Nader Wahdan, a Colorado deli owner, took the Heartland Poker Tour Golden Gates title defeating a field of 686 entrants for a payday of $226,891.
For the seventh consecutive time, Heartland Poker Tour surpassed the $1 million mark with its Main Event prize pool at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour.
“I love this place,” said Wahdan. “I don’t like playing anywhere else. It’s an awesome tournament. The structure’s beautiful. I love it.”
Wahdan bested the eventual second-place finisher Chad Leasure in tough heads-up play.
Final tablers finished up:
1. Nader Wahdan $226,891
2. Chad Leasure $140,170
3. Phil Mader $91,867
4. Adam Zimowski $63,833
5. Matthew Schierenberg $46,387
6. Nils Bardsley $36,001
7. Colin York $30,253
8. John Sacha $25,211
9. Edith Mortellaro $20,168