Tommy Hang Wins World Series of Poker $1500 H.O.R.S.E. Event

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Just days after placing 12th in the 2014 World Series of Poker $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship, Tommy Hang went all the way in the WSOP $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, topping a field of 743 entrants to win his first gold bracelet and the $230,744 first-place prize. The 34-year-old from Washington State has had a lot of close calls at the WSOP in previous years, finishing as the runner up in this same event in 2008 and placing in the top four three other times.

“I have been shooting for a bracelet for years now, and have always been falling slightly short,” Hang told WSOP.com just after his win. “Each year I have progressed and learned new things, new tactics and I have been applying them. It seems to be paying off so far.”

Hand also earned 912 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his 25th WSOP cash, with 10 money finishes coming in mixed games events. His live tournament earnings now exceed $1.4 million.

Hang topped a tough field on his way to the win, taking control of proceedings midway through the final table and eliminating the final three players to seal the win. Hang outlasted plenty of notables on the final day of play including Jon Turner (13th – $9,238), Dutch Boyd (11th – $11,605) and David “ODB” Baker ($19,338).

Hang’s heads-up opponent was quite accomplished as well. Jim Collopy has a gold bracelet from a pot-limit Omaha event at the 2013 WSOP Asia Pacific, more than $1 million in live tournament earnings and seven-figures in online scores as well. Hang entered heads up play with a more than 2-to-1 chip lead and extended it to nearly 6-to-1 by the time the final hand arose.

Playing limit hold’em Collopy raised from the small blind and Hang called. The flop brought the 983 and Hang checked raised Collopy, who made it three bets. Hang called and the turn brought the 6. Hang check-called a bet from Collopy. The 10 hit the river and Hang put out 15,000 in chips to put Collopy all-in. Collopy quickly called with KK. hang flipped up the QJ for a rivered straight, securing the pot and the title and sending Collopy to the rail as the runner-up.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

*Winner photo courtesy of the WSOP