Jonathan Hilton Wins WSOP National Championship For $355k

Jonathan Hilton has won the WSOP National Championship, after defeating a field of 127 players on his way to capturing the title, and collecting the $355,599 first place prize. Jonathan Hilton’s biggest score to date came last year when he finished runner-up to Max Steinberg at the WSOP $1,000 No Limit Hold’em event for $405,156. With his his latest victory at Harrah’s New Orleans, Hilton now takes his live career earnings to $872,146.
The 2012-13 WSOP National Championship field consisted of players who had either won a WSOP circuit main event or made the top 60 of the WSOP circuit leader board, plus a further 27 WSOP POY who had bought in for $10,000. By the time the final table of eight had been reached the eclectic mix of finalists consisted of Brock Parker, Joe Tehan, Max Steinberg, Jeremy Ausmus, Robert Panitch, Jonathan Hilton, Nicolas Vaca-Rondon and Tim Bowman.
First to exit the arena was Jeremy Ausmus in 8th ($38,570), whose pocket sixes shove on a 7-4-5 failed to improve against the pocket jacks of Robert Panitch. As the contenders then reduced down to three-handed play, Hilton (A-9) called Robert Panitch’s (8c-7c) all-in raise on an Ac-Kc-4s flop, and after the turn and river produced a 3h and 5s, Robert Panitch was eliminated in 3rd for $167,431.
As the heads-up phase of the competition got underway, Max Steinberg held  a 2.195 million chip advantage over Hilton on 1.615 million. Hilton was subsequently able to move into the lead before the defining hand was played with Steinberg (9-7) semi-bluffing all-in on a K-10-8-A board. Unfortunately for him, Hilton snap-called with K-10 and with a harmless A  falling on the river, Jonathan Hilton was crowned the WSOP National Championship winner.
The final table payouts are as follows:
1: Jonathan Hilton – $355,599
2: Max Steinberg – $219,799
3: Robert Panitch – $167,431
4: Brock Parker – $114,008
5: Tim Bowman – $84,544
6: Joe Tehan – $63,894
7: Nicolas Vaca-Rondon – $49,187
8: Jeremy Ausmus – $38,570