Rafael Gonzalez wins the 2016 Turlock Poker Room Championship Series title.
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.
