$2,500 Championship Event Day 1a | Hollywood Poker Open Season 4 Championship Event

06-23-2016 19:28 UTC-7

Cheong Busts, Gettinger Leads

Happy_Freaked

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

We just saw Joseph Cheong depart from the tournament area, and it was James Gettinger who received his last chips. Gettinger leads the way in the tournament.

Gettinger explained how Cheong got his chips in holding pocket nines for a little over 20,000 chips, and the current chip leader made it work out with ace-king. Cheong will have the option to re-enter throughout today and until the start of Day 2 on Saturday.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Gettinger	160,000 80,000	80,000
Joseph Cheong	Busted

Tags: James Gettinger Joseph Cheong

06-23-2016 19:43 UTC-7

Fair Catch

[user127999]

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

After successfully fielding a number of punts today, and dishing out more than his fair share of coolers, Matt Levine has reserved a spot among the leaders, heading into the day's eighth level.

The Las Vegas resident appears to have almost felted German Ferenc Riech at least once. Riech is fast developing a reputation as a player great at building stacks, but with some difficulty in holding on to them, after a 2016 Aussie Millions to remember.

He maintains that his 10th-place, 15th-place, and 11th-place runs in three events Down Under could hardly be considered punting, but he may have gifted Levine a few chips today.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matt Levine	160,000

06-23-2016 20:05 UTC-7

Media Freeroll Winner Brent Harrington Eliminated

Happy_Freaked

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

Earlier today Brent Harrington won the Media Freeroll - hosted by the Hollywood Poker Open - and he received a ticket to play in the $2,500 Championship Event.

Harrington played at a table with Eoghan O'Dea, and just now he was knocked out.

Harrington explained to us how he moved all in from the big blind for his final 8,000 chips, and the initial raiser shoved over the top. The caller in-between the two players folded, and Harrington's ace-five was up against king-queen.

The flop brought an ace, but both the turn and the river brought a king to send Harrington to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brent Harrington	Busted

Tags: Dan Harrington Eoghan O'Dea

06-23-2016 20:06 UTC-7

Play On Player

[user127999]

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

2016 WSOP bracelet winner and player of the year contender Ryan Laplante has taken the day off from the Rio and come to the M Resort to crush souls here in the Hollywood Poker Open Season 4 Championship Event for a change.

Off to a slow start, things just turned around when he and four others went five-handed to a flop. The first player to act simply shipped it in for 15,000, and Laplante was the only one with any interest, ultimately shoving and isolating with the .

His opponent held the dominated and said goodbye after the turn and river did not save him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Laplante	40,000

Tags: Ryan Laplante

Level: 8

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 50

06-23-2016 20:12 UTC-7

Maria Ho Gets a Double Up

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 50 ante

Maria Ho was just spotted doubling up, as she got her 14,500 chips into the middle holding . Ho was up against and the board ran out to give her an important double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maria Ho	28,000

Tags: Maria Ho

06-23-2016 20:19 UTC-7

Triple Barrel

[user127999]

Level 8 : 300/600, 50 ante

Dan O'Brien fired another bullet, his third, and appears to be making this one count.

He just blew media mogul Chad Holloway off a pot, leaving him just a little over 10,000 behind, betting out on a board.

O'Brien, who got nothing going on the first two bullets and promised to empty the clip, now has 64,000 and counting, with Holloway looking to regroup fast or perish.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan O'Brien	64,000 64,000	64,000
Chad Holloway	10,525 -12,475	-12,475

Tags: Chad Holloway Dan O'Brien

06-23-2016 20:25 UTC-7

Strong Restart For Cheong

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 50 ante

Joseph Cheong's on his third bullet today in the HPO Championship event, and so far this one is working out for him.

Cheong told us how he doubled up with ace-king versus ace-seven of clubs after the chips got in on a king-five-deuce flop with two clubs. The board bricked out and Cheong's now sitting on 68,000 chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joseph Cheong	68,000 68,000	68,000

Tags: Joseph Cheong

06-23-2016 20:31 UTC-7

Blooming

[user127999]

Level 8 : 300/600, 50 ante

2015 November Niner Neil Blumenfield is making moves and climbing the counts.

He just three bet a 1,500-chip open, making it 3,900, and the original raiser was the only caller. Heads-up on a flop, Blumenfield took the lead, and ultimately the pot, with another bet.