After cleaning up in the prelims the last time the HPO was in St. Louis, making three final tables, 2008 EPT Copenhagen champ Tim Vance is taking a shot here today.
He's even off to a decent start having pushed one player off a flop with two sixes on board to drag an early pot.
Defending champ, HPO ambassador and 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker made it 300 to see a flop, getting one caller in the blinds.
The caller checked the flop, but called when Moneymaker led for 500. He check-called again when Moneymaker bet 800 on the turn, but fired out 1,100 at the river.
Moneymaker made the call, but mucked when he was shown .
The $1,115 Hollywood Poker Open St. Louis Regional Main Event kicks off at 12 p.m. today inside the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri.
The last time the HPO came to St. Louis it was HPO ambassador and 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker who bested a field of 67 to take home the $36,259 first-place prize.
Coming off a final table appearance at HPO Grantville, Moneymaker is expected to return and defend his title from March 2014.
This marks the fifth Regional Main Event of the HPO season, with all previous winners having booked seats in the season-ending $2,500 Championship Event at M Resort Casino and Spa in Las Vegas this June.
Today, players will start with 20,000 in tournament chips and plans to play 14 levels of 50 minutes each. Late entry and re-entry is available for the first six levels.
There will be a 15-minute break every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Level 6.
The survivors of the day will return Sunday at 12 p.m. Local time where the levels jump to 60 minutes and they will play down to a winner, who will book a seat in the Championship Event in addition to taking home a big chunk of the prizepool.
Stay tuned as the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand from start to finish covering all the action.