Regional Main Event | Hollywood Poker Open Season 3 St. Louis Regional Main Event

04-26-2015 11:01 UTC-5

HPO St. Louis Day 2 Starts Now!

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Day 2 of the Hollywood Poker Open Season 3 St. Louis Regional Main Event will kick off at 12 p.m. local time at the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri.

Just 25 players remain in the hunt for the $48,440 first-place prize and a seat in the season-ending $2,500 Championship Event at M Resort Casino and Spa in Las Vegas this June and they will play down to a winner today.

The 15-player money bubble is fast approaching with Tennessee native Kyle Cartwright holding a massive chip lead.

To put things in perspective, Cartwright already has more than what the average stack will be at the ten-handed final table. In fact, he already has more than what the average stack will be when they get down to seven remaining.

Plus, with a 2014 World Series of Poker Bracelet win and a handful of WSOP Circuit rings on his resume, he's got the end-game experience to be considered a huge favorite to win it all.

Although relatively short, HPO ambassador and 2003 WSOP Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker is still in the mix with a chance at defending the title he won the last time the HPO came to St. Louis. Plus, St. Louis local and 2008 European Poker Tour Copenhagen champ Tim Vance has a little above average right now and an overwhelming desire to get back in the spotlight.

Add in a bevvy of stacked locals and hungry grinders and nothing is set in stone just yet.

Play begins in less than one hour and the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be on hand to capture all the action from start to finish, so stay tuned for full coverage.

Tags: Chris Moneymaker Kyle Cartwright Tim Vance

04-26-2015 12:29 UTC-5

Another Big Pair Cracked

[user127999]

Level 15 : 1,500/3,000, 500 ante

Linda Lieder opened from early position with a raise, Kory Harbour re-raised and Lieder shoved in.

Harbour tank-called for his tournament life with and was up against it with Lieder holding pocket kings.

An ace on the flop and the river helped Harbour double through.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kory Harbour	155,000 64,000	64,000
Linda Lieder	100,000 -57,000	-57,000

Tags: Kory Harbour

04-26-2015 13:22 UTC-5

Moneymaker Doubles!

[user127999]

Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

Chris Moneymaker found a friendly river card to double up and remain in contention.

He got it in with an open-ender against top pair with one card to come and got there.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Moneymaker	120,000 33,500	33,500

04-26-2015 13:53 UTC-5

The Cartwright Show Continues

[user127999]

Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

Kyle Cartwright just took all of James Basham's chips in a massive hand, sending his already chip leading stack into the stratosphere.

Basham min-rased, Cartwright three-bet the button and Basham called. The flop came and after Basham checked, Cartwright made it 18,000.

Basham raised to 55,000 and Cartwright called quickly. The turn brought the and a shove from Basham that was called just as quickly. Cartwright had and was ahead of Basham's .

He held to bust Basham on the river and is running away with this thing right now.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kyle Cartwright	810,000 210,000	210,000

James Basham	Busted

Tags: Kyle Cartwright

04-26-2015 15:22 UTC-5

Paul Fehlig Eliminated in 13th Place ($3,806)

[user127999]

Level 17 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Kyle Cartwright made it 10,000 and Garrett Riley called. Paul Fehlig then three-bet, making it 32,000.

Cartwright four-bet and after Riley folded, Fehlig shipped it in. Cartwright made the call with and needed help against Fehlig's .

He got tons on the run out to bust Fehlig and increase his lead on the ever dwindling field.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kyle Cartwright	1,000,000 180,000	180,000

Paul Fehlig	Busted

Tags: Garrett Riley Kyle Cartwright Paul Fehlig

04-26-2015 15:54 UTC-5

Eric Nagel Eliminated in 12th Place ($4,152)

[user127999]

Level 18 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

Facing a standard 12,000-chip open from Kyle Cartwright, Eric Nagel shipped it in for 50,000.

Cartwright made the quick call with and his pair held against Nagel's on a board.

The players are now just one elimination from the final table of ten.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Nagel	Busted

Tags: Eric Nagel Kyle Cartwright

04-26-2015 16:27 UTC-5

Tim Vance Eliminated in 11th Place ($4,498)

[user127999]

Level 18 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

Tim Vance shipped it short with and ran smack into Linda Lieder's .

As a result, the final table of ten is set.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tim Vance	Busted

Tags: Tim Vance

04-26-2015 16:56 UTC-5

Vadim Kleydman Eliminated in 10th Place ($4,844)

[user127999]

Level 19 : 4,000/8,000, 500 ante

Garrett Riley opened to 18,000. Kyle Cartwright and Vadim Kleydman both called.

The flop came and Riley led out for 24,000. Cartwright called, Kleydman shipped for some 60,000 and after Riley folded, Cartwright made the call with .