2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago

Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago

Final Results
Winner
Josh Reichard
Winning Hand
73
Prize
$186,812
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,650
Prize Pool
$833,760
Entries
579
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
94
Players Left
9

Welcome to Day 2 of 2019 HPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event

HPT Trophy
HPT Trophy

At long last, the time has come for the eliminations to be final and the field to be whittled down toward a winner. After three starting flights, Day 2 of Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event is here.

Out of 579 entries, 94 were able to punch tickets to Day 2. They'll all combine under one roof for the first time here Sunday and play until an official final table has been reached.

Plenty of the Midwest's finest poker players are among those 94. While chip leader Mike O'Neill with other big stacks Josh Reichard and George Vazanellis are in good position but, they'll have plenty of competition from the likes of Nick Pupillo, Chris Moon, Aaron Johnson, Nick Davidson and Mike Shin, among others.

Day 2 play begins at Level 16 (2,500/5,000/5,000) and continues until all but the last nine players have been eliminated, at which point players will bag and return on Monday, September 2nd at Noon for the televised and streamed Day 3. Unlike Day 1s, levels will be an hour apiece now with fifteen-minute breaks occurring after every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break coming after level six.

Cards are scheduled to fly at 11 a.m. local time here just East of the Windy City. Keep an eye here on PokerNews to see who will emerge as the last nine contenders.

Tags: Aaron JohnsonChris MoonGeorge VazanellisJosh ReichardMike O'NeillMike ShinNick DavidsonNick Pupillo

Ralph Massey Rivers Trips For Double, Eliminated Very Next Hand

Level 16 : 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Ralph Massey
Ralph Massey

Randy Froehlich opened for 11,000 from the cutoff and Ralph Massey jammed for 15,000 from the small blind getting a call from Froehlich.

Ralph Massey: {a-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}
Randy Froehlich: {q-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}

Massey was ahead with ace-high but Froehlich hit on the {9-Spades}{7-Clubs}{j-Spades} flop.

The {4-Spades} turn gave Massey some life and the dealer dropped the {4-Clubs} on the river to give Massey trips for the double up.

The very next hand Massey would be eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Randy Froehlich us
Randy Froehlich
238,000
-14,000
-14,000
Ralph Massey us
Ralph Massey
Busted

Tags: Ralph MasseyRandy Froehlich

Andriamahefa Spikes King to Eliminate Choon

Level 16 : 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Cheryl Choon
Cheryl Choon

Cheryl Choon open-jammed on the button and Kevin Andriamahefa came over the top from the small blind getting isolation.

Cheryl Choon: {7-Spades}{7-Clubs}
Kevin Andriamahefa: {k-Spades}{j-Spades}

Choon was ahead with her made hand until the {k-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{3-Hearts} flop fell.

The turn brought the {9-Spades} and Choon needed a seven to keep her tournament hopes alive.

Unfortunately, the river came the {5-Hearts} and she was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Kevin Andriamahefa us
Kevin Andriamahefa
180,000
20,000
20,000
Cheryl Choon us
Cheryl Choon
Busted

Tags: Kevin AndriamahefaCheryl Choon

Budzakoski Hooks Nussrallah Out the Door

Level 16 : 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Stephan Nussrallah
Stephan Nussrallah

Nikola Budzakoski opened for 12,000 on the button and Stephan Nussrallah three-bet to 32,000 from the big blind. Budzakoski four-bet and Nussrallah jammed for 147,000 and was called.

Nikola Budzakoski: {j-Hearts}{j-Spades}
Stephan Nussrallah: {4-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}

Nussrallah was dominated but received some help on the {a-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{5-Spades} flop giving him the wheel draw.

The turn fell the {q-Clubs} and Nussrallah couldn't get there as the {8-Hearts} came on the river ending his tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Nikola Budzakoski us
Nikola Budzakoski
360,000
144,000
144,000
Stephan Nussrallah us
Stephan Nussrallah
Busted

Tags: Nikola BudzakoskiStephan Nussrallah

Ladies Hold for Fisher, Doubles Through Gittorle

Level 16 : 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Paul Fisher
Paul Fisher

After a series of raises, Paul Fisher was all in for his remaining 126,000 from late position and was called by Victor Gittorle on the button.

Paul Fisher: {q-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}
Victor Gittorle: {a-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}

Fisher was ahead with his made hand of queens but Gittorle held the two overcards.

The flop came {5-Spades}{7-Hearts}{10-Hearts} keeping Fisher ahead.

