The Hollywood Poker Open Season 3 continues today with the Toledo Regional Main Event, kicking things off with Day 1a. The season opened with HPO Lawrenceburg, which drew 207 entries. Ohio's Jesse McEuen came out on top to bank $49,676.
Play begins at 12:15 p.m. local time here in Toledo, Ohio, featuring a player-friendly structure. The first of two Day 1 flights has 14 levels scheduled, with each lasting 50 minutes. Blinds begin at 50/100 and players get 20,000 in starting chips. Reentries are allowed for the first six levels. Should the field be whittled down to 12 percent of the players, play will stop for the day and chips will be bagged early.
Some familiar tournament faces have made their way to Toledo already, including Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler, and we'll see who else shows up when play begins shortly.
Mike Ross and Patrick Steele are among the 70 or so players who have thus far braved the snowstorm (blizzard-like conditions outside) to sit in and play some hands.
Steele, who has an HPT win on his resume for more than $155,000 and numerous MSPT final tables, has experienced some success at this venue before. Last August, he made the final table of the Hollywood Poker Challenge here, where he was part of a three-way chop for $31,169 each. We'll see if he can repeat that feat here at the Hollywood Poker Open.
Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler has made his arrival at the Hollywood Poker Open Toledo Main Event, and we'll keep a close eye on the well-known tournament grinder as he attempts to take this one down.
A player in the cutoff put his last 8,000 in on a board of , and Charles Maxcy snap-called from middle position, turning over for queens full after pushing his chips in.
"Jesus Christ," the exasperated player in the cutoff said. He showed for a full house on the turn and sent his whole stack across the table.
We found a player all in for 3,025 in middle position, with the big blind having reraised to 6,025. That wasn't enough for John Franciosi, who wanted to play for more, putting the big blind all in for about 16,000. The player called off.
Franciosi:
Big blind:
Middle position:
Three pairs went to the flop, and it was Franciosi finding a set as hit the board. The turn ended runner-runner hopes for the shorter stacks, and Franciosi has shot out ahead of the field.
Allen Kessler bet 2,000 from under the gun on a flop and got one fold before Neil Coughlin, his other opponent, shoved in the big blind. Kessler quickly called off for what looked to be about 12,500 total.
Kessler:
Coughlin:
Kessler's overpair was out front and stayed that way on the turn. Unfortunately for "Chainsaw," the river gave Coughlin winning trips.
"Back tomorrow," Kessler said shortly as he got up.
Dale Olney put in a four-bet from early position to 6,200 preflop and got a call from Philip Wojtunieck in the cutoff. Olney bet 10,000 on the flop, and Wojtunieck put him all in for 36,650. Olney called.
Olney:
Wojtunieck:
Olney had been outflopped, but he ran a straight as and then hit the board.
Mike Ross said he had just won two pots with aces and kings to climb up to around 50,000, and he opened under the gun to 1,700. A player called off for 1,500, and the small blind made it 4,500. Ross asked for a count and then moved all in for 17,000 or so more.
"I'll win this one, you win the next one," Ross said. "Figured I can't have a hand three times in a row, right?"
"That's absolutely not what I figured," the small blind said. "I have a hand."
He decided to call and turned over . Ross showed , and the third player had . The board ran out , sending the whole pot to Ross.
"When you're hot, you're hot," the busted small blind said.
After losing a big chunk of his stack to John Franciosi and then doubling through another player, Josh Will lost the rest as Franciosi came back for it. Will checked an flop in a pot he raised, and Franciosi bet 3,500. Will jammed for about 20,000, and Franciosi snap-called.
Franciosi:
Will:
Will was in bad shape against the top two, but even his slim hopes were reduced to one out for a chop as the turn came a . The river ended his roller coaster Day 1a.
Charles Maxcy put in 4,200 under the gun and got calls from a player in the hijack and both blinds. On the flop, Maxcy moved in and was snap-called by the hijack. The blinds quickly mucked.
Maxcy:
Hijack:
Maxcy was in trouble, needing an ace, but he got it on the turn.
"Oh my f****** God," the hijack exclaimed as he shot out of his seat. He could only watch helplessly as the completed the board.
Maxcy had over 37,000, covering his opponent's 25,400.
, and Charles Maxcy snap-called from middle position, turning over 
for queens full after pushing his chips in.
for a full house on the turn and sent his whole stack across the table.
hit the board. The 
turn ended runner-runner hopes for the shorter stacks, and Franciosi has shot out ahead of the field.
flop and got one fold before Neil Coughlin, his other opponent, shoved in the big blind. Kessler quickly called off for what looked to be about 12,500 total.
turn. Unfortunately for "Chainsaw," the 
river gave Coughlin winning trips.
and then 
, sending the whole pot to Ross.
flop in a pot he raised, and Franciosi bet 3,500. Will jammed for about 20,000, and Franciosi snap-called.
river ended his roller coaster Day 1a.
