The inaugural main event of the Lone Star Poker Series in Texas The $1,300 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament attracted a whopping 1,818 total entries to the Champions Social Poker Club in Houston, Texas. The huge turnout meant the $1 million guarantee was easily surpassed, ultimately creating a final prize pool of $2,090.700, which was paid out among the top 220 finishers.

Ultimately, the lion's share went to eventual champion Joon Park. The 29-year-old Austin, Texas native earned $ 271.429 for the win, by far the biggest result of his career. Before this victory, Park's biggest cash was $'s $10,000 payout earned earlier this year for seventh place in a $500 buy-in tournament at The Lodge Poker Club & Card House in Round Rock, Texas.

In addition to the title and money, Park also received 1,090 Card player Player of the Year points for coming out on top. This was the second one POY Parka - qualified final of the table of the year, and his total points were 1, 194. With $ 281, 429 in earnings since the beginning of the year, he climbed to 18th place for 2021 POY Race sponsored by Global Poker.

The last day of this event started with 17 remaining players. By the time the final table was down to nine, Christopher Doan had climbed into the lead and Park was in fourth place.

Shawn Rice was the first to be eliminated at the final table. He pocketed the last of his short stack with Q-4 offsuit, but he hit Jared Hemingway's pocket aces. The aces stopped and Rice was eliminated in ninth place ($ 26,000). Park secured his first knockout of the day by winning the preflop race with pocket sixes against A Q Kevin Kaylor. Park headed straight to the river to send Kaylor home with a $ 34, 375 for eighth place.

Doan entered the final table with a chip lead, but lost two large all-in pots after being stacked ahead and ending up in seventh place. First his AK lost to Gabriel Andrade's KQ, and then his pocket kings were unable to withstand Nick Shkolnik's pocket jacks. Doan earned a $ of 45.375 for his deep run in this event.

Park scored his second knockout when Robert Wright moved all-in from A-5 to his AK. Park came down the river to send Wright packing for $ 61, 375. World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Michael Wang was the next to hit the barrier. He went all in with J 9 and was summoned by A 6 Andrade. Wang parred his jack on the flop, but Andrade hit pocket aces, eliminating Wang in fifth place ($ 79, 875). He increased his career tournament earnings total to 2 $, 935, 536 with this latest result.

Park doubled in the beginning of four-handed play to take the lead. Nick Shkolnik leapfrogged him though, eliminating Jared Hemingway in fourth place, his flush draw on the overcard flop beating Hemingway's pair and straight, improving to higher pair on the turn. Hemingway received a $ 104.375 for his strong performance in this event.

The final three agreed to a deal that saw Shkolnik lock up $ 257, 170 as chip leader, with Park guaranteeing himself $ 241, 429 and Andrade securing at least $ 195, 955. The trio vacated the title and $ 30,000 from the prize pool, that can be played for. Shkolnik fell out of the lead after making the trade and was eventually eliminated in third place when his A-6 failed to improve against Park's pocket eight.

Park had a big advantage going into the heads-up with Andrade. It didn't take long for all the chips to be in the middle. Andrade played the button with A 2 and Park called from the big blind with A Q . A was missing on the board K. 9 AND 8 and Park's trips with a better kicker earned him the pot and the title.

Here is the payout list and POY points awarded at the final table:

Place	Player	Earnings	POY Points
1	Joon Park	$ 271, 429	1080
2	Gabriel Andrade	$ 195, 955	900
3	Nick Shkolnik	$ 257, 170	720
4	Jared Hemingway	$ 104, 375	540
5	Michael Wang	$ 79, 875	450
6	Robert Wright	$ 61, 375	360
7	Christopher Doan	$ 45, 375	270
8	Kevin Kaylor	$ 34, 375	180
9	Shawn Rice	$ 029, 000	90

Photos: Lone Star Poker Series Twitter account.