Phil Collins Wins 2012 HPT Nevada

Phil Collins has won the 2012 Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Nevada, after defeating a field of 195 players over five days to take down the tourney, and collect the $71,556 first place prize.
The 27 year old famously made last year’s WSOP Main Event Final Table, finishing 5th for a $2,269,599 payday. Commenting after his latest victory in Las Vegas, Phil Collins said:
“Playing eight days in the (WSOP) Main Event is an experience almost no one gets to have. You leave a better player.. I’ve really enjoyed my experience with HPT. The structure is phenomenal.”
A whole slew of top players entered the $1,650 buy-in HPT Nevada at the Palms Casino Resort. Amongst those cashing in at the event were Randy Dorfman in 20th ($2,154), Christina Lindley in 12th ($5,315), and bubbling the final table Dutch Boyd in 7th ($10,904). 
Nevertheless, the final table of six was packed with some of the brightest, youngest talents in the game including Dan O’Brien, Steve “gboro780” Gross, Leo Wolpert, Matt “ADZ124” Marafioti, Terry Presley and Phil Collins.
Eventually, Phil Collins went heads-up against Canadian pro Marafioti, who has earned $1,934,851 in live tournament winnings, as well as a further $1,372,062 playing online under the screen name “ADZ124.” Following a fierce heads-up battle, Marafioti was eventually defeated when his A-Q fell to Collin’s A-9, who managed to pair his 9 on the board. Marafioti then claimed $41,570 for his second place finish. In the meantime, Phil Collins was crowned the 2012 Heartland Poker Tour Champion, and now has $2,491,855 in live tournament cashes, to go with his $3,011,356 won online as “USCphildo.
Here are the final table payouts:
1st: Phil Collins – $71,550
2nd: Matt Marafioti  – $25,897
3rd: Steve Gross – $25,897
4th: Leo Wolpert – $22,489
5th: Dan O’Brien – $17,173
6th: Terry Presley – $14,666