Hemingway Wins HPT, Simon Has Cancer, Full Tilt Players Have Hope

Teresa Hemingway Wins HPT Golden Gates

The Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlor was the host for the Heartland Poker Tour‘s latest tournament. Players flocked to Black Hawk, Colorado, to participate in the preliminary events and the $1,650 buy-in NLHE Main Event. There were a total of 671 players and resulting prize pool of $1,006,500, despite a blizzard that blocked many roads – and even the airport – in the Denver area.

Ultimately, it was Teresa Hemingway, who qualified for only $360, in the winner’s circle. She was the third female champion in HPT’s history. “It’s unreal money,” she said, “and it can happen to anyone.” The final table payouts were:

1^st place: Teresa Hemingway ($226,463)

2^nd place: Jeffrey Yarchever ($139,904)

3^rd place: Robert Moore ($91,692)

4^th place: Robert Sweeney ($63,711)

5^th place: Ryan O’Donnell ($46,299)

6^th place: Danny Gonzalez ($35,932)

7^th place: Christopher Valdez ($30,195)

8^th place: Gary Germann ($25,163)

9^th place: Travis Northrope ($20,130)

Sam Simon Reveals Terminal Cancer

Co-creator of “The Simpsons” and longtime poker player Sam Simon revealed a terminal cancer diagnosis that leaves him with months to live. By the time he sought treatment for symptoms, the doctor told him it was colon cancer that spread to his liver, kidneys, abdominal connective tissues, lymph system, and possibly his brain.

Simon is being treated with chemotherapy but says the prognosis is dire.

US Government Appoints Full Tilt Funds Administrator

A website has been established by the US Department of Justice to disperse information about the pending claims for funds by former Full Tilt Poker players based in America. The Garden City Group has been appointed as the claims administrator for the funds.

The site claims that the “victim claims process will begin shortly.” Players based in the US who lost money when Full Tilt shut down can register an email to be notified of future announcements. Eventually, they will be able to submit a “Petition for Remission” via the website.