Chang’s Amazing Comeback!

Series Totals — ExPT Silver River 3: Players: 500  |  Prize Pool: $200,000

Hannah Chang etched her name into Example Poker Tour history last night with a spectacular comeback victory in the $400 Pot-Limit Omaha event at Silver River Casino. After being down 4-to-1 in chips heads-up, Chang rallied in dramatic fashion to take home the trophy, $12,480 in prize money, and her first ExPT title.

The one-day event drew 142 entries, generating a $47,880 prize pool that paid out the top 18 finishers. With a fast-paced structure and plenty of early fireworks, the field was whittled down quickly, and by midnight, just two players remained: Hannah Chang and seasoned cash game pro Derek “DeeMoney” Morales.

A Final Table Full of Action

The final table was stacked with local crushers and traveling grinders alike. Early momentum belonged to Eugene Carter, who knocked out two players in back-to-back hands to build a temporary chip lead. Also making deep runs were Las Vegas regular Maria Sosa (5th – $3,020) and Omaha specialist Trevor Dunne (4th – $4,050), both playing aggressively throughout.

Third place went to Colorado’s Raymond “Ray Ray” Baxter, who ran hot early but ultimately fell victim to a cooler when his top set was cracked by Morales’ wrap that completed on the river.

The Heads-Up Battle: Chang vs. Morales

When heads-up play began, Morales held nearly four times as many chips as Chang and looked poised to close it out quickly. He applied pressure relentlessly, forcing folds and chipping away at Chang’s stack. At one point, she was down to just 7 big blinds.

But Chang never lost her composure.

“I just told myself to stay patient and look for spots,” she said after the win. “In PLO, everything can flip in a hand or two.”

The turning point came when Chang got it in with bottom two pair and a flush draw against Morales’ top pair and an open-ender. The turn completed her flush, and she doubled up. From there, she went on a tear, winning six of the next eight pots, including a massive one where she rivered a straight to crack Morales’ set of jacks.

Just fifteen minutes after being on the brink of elimination, Chang had taken the chip lead. The final hand saw all the chips go in on a flop of K♣ 9♥ 6♠. Chang held K♥ K♦ T♠ 8♦ for top set, while Morales tabled Q♠ J♠ 9♣ 8♠ for middle pair and a gut shot straight draw. The board ran out 4♣ 2♥ and just like that, Chang was the last player standing, shaking her opponent’s hand and then hugging the trophy.

Final Table Results:

  1. Hannah Chang – $12,480

  2. Derek Morales – $8,620

  3. Raymond Baxter – $6,150

  4. Trevor Dunne – $4,050

  5. Maria Sosa – $3,020

  6. Eugene Carter – $2,230

  7. Leo Martinez – $1,580

  8. Nina Patel – $1,230

  9. Jacky Tran – $980

This marks a breakthrough win for Chang, who has been grinding mid-stakes tournaments up and down the West Coast over the past two years.

“I’ve been close a few times, so to finally close one out — and in PLO, which I’ve really been working on — it just feels amazing,” she said, grinning as she posed with the trophy.

The Example Poker Tour continues tomorrow with the $600 No-Limit Holdem event, where another packed field is expected at Silver River Casino. Stay tuned for full coverage right here.

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