Brian Altman Wins Second WPT LHPO Championship Title

2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 18
$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  843
Prize Pool:  $2,697,600
January 17-22, 2020

The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship was the headliner on the schedule and it did not disappoint. The $3,500 buy-in tournament drew a great, fun, talented group of players and Brian Altman made history by winning his second career WPT LHPO title for $482,636.

“This is incredibly special. It’s amazing to be the first person to win the same WPT event twice, and kind of cement myself in history with this event,” Altman said. “Obviously it’s fantastic to get big wins, but playing these events I’m happy to put myself in a position to go deep, be chip leader, and make final tables.”

The 843 entries over two starting flights easily surpassed the $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and put $2,697,600 up for grabs. The last 106 spots and the field made the money late on Day 2 as Altman and John Dollinger began moving up the accounts.

Dollinger and Altman were among the leaders for the last two days of the Championship and they swapped the lead late on Day 4. It was Altman who bagged the final table lead but Dollinger was only a few chips behind.

Peter Walsworth was the shortest stack coming into the final table, found an early double up, but eventually fell in sixth place to his friend Dollinger.

Nadeem Hirani

Nadeem Hirani also found an early double up but he was sent out in fifth place when his big slick could not hold against the JhTd of Altman.

Nadya Magnus

Russian Nadya Magnus had a chance to put a female name on the WPT Champions Cup but she got in with a big ace that wasn’t as big as Altman’s big slick. She had a great run this week but fell in fourth place.

John Dollinger (left) and Chanracy Kun (right)

Dollinger and Altman held the majority of chips at the three-handed table but Chanracy Khun made a valiant comeback with two doubles. But the comeback ultimately fell short and he was eliminated by Dollinger in third place to set up the heads-up battle for the title.

Dollinger had a significant lead for the title but Altman quickly took back the advantage. On the final hand of the tournament, Altman picked up aces and Dollinger ran into them to end the tournament.

Altman made history by becoming the first player to ever win the same World Poker Tour event twice. He captured the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship in 2015 and added another five years later.

“Winning a second WPT title feels amazing. It’s incredibly special. It doesn’t always work out. I’ve had maybe a dozen or so situations where I’ve gone deep and thought I was going to win and I didn’t,” Altman said. “But that’s how tournaments go. To continually put myself in a position to win tournaments, it feels special.”

On a fun side note, Altman was on hand when friend Jonathan Jaffe won the LHPO High Roller on Tuesday and joined him in the winner’s photo. Jaffe returned the favor today by railing the final table and hopping in the shot.

Final table results:

1st:  Brian Altman – $482,636*
2nd:  John Dollinger – $311,751
3rd:  Chanracy Khun – $230,086
4th:  Nadya Magnus – $171,642
5th:  Nadeem Hirani – $129,438
6th:  Peter Walsworth – $98,686
* First-prize amount includes the winner’s $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions.

Download: Complete Championship results (PDF)

Championship: Brian Altman Defeats John Dollinger for the LHPO Title

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 33:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante

John Dollinger limped his button, Brian Altman raised to 800,000 and Dollinger quickly moved all in for 9,175,000.

“Did you say all-in?” Altman asked to confirm.

He did and Altman immediately called.

Altman: AcAd
Dollinger: As8d

Dollinger needed a lot of help to stay in the game but there was no magic on the Kc9s7d flop. The 2d turn left Dollinger drawing dead and Altman was officially a two-time WPT LHPO champ after the Th river.

Dollinger earned $311,751 for his runner-up finish while Altman earned $482,636 and put his name on the WPT Champions Cup for a second time.

1st: Brian Altman – $482,636*
2nd: John Dollinger – $311,751
* First-prize amount includes the winner’s $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions.

Championship: Brian Altman Retakes the Lead

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 843

After narrowing the gap with John Dollinger, Brian Altman opened his button to 375,000 and Dollinger called. The flop was Js9s8d and both players checked.

The turn was 8c, Dollinger bet 250,000 and Altman raised to 1,300,000. Dollinger called, the river was Kd, and Dollinger checked. Altman bet 3,200,000 and Dollinger quickly called.

