[psychodave]

Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel
Gary, Indiana
April 17-28, 2008

Total Prize Pool: $603,100

Majestic Star Casinos Recap

On his fourth try at a Heartland Poker Tour final table, Colorado resident James Mutchler finally reached his goal today by winning his first HPT event and pocketing over $180,000 at the Majestic Star Casino.

“This is so awesome” said Mutchler. “I finally got the monkey off my back.”

Mutchler was named Player of the Year in 2007 on the Heartland Poker Tour when he final tabled three times during the ’07 season. After taking down today’s final table, besting over 300 players in the event, Mutchler is now in the lead for the 2008 POY.

It must have been in the cards for Mutchler who traveled to this event despite the fact that he and his fiancée were scheduled to close on a new home the same day as the HPT final table was due to happen.

“My fiancée and realtor both told me to make plans to be on the final table today” said Mutchler, who signed power of attorney documents just before leaving. “I was all set to fly home Sunday to be back in time for closing on my house. Guess it worked out for me.”

Mutchler and his new fiancée will have plenty of cash to furnish their new home in Brighton, Colorado. The $180,000 first place was one of the largest awarded on the Heartland Poker Tour.

Second place finisher Judi Bilar was all smiles at the end of the tournament as well after she entered the final table as one of the short stacks and still finished second, pocketing $90,000 for her efforts. Not bad for someone that was once told by a poker pro to quit the game.

“Twenty-five years ago someone told me to quit because I just wasn’t very good,” said Bilar. “I took his advice for a long time and started playing again after I retired. Guess I’m getting better.
It was another great event for the HPT and one of its favorite stops on the tour, Majestic Star Casino in Gary, IN. Thousands played in the two week event and the first flight got under way this past Friday. In all, there were 311 players in the HPT main event over the weekend.

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"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one. " IN HOC SIGNO VINCES "