EVENT #6 CHAMPION - SANTIAGO

Alex Santiago - Event #6 (1k) Champion
$105,560

After playing more than an hour heads-up, Alex Santiago (W. Hartford, CT) knocks off "Action Bob" Hwang (Barnegat, NJ) to win the Event #6 (1K) Championship.

Santiago began heads-up with a three to one chip lead, but early on Hwang doubles-up and pull even. The two then gind it out and Santiago's able to regain is initial advantage, putting away the match when he flops trip 5s.

The board is [5 3 5] and Santiago leads out for a min bet of 60k. Hwang reraises to 175k and Santiago calls. Hwang pushes all-in on the turn with (K 3) for bottom pair and sees the bad news of Santiago's (Q 5).

"I was always one of the chip leaders at my table throughout the entire tournament," says Santiago, who takes home the top prize of $105,560. "I played really well."

"He played pretty well heads-up," says Hwang, who earns $61,152, "and I'm a total disaster heads-up." he adds. "It didn't go very well after we were even. I was pretty card dead."

Santiago was confident heads-up, but was on his heels after Hwang's double-up. "Once I realized he wanted to play small ball, I was alright with that. I figured I could out play him after the flop and in the long run."

Both players say they're looking forward to playing in other tournaments in the Poker Open, especially the Main Event.

2nd, "Action Bob" Hwang - $61,152