Poker win means wedding for Colorado couple

Wedding bells are finally ringing for Matt Mason and Jackie Wright of Littleton.

The couple put their plans to marry on hold last year, struggling to make ends meet after Wright lost her job. For a $360 investment, Mason, pictured, took a shot at a windfall by playing in April’s Heartland Poker Tour at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour in Black Hawk.

Mason realized it was time to book the caterer when a straight on the river made him the latest champion on the nationally televised poker show. With first place paying $188,955, the honeymoon plans are already off to a good start.

“That’s the appeal of the Heartland Poker Tour,” says HPT executive producer Greg Lang. “A shot at unreal money is attainable for minimum risk.”

Taking second place, John “Bubba” Holdren may never see a ROI as lucrative as he did Sunday; the entrepreneur and father of two from Greeley, turned $180 into $94,478. Another family man from Colorado, Craig Dubberstein, battled his way through the field of 419 players to become one of the final six playing on the televised set. Holding a shiny toy coin from his 8-year-old daughter for luck, he got tangled up with Mason and went all in with a bottom pair. The champ called with pocket eights against fours, sending Dubberstein out in third place. The toy money will reemerge at another poker table soon, while the very real $56,687 will be put away for his daughter and 2-year-old twins.

“The HPT is the most economical tour out there,” said Ed Wilson of Aurora. The latest tournament at Golden Gates was déjà vu for Wilson. One year ago, the 39-year-old production mechanic took fourth place at an HPT stop at Golden Gates. Wilson’s starting chip count was nearly identical the previous year, as was the prize money up for grabs.

In April 2009, 426 players turned out, contributing to a record-sized prize pool. Making a move Sunday with Q9, Wilson ran into Holdren’s AQ. An ace on the flop meant fourth place again for Wilson, adding $44,090 to last year’s $44,646.

“I won’t complain if I take fourth place every time I play this tournament,” he said.

Wilson will have another shot in September when the HPT returns to Golden Gates.

“We are preparing for a record-breaking field later this year,” said Golden Gates general manager Jef Bauer. “Through our partnership with HPT, we’ve awarded $4 million in Colorado.”

Five of the six players at the final table were Colorado residents.