The board paired on the turn with the {10-Spades} and Fisher doubled up after the board completed with the {9-Hearts} river.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Fisher us
Paul Fisher
260,000
115,000
115,000
Victor Gittorle us
Victor Gittorle
120,000
-63,000
-63,000

Tags: Paul FisherVictor Gittorle

Andriamahefa Sets Up Synder for Double

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Kevin Andriamahefa
Kevin Andriamahefa

There was heads-up action that saw a {5-Clubs}{4-Spades}{10-Clubs} flop. James Snyder lead out for 25,000 from the big blind into a 33,000 pot and Kevin Andriamahefa jammed for 91,000 from middle position. Synder called.

James Snyder: {q-Diamonds}{10-Spades}
Kevin Andriamahefa: {4-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}

The {3-Diamonds} came on the turn leaving Snyder drawing dead and Andriamahefa doubled up after the {j-Clubs} fell on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Kevin Andriamahefa us
Kevin Andriamahefa
210,000
30,000
30,000
James Snyder us
James Snyder
130,000
-90,000
-90,000

Tags: James SnyderKevin Andriamahefa

Shawn Roberts Bubbles 2019 HPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Shawn Roberts
Shawn Roberts

Kyle Pikorz opened action for 12,000 from late position and Steve Williams called from the small blind along with Shawn Roberts from the big.

The {3-Spades}{5-Clubs}{6-Hearts} flop was checked to the {7-Spades} turn.

Williams checked his option to Roberts who jammed for 47,000. Pikorz mucked his hand while Williams called.

Steve Williams: {9-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}
Shawn Roberts: {q-Spades}{10-Spades}

Roberts needed a spade on the river but it wouldn't be as it fell the {8-Diamonds} and the HPT's 2nd all-time money leader was eliminated on the bubble.

Player Chips Progress
Steve Williams us
Steve Williams
550,000
100,000
100,000
Kyle Pikorz us
Kyle Pikorz
450,000
120,000
120,000
Shawn Roberts us
Shawn Roberts
Busted

Tags: Steve WilliamsShawn RobertsKyle Pikorz

Blumenthal Rockets Connelly for Double

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Jacob Connelly
Jacob Connelly

There was all in action preflop between Jacob Connelly from the cutoff and Eddie Blumenthal from the big blind.

Jacob Connelly: {k-Hearts}{k-Spades}
Eddie Blumenthal: {a-Spades}{a-Hearts}

Blumenthal woke up with aces at the perfect time and doubled up after the board ran out {3-Spades}{7-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Eddie Blumenthal us
Eddie Blumenthal
500,000
320,000
320,000
Jacob Connelly us
Jacob Connelly
250,000
-210,000
-210,000

Tags: Jacob ConnellyEddie Blumenthal

Apter Hits Runner Runner for Broadway to Stay Alive

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Brett Apter
Brett Apter

Josh Reichard opened for 12,000 from middle position and Dan Sepiol called from late position. Action was on Brett Apter who jammed for 260,000 from the big blind and Reichard moved all in over the top for isolation.

Brett Apter: {a-Clubs}{j-Hearts}
Josh Reichard: {a-Spades}{k-Clubs}

Apter was behind Reichard's big slick and didn't like the {5-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{k-Hearts} flop.

The turn came the {10-Hearts} giving Apter the broadway draw and he would get there with the {q-Diamonds} river to double up.

Player Chips Progress
Josh Reichard us
Josh Reichard
1,060,010
85,010
85,010
Brett Apter us
Brett Apter
540,000
215,000
215,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Dan Sepiol us
Dan Sepiol
300,000
-10,000
-10,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Josh ReichardDan SepiolBrett Apter

Kelly Comes from Behind to Eliminate Shin; Pupillo Eliminated Same Hand Next Table Over

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Mike Shin
Mike Shin

Mike Shin open-jammed under the gun for 109,000 and was called by Peter Kelly from the cutoff.

Mike Shin: {k-Clubs}{k-Spades}
Peter Kelly: {9-Diamonds}{9-Hearts}

Shin was ahead and didn't mind the {7-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}{a-Diamonds} flop.

However, the turn came the {3-Diamonds} giving Kelly the diamond draw and he would get there with the {q-Diamonds} river.

Right after Shin was eliminated, Nick Pupillo was seen exiting the field and just like the, the first and second place finishers of HPT St. Louis were eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Peter Kelly us
Peter Kelly
515,000
124,000
124,000
Mike Shin us
Mike Shin
Busted
Nick Pupillo us
Nick Pupillo
Busted
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Peter KellyNick PupilloMike Shin