Kris Tong Wins HPT Los Angeles For $165,090

Kris Tong has won the 2013 Commerce Poker Series HPT Main Event, after overcoming a field of 577 players on his way to capturing the title, and collecting the $165,090 first place prize.
THe $1,650 Main Event was held at the Commerce casino in Los Angeles and attracted an impressive turnout of amateurs and pros alike to create a prize pool worth $836,650. By the time the final table of nine was eventually reached, still in contention were  several successful tournament pros, as well as two WSOP bracelet winners in the guise of Allen Kessler and Mel Weiner.
Nevertheless, Kris Tong (A-A) was able to eliminate the short-stacked Allen Kessler (A-Q) in 9th for $16,820, before doing likewise to Louis Werman in 8th ($22,420), and Peter Hegsakul in 7th ($28,110).
Shawn Motameni subsequently proceeded to eliminate Josh Pollock in 5th ($42,080), and Mel Weiner in 3rd ($75,800) to go heads-up against Kris Tong for the title.
After a fierce fought heads-up battle, Kris Tong (10-10) eventually struck gold by getting his erstwhile opponent to commit his stack holding pocket aces on a J-10-5 flop. A 5 and 4 on the turn and river then sealed the deal to consign Shawn Motameni to a runner-up finish worth $117,880, while Kris Tong  collected his first major title plus a $3,000 HPT Championship package.
Final table payouts as follows:
1 Kris Tong – $165,090
2 Shawn Motameni – $117,880
3 Mel Weiner – $75,800
4 Huy Quach – $56,060
5 Josh Pollock – $42,080
6 Quan Tran -$33,720
7 Peter Hegsakul – $28,110
8 Louis Werman – $22,420
9 Allen Kessler – $16,820