Thursday January 23, 2020 at 1:24 am

Brian Altman made World Poker Tour history when he became the first player to win the same event twice. Altman shipped the 2015 WPT Lucky Hearts Open at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida and he just took down the 2020 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in a history victory. Altman faded a field of 843 players to win $482,636 and a seat into the season-ending Tournament of Champions.

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Brian Altman during his 2015 victory at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open [Pic: WPT]

Ship it to Brian Altman... two times. Sometimes, it's just your day. Brian Altman woke up twice in his life and walked into the Seminole Hard Rock Casino to win the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open. It was like deja vu all over again for Altman. He won the 2015 WPT Lucky Hearts and dive years later, he shipped the 2020 version of the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open.

Altman went deep in the latest stop on the World Poker Tour, but it wasn't just any ordinary final table. He was trying to become the first player to win the same event twice. In 2015, Altman banked $723K for winning the 2015 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open. It's was biggest cash at the time and still is his largest cash to date. Little did he know that five years later, the world would get a little weirder and he'd be making WPT history with a second win at the SHR for the LHPO title.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino hosted the $3,500 buy-in WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open. This year's event attracted 843 runners. They created a prize pool that swelled to almost $2.7 million. The top 106 players got paid out but most of the cash was set aside to the top two finishers. The winner would walk away with just under a half-million with $482,636.

The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open final table included Brian Altman, John Dollinger, Chanracy Khun, Nadya Magnus, Nadeem Hirani and Peter Walsworth. Scott Drobes bubbled the final table in seventh place.

Peter Walsworth busted first at the final table when John Dollinger took home out with pocket nine against Ace-seven. Nines held up and Walsworth hit the bricks. Nadeem Hirani busted next in fifth place when his Ace-King lost to Altman's Jack-ten. Ouch. Altman flopped a pair of tens, which held up.

With four to go, Nadya Magnus made a final stand with Carte As de cœurCarte Dame de pique against Altman's Carte As de carreauCarte Roi de trèfle. Bog Slick held up for Altman and Magnus busted in fourth place. Dollinger took out Chanracy Khun with 10-8 suited against Ace-deuce. After Khan's bustout, Dollinger and Altman were set for a heads-up bout.

After 85 hands, heads-up began. Altman trailed 20.8 Million to 12.8M. Altman quickly chipped away at the lead and got even. Altman flopped trips with Carte Valet de cœurCarte 5 de cœur and took down a decisive pot against Dollinger's pair of Kings. At that point, Altman had extended his lead to 2 to 1. It would be all over in 16 more hands.

In the final hand, Altman woke up with Carte As de carreauCarte As de trèfle against Dollinger's Ace-eight. They got it all-in preflop and pocket Aces held up for Altman. Dollinger busted in second place with paid out almost $312K.

Altman won the WPT title, $482,636 in cash, plus a freeroll into the season-ending Tournament of Champions at the Aria.

Altman also made history by becoming the first player in the illustrious history of the WPT to win the same event... twice.

Altman came into the final table with $3.7 million in earnings. After his score at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open, he passed $4 million in career earnings. Last year around this time, he final tabled the $10K Main Event at the 2019 PCA in the Bahamas. He also has a WSOP Circuit ring for shipping the 2016 WPT Montreal.

Notables who cashed in the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open included... James Calderaro, Sam Soverel, Aaron Rosenthal, Victor Figueroa, Joey Couden, Tzu Huang, Jake Schwartz, Matt Affleck, Chris Edwards, Aaron Massey, Darren Elias, Mikey Amato, Anthony Zinno, Trung Tran, Mike Vela, Alan Schein, Lee Markholt, Jason Young, Alex Rocha, Joe McKeehen, Mike Sowers, Jared Jaffee, Riley Fuller, Craig Varnell, Jerry Wong, Corey Burbick, Jonathan Jaffe, Chris DaSilva, David Levy, Kristine Zakaite, Jim Collopy, Scott Baumstein, Brock Wilson, George Pappas, Jason Brin, Geoffrey Hum, Tony Hu, Ian O'Hara, and Richard Rice.

2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open

Buy-in: $3,500

Entrants: 843

Prize Pool: $2,697,600

Payouts: 106

 

Final Table Results:

1. Brian Altman $482,636

2. John Dollinger $311,751

3. Chanracy Khun $230,086

4. Nadya Magnus $171,642

5. Nadeem Hirani $129,438

6. Peter Walsworth $98,686

The final table was streamed here...

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