Duo Even-chop Bally’s Black Hawk Main Event

Jason Vanstrom and Zach Gutierrez – dead-even in chips in their heads-up match, agreed early Monday morning to even-chop the Summer 2026 $200,000 Guarantee Colorado Poker Championship $1,200 Main Event at Bally’s Black Hawk, 45 minutes west of Denver.

Vanstrom and Gutierrez top the 356-entry field, earning the top cash prizes of $67,591. The duo played three face-up hands, with Vanstrom ending up on top to take the winner’s photo, the trophy and $1 more than Gutierrez.

Day 2 play moved rather fast, setting up the final table nine with almost 500 total bb to start play at 7 pm. The deep-stacked table lost one player per hour over the first three hours.

Two-time CPC Main Event winner Antonio Vargas was first to drop (9^th, $7,595) with Rory Schulte celebrating his birthday in 8^th place ($9,812) and Sergio Martinez was the hour-three casualty, taking 7^th, ($12,356).

Nearly 90 more minutes passed before Matt Langford cashed in sixth ($15,990). Vince Moscati – who held a huge chip lead for much of the final table, until short stacks kept doubling through him, too 5^th for $20,714, with Scott Stewart (4^th, $27,618) the next to head to the payout window.Three-handed play including Jason Welch ran for an additional 50 minutes before Welch took 3^rd for $37,430.

Gutierrez had a nearly 3-1 lead on Vanstrom when heads-up play began. The duo drew even in chips as it approached 2 am. With nearly 15 hours of Day 2 poker already in, the duo agreed they were tired and ready to go home, quickly facilitating a chop.

One week remains in the series, concluding on Saturday with the single-day $2,500 High Roller. The Top 10 players on the Player of the Series Leaderboard all receive a free entry into the High Roller to bring the four weeks of tournament action to its end.

Tournament poker action returns to Bally’s Black Hawk Oct. 28 – Nov. 21 for the Fall 2026 CPC, then the year closes with the Dec. 9-20 Bally’s Poker Open.

We’ll be back with full tournament coverage Nov. 12-15 for the Fall 2026 $200,000 Guarantee $1,200 CPC Main Event.

About The Author

Dan Ross

Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.

See author's posts

Have something to say? Post Your comment below.