Main Event
Day 1b Started
2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago
Main Event
Day: 1b
Welcome to Day 1b of the HPT Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event
Season XV of the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) continues rolling along today here at the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago. The $1,650 buy-in Main Event kicks off today with Day 1b, the second of three starting flights, at 2 pm local time.
Yesterday in the Day 1a flight, 103 entrants were whittled down to 20 after fifteen full levels of play. Leading the pack was Dan Sepiol who was the only player to get over the 300,000 mark with 367,000.
Others that found a bag include Ruslan Saldkov (291,000), Edward Sebesta (252,000), Brendan Shiller (216,000), Brian Gabriel (213,000), Kevin Andriamahefa (160,00), and Nadya Magnus (124,000).
The plan is identical to Day 1a, as no hard stop was reached at 13 percent of the field. So, 15 levels will be played again, each lasting 40 minutes. Players get 30,000 in starting chips at 100/100 blinds and progress to 2,000/4,000/4,000 with the big blind ante coming into effect at the start of level four. Players will receive a 60-minute dinner break after the ninth level of play. Registration will again close after said dinner break, with players allowed unlimited reentry.
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.
“HPT is excited to have PokerNews providing additional event coverage in 2019,” said Korey Stewart, HPT Marketing Manager. “Season XV is shaping up to be another record-breaking year for the tour. We’ve already added several new venues to the schedule and we’re hoping to announce a few more new additions soon. There will be plenty of opportunities for poker enthusiasts across the country to take a shot at winning life-changing money at nationally televised final tables. We’re looking forward to having an industry leader like PokerNews there to report on it every step of the way.”
Main Event Structure
| Level | Length | Small Blind | Big Blind | BB Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 minutes | 100 | 100 | 0 |
| 2 | 40 minutes | 100 | 200 | 0 |
| 3 | 40 minutes | 100 | 300 | 0 |
| 4 | 40 minutes | 100 | 300 | 300 |
| 5 | 40 minutes | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 6 | 40 minutes | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| 7 | 40 minutes | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 8 | 40 minutes | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 9 | 40 minutes | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 10 | 40 minutes | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| 11 | 40 minutes | 800 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| 12 | 40 minutes | 1,000 | 2.000 | 2.000 |
| 13 | 40 minutes | 1,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| 14 | 40 minutes | 1,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 15 | 40 minutes | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
Action is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. local time here just outside of Chicago. Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates throughout the day from the tournament floor.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
Cards are in the air for Day 1b of the HPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event!
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Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
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Early Noticeable Face
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
More Familiar Face Join The Crowd
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
Baime Sets Up ONeill
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
There was heads up action after the flop between Kenneth Baime and Michel ONeill.
The board read 
. Baime lead out from under the gun for 2,100 into a 2,8000 pot. Oneill raised to 4,600 from late position and Baime three-bet to 14,600. ONeill thought for a moment and then jammed getting snap-called by Baime.
Michael ONell: 
Keneth Baime: 
Baime flopped top set but ONeill held the open-ended straight draw along with the not flush draw.
Unfortunately for ONeill, the river fell a brick with the 
and he headed to the rebuy cage and took a new seat.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,000 | |
|
|
30,000 |
Puccio Rivers Set
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
Gary Herstein opened for 400 from early position and Michael Puccio three-bet to 1,200 getting a call from Herstein.
The flop came 
and Herstein check-called Puccio's bet of 2,000.
Both players checked the 
turn to see the 
fall on the river.
Herstein checked his option to Puccio who bet 3,000.
Herstein counted out his chips, looked at his cards and threw them into the muck.
Puccio then tabled 
as he raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
35,000 | 5,000 |
|
|
25,000 | -5,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0