Altman showed Qs8h for trip eights and Dollinger mucked the big pot to Altman.

Brian Altman – 21,550,000 (108 bb)
John Dollinger – 12,170,000 (61 bb)

Championship: Heads-Up Underway

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 843

John Dollinger and Brian Altman took a quick break after Chanracy Khun’s elimination to set up the heads-up match. Blind levels are now 30 minutes long until we have a champion. Dollinger begins the match with a healthy lead over Altman.

Seat 1: John Dollinger – 20,850,000 (139 bb)
Seat 3: Brian Altman – 12,875,000 (86 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $482,636*
2nd: $311,751
* First-prize amount includes the winner’s $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions.

Championship: Chanracy Khun – 3rd Place ($230,086)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 843

Chanracy Khun

Brian Altman folded his button and John Dollinger moved all in from the small blind. Chanracy Khun gave his cards a look and called at risk for 1,900,000.

Dollinger: Th8h
Khun: Ad2h

Khun was ahead for the double but Dollinger paired his ten on the KdTc9h flop. The Ts turn left Khun drawing dead to the 7s river and he was sent out in third place.

John Dollinger – 20,850,000 (139 bb)
Chanracy Khun – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($230,086)

Championship: Chanracy Doubles Through Brian Altman

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 843

Chanracy Khun

John Dollinger limped the button and Chanracy Khun shoved for 3,025,000 from the small blind. Dollinger mucked his hand out of turn before Altman called in the big blind.

Khun: Ac9c
Altman: KsQd

Khun’s suited ace was in the lead and the Tc7s2h9d6h runout gave him another double.

After the hand, Dollinger was issued an orbit penalty for folding out of turn.

Chanracy Khun – 6,600,000 (44 bb)
Brian Altman – 12,200,000 (81 bb)

Championship: Chanracy Khun Doubles Through John Dollinger

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 843

John Dollinger (left) and Chanracy Kun (right)

Brian Altman folded his button and John Dollinger moved all in from the small blind. Chanracy Khun checked his cards in the big and called at risk for 1,250,000.

Khun: Ac9c
Dollinger: QhJc

Khun was ahead and moved further out front on the AsQs3d flop. The 3c turn was safe and Khun had his double up after the 8d river.

Chanracy Khun – 2,650,000 (18 bb)
John Dollinger – 15,700,000 (105 bb)

Championship: Blinds Up

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 843

The blinds are up to 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 big blind ante and the average stack is 11,250,000 (75 bb).

Seat 1: John Dollinger – 16,950,000 (113 bb)
Seat 2: Chanracy Khun – 1,400,000 (9 bb)
Seat 3: Brian Altman – 15,375,000 (103 bb)

1st: $482,636*
2nd: $311,751
3rd: $230,086
* First-prize amount includes the winner’s $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions.

Championship: Nadya Magnus – 4th Place ($171,642)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 843

Nadya Magnus

John Dollinger opened to 300,000 from under the gun, Brian Altman called in the small blind and Nadya Magnus moved all in for 2,450,000 from the big. Dollinger immediately threw out a time extension chip to give himself a minute to think it through. He eventually folded and Altman quickly called.

Altman: AdKc
Mangus: AhQc

Mangus was in a lot of trouble with her weaker ace and the Td5c3d8d7s run out could not save her tournament, sending her out in fourth place.

Brian Altman – 16,175,000 (108 bb)
Nadya Magnus – Eliminated in 4th Place ($171,642)

Championship: Nadeem Hirani – 5th Place ($129,438)

$3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 843

Nadeem Hirani

Action folded to Brian Altman in the small blind and he announced all in. Nadeem Hirani was in the big and called at risk for 2,200,000.

Altman: JhTd
Hirani: AdKc

Hirani was ahead for the double up but Altman moved ahead when he paired his ten on the Ts6h2s flop. The 7c turn left Hirani with six outs to stay alive but he blanked the 3s river to exit in fifth place.

Brian Altman – 13,825,000 (111 bb)
Nadeem Hirani – Eliminated in 5th Place ($129,438)