Main Event
Day 1b Started
2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar Vicksburg
Main Event
Day: 1b
Welcome to Day 1b of the HPT Ameristar Vicksburg Main Event!
Season XV of the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) continues rolling along today here at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The $1,100 buy-in Main Event kicks off today with Day 1b, the second of two starting flights, at Noon local time.
Yesterday in the Day 1a flight, 56 entrants were whittled down to ten after fifteen full levels of play. James Hughes (333,000) and inaugrual HPT Ameristar Vicksburg champ Jay Bishop (326,000) were the only players to bag over 300k, while the defending champ BJ McBrayer (111,000) was able to ensure his title defense will extend on to Day 2.
Others that found a bag include Judge Leo Boothe (279,000) and his son, Wyatt Boothe (86,000), Doug Segers (148,000), Sam Ho (141,000), JW Carter (116,000), Joseph Imarata (98,000), and Chad Chisolm (43,000).
Today's Day 1b flight kicks off at Noon. Players will start with 30,000 in tournament chips, with blinds beginning at 100/100, while big blind ante starts at Level 4. Levels last 40 minutes on Day 1's and Day 2, then extend to 60 minutes on Day 3, until heads-up play is reached, at which point they revert back to 30 minutes in length. Registration and unlimited re-entry is available for players up until the beginning of Level 10 (approximately 7:30 p.m.) and all players that manage to move on to Day 2 will return at Noon on Sunday to play down to the final table of nine. Play will conclude after 15 levels of play or 13% of the field remains, whichever comes first.
“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.”
PokerNews will be here all weekend long catching all the action straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to stay tuned as the action gets underway here for the final Day 1 flight at Ameristar Vicksburg!
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 Vicksburg Main Event!
Update Your Stack With MyStack!
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
PokerNews has activated the MyStack App for this event, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting blog using your iPhone or Android phone.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.
Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.
Early Arrivals
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
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Jones Chipping Up Early
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
Four players invested 300 each to see a 
flop together. Action checked to the hijack, who bet 500. The button called, as did 2018 WSOP Circuit Ring winner Kip Jones in the big blind.
All three players checked the 
turn, and the 
fell on the river. Jones tossed out a 500 chip, and both of his opponents released their hands.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
32,000 |
Hoffecker Runs Into the Nut Flush
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
From the small blind, CT Hoffecker bet 1,000 into a pot of 3,000 on a 
board, and Joseph Welch raised to 3,000 from under the gun. Hoffecker thought for a few moments before tossing in a call, and Welch tabled 
for the nut flush.
Hoffecker flashed his hand towards Welch, and Welch exclaimed, "Ugh, I missed a bet!"
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
39,000 | |
|
26,000
26,000
|
26,000 |
Friedler Gets a Fortunate River
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
Five players saw an 
flop together, and the blinds checked over to Henry Friedler in middle position. He bet 1,100 into a similarly sized pot, and was called by Corey Harrison next to act, as well as the button, while the blinds both folded.
The 
turn saw Friedler bet 1,500, and Harrison folded. The button stuck around with a call.
Both players checked the river, and Friedler tabled for aces-up. The button said, "I flopped two pair," and showed that his 
had been counterfeited, meaning Friedler's jack-kicker earned him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
34,000 | |
|
29,000
29,000
|
29,000 |
|
||
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0