Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago
Main Event
Day: 1a
Dan Sepiol Edges Ruslan Saldkov for Chip Lead as 20 Advance From Day 1a HPT Ameristar East Chicago
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Day 1a of the HPT Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event saw 103 entrants hit the felt in search of a Day 2 bag, and when the dust settled, just 20 made it through, with Dan Sepiol and his 367,000 stack leading the way edging Ruslan Saldkov's stack of 291,000 at the end of the night.
Next in line is Edward Sebesta as he finished with 252,000 with finding bags included Brendan Shillerl (216,000) and Brian Gabriel (213,000) rounding out the top five stacks.
A total of 103 entries turned up for the first of three starting flights in the unlimited reentry tournament, so the prize pool is off to a strong start.
Some of the players who contributed to that number but failed to make it through included Mike Shin, Brett Apter, Aaron Massey, Ralph Massey, Craig Casino, Artem Zverkhovskyy and Chris Moon.
Those players, along with any newcomers, will have two more flights in which they can attempt to advance to Day 2, during tomorrow’s Day 1b flight at 2 pm. All players that manage to make their way to Day 2 will return on Sunday, September 1st at 11 am to play down to the televised Final Table of nine Monday, September 2nd at Noon that will play down to a winner.
Come back to PokerNews for more coverage of HPT Ameristar East Chicago.
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
367,000 | 147,000 |
|
291,000 | -24,000 |
|
|
252,000 | 51,000 |
|
216,000 | 156,000 |
|
213,000 | 103,000 |
|
|
204,000 | |
|
|
183,000 | |
|
168,000 | |
|
163,000 | |
|
160,000 | 45,000 |
|
|
139,000 | -41,000 |
|
124,000 | 54,000 |
|
|
106,000 | 106,000 |
|
103,000 | 63,000 |
|
90,000 | 90,000 |
|
75,000 | |
|
75,000 | -70,000 |
|
65,000 | 5,000 |
|
|
60,000 |
Seven More Hands
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The remaining 22 players will play seven more hands before bagging and tagging for the evening. Stay tuned for a full recap of the day's action, as well as full chip counts of the remaining field.
Johnson Triples Up
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Aaron Johnson opened action with a raise all in for 19,000 and was called by George Dietz. Action on the table folded around to Ruslan Saldkov who three-bet all in getting a fold from Dietz.
Ruslan Saldkov: 
Aaron Johnson: 
It was a classic race with Johnson's tournament life at risk as the flop fell 
giving Saldkoc a broadway draw and Johnson a sweat.
The 
turn paired the board and Johnson was able to breathe after the dealer completed the board with the 
river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
315,000 | 15,000 |
|
|
145,000 | 25,000 |
|
60,000 | 36,500 |
Andriamahefa Gets Paid by Cooks
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Action on the table folded to Kevin Andriamahefa who limped in from the small blind and Richard Cooks raised to 12,000, Andriamahefa called.
The flop fell 
and Andriamahefa check-called Cooks bet of 15,000.
Both players checked the 
turn and the dealer completed the board with the 
river.
Andriamahefa lead out for 10,000 and Cooks called to see Andriamahefa table 
for the winner.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
115,000 | 35,000 |
|
|
100,000 | -2,000 |
Saldkov Adds to Chip Lead
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Dan Sepiol opened under the gun for 9,500 and action folded to a middle position player who three-bet to 21,000.
Action was on Ruslan Saldkov who four-bet to 60,000 from the cutoff.
Sepiol mucked his hand and action was back on the middle position player who went into the tank but ended up folding his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
300,000 | 50,000 |
|
|
220,000 | -10,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
The Two Big Stacks Collide with Saldkov taking the Pot
Level 14
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Dan Sepiol opened under the gun for 7,000 and Ruslan Saldkov called from the cutoff.
Sepiol checked the 
flop to Saldkov who took down the pot with an 8,000 bet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
250,000 | 10,000 |
|
|
230,000 | 50,000 |
Andriamahefa Turns Straight, Doubles Through Cooks
Level 14
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Action on the table folded around to Kevin Andriamahefa who moved all in for 39,000 from the small blind and Richard Cooks called from the big blind.
Richard Cooks: 
Kevin Andriamahefa: 
Andriamahefa was dominated but flopped an open-ended staright draw with the 
flop.
There wasn't much sweat as the 
turn put Andriamahefa in a dominant lead with the staright and Cooks was drawing to a seven for a chop.
The river wasn't that as it fell the 
and Andriamahefa doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
102,000 | 52,000 |
|
|
80,000 | 41,000 |