Rafael Gonzalez became a force in the 2016 Turlock Poker Room Championship Series $75,000 Guaranteed Main Event when he came from behind against Aram Alexander 88 v 99 and he turned an 8 for the knockout and a top-3 stack with 18 players remaining.
Gonzalez remained solid throughout the final table, going in to heads-up play with about a 1.2 million chip deficit to Rick Peterson. The two friends agreed to take $20,000 each and play heads-up for the remaining $3,144 in the prize pool and the Championship Trophy.
The lead went back and forth a few times, with Peterson and Gonzalez turning trips on one hand and Peterson getting a boat on the river. Gonzalez came out on top in the end, with Peterson taking second-place honors.
The two players end up 7th and 8th overall in the Player of the Series race as well, with Peterson one place higher than Gonzalez.
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.
