2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2019 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
$183,899
Event Info
Prize Pool
$820,800
Entries
570
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000

Mittelman Still Stacking

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

Niel Mittelman is off to a good start here on Day 1a as he is nearing three starting stacks.

Most recently, Mittelman was on the button and he and an opponent in the small blind built a pot of about 25,000. The board read {q-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{9-Hearts} and Mittelman slid in a large bet of 20,400 on the river. His opponent thought only briefly before mucking.

Player Chips Progress
Niel Mittelman us
Niel Mittelman
83,500
22,500
22,500

Tags: