bracelet winner eventually put in a four-bet making it 40,000 or so to go, and Mathews immediately announced that he as all in.
Taylor plopped forward a handful of T5,000 chips, signifying a call, and the hands were tabled.
Taylor: 
Mathews: 
Mathew's pocket kings dominated Taylor's wired fives, and held up as the board came out 
.
Taylor is off to collect $9,024 in prize money, while Mathews is your champion!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
400,000
203,400
|
203,400 |
|
Busted |
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Jonathan Taylor opened to 5,200, Toby Mathews three-bet to 17,500, and Taylor four-bet to 24,000. Mathews moved all in for around 80 big blinds or so, and Taylor snap-folded.
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Toby Mathews opened to 5,200, Jonathan Taylor re-raised to 14,500, and Mathews called.
The flop was 
, Taylor led out for 11,500, and Mathews folded.
The two players are now relatively even in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
203,400
29,400
|
29,400 |
|
|
196,600
-29,400
|
-29,400 |
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Toby Mathews opened to 5,500, Jonathan Taylor three-bet to 14,000, and Mathews called.
Taylor led out for 11,000 on a flop of 
, Mathews called, and the turn brought the 
. Taylor led out for another 21,000, Mathews moved all in, and Taylor folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
226,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
|
174,000
-46,000
|
-46,000 |
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
220,000
-15,200
|
-15,200 |
|
|
180,000
15,200
|
15,200 |
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Toby Mathews raised to 5,500, Jonathan Taylor defended, and the duo checked on a flop of 
. The turn was a repeat four - the 
- and Taylor led out for 4,500. Mathews quickly called.
The river was the 
, Taylor checked, and Mathews bet what looked like 21,000. Taylor quickly folded.
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Jonathan Taylor raised to 5,200, Toby Mathews three-bet to 17,000, and Taylor called.
Both players checked on the flop (
) and the turn (
), and the river was the 
.
Mathews led out for 16,500, and Taylor folded.