Day 1b was put in the books for the 2016 Hollywood Poker Open Charles Town Regional Main Event, and there will be a new champion since last year’s winner, Loukas Michael, failed to make it through to Day 2.
Andrew Rudnick (188,700) finished as the Day 1b chip leader by a tiny bit over Mike Sites (184,600). Rudnick stormed to the lead after doubling through Jim Keating with over when the two got all in on the flop. The board brought no help for Keating and Rudnick soared.
Keating (111,900) had an interesting day himself. It seemed for a while that all he could do was double people up. However, he managed to work his stack back up, never dipping too low and being very active.
Lee Childs (14,600) finished the day as the short stack. He will start Day 2 with only seven big blinds, but any chips mean there's a chance, and that's what Childs has. He shoved once during the final minutes of play in an attempt to double up, but got no callers and added only the blinds and antes to his stack.
Mel Lyon stuck around the middle of the pack for most of the day after dipping early. Not many very exciting pots happened for him, but he did manage to pick up chips here and there, and will enter Day 2 81,700.
The 14 players that made it through Day 1b will join five players from Friday's Day 1a for action on Day 2. Play resumes at 12:15 p.m. local time on Sunday, and it will continue until a new HPO champion is crowned.
Ken Moore just eliminated two players and would have eliminated Lee Childs, if he didn't fold pocket kings.
The hand started with a raise from Childs from under the gun to 1,050. The next player to act was Paris Borden. Borden peeled his cards, then looked back at the pot. He took a moment and then reraised to 4,500.
As expected the action folded around the table, but stopped at Bruce Perry. Perry looked at his cards, took a beat, then shoved all in for about 16,000. There wasn't enough time to count Perry's all in, because Moore was sitting to his immediate left in the small blind and he shoved almost before Perry could get his chips in the pot.
Now the action was on Childs again. He only had about 12,000 behind and seemed to have a tough decision. Eventually he folded and Borden tossed in a chip to call the two all ins.
Borden had , Perry and Moore .
"I folded kings," said Childs as he saw confirmation he made the correct fold.
The board ran out and Moore won the hand, sending both Borden and Perry to the rail.
Ken Moore is an HPO regular. Of the cashes listed on his hendon mob profile, all but five are HPO cashes. He has three HPO regional main event cashes, all from last year, with his best finish being second place in this same event last year.
Moore finished second to Loukas Michael in last year's event for his biggest career cash of $21,368. After three regional main event cashes last year, Moore is looking for his first of this season. Moore will be looking to improve on his finish last year, and add to his $54,860 in lifetime earnings.
Brentharrington
Phil Vera Expected in Day 1b Field
Today is Day 1b of the HPO Charles Town Regional Main Event. Today's players will try and join the five players from Day 1a in their quest for an HPO title.
Chris Moneymaker set the mark in Day 1a with 371,800 after he ended the day with a flurry that played a big part in sending Peter Priest to the rail.
A total of 45 entries joined the Day 1a flight and today is expected to be closer to 80. Last night's players ended in the middle of level 13, instead of the scheduled 14 levels because the field was down to 12%.
Last night, after Phil Vera busted he said he would be back today. Vera played well but eventually busted to Mike Melkersen. Vera was left short when he got all in with aces against Dennis Summers. Summers had flopped a set of tens. Hopefully for Vera, he fairs better today and is able to book his ticket to Day 2.
Stay tuned to pokernews.com for updates throughout the day and see who will join the five other players in Day 2.
flop. The board brought no help for Keating and Rudnick soared. 
, Perry 
and Moore 
.
and Moore won the hand, sending both Borden and Perry to the rail.
