Henri Perez Lopez Wins RGPS Mid-Major Championship at Thunder Valley
He beat 1,096 entries, banked $83,380, and captured his first RunGood Poker Series title after a see-saw heads-up match with Ryan Awwad.
Henri Perez Lopez won the RunGood Poker Series $600 The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, outlasting a field of 1,096 entries for the $83,380 top prize. The win came from a $577,720 prize pool and gave Lopez his first RGPS title.
PokerNews reported that Lopez had told friends he was going for first place, and he said after the win that it was his moment and that he knew he could get there. Before the day began, he had just over $36,000 in live career earnings on his Hendon Mob page, so the result doubled his career total.
Lopez arrived at the closing stretch with a huge advantage. After he knocked out Gregory Pon in fifth place, he was the chip leader with about twice the stack of Jedidiah Hoffman, then sent Aaron Overton out in fourth and Hoffman in third to reach heads-up play with Ryan Awwad.
The heads-up match turned several times. Lopez went in with more than 85% of the chips in play, but Awwad fought back by winning four double-ups and even built a two-to-one lead of his own before Lopez steadied the match.
Lopez said he felt calm through the swingy duel, adding that he knew Awwad was a good player and that both of them made great moves. He also said he was at peace when he lost his chips, but kept going because he knew it was the right decision.
The final hand ended when Awwad moved all-in on the button for about 4,500,000 with 8♠5♠ and Lopez called with A♥5♥. Lopez flopped a flush draw on 4♣J♥3♥, hit it on the 7♥ turn, and sealed the title when the 6♣ completed the board.
Awwad finished second for $55,000. In earlier heads-up spots, Lopez had already shown the kind of run that kept him alive, including a river flush with Q♦6♦ and a huge double-up after making a wheel and dodging boats on the river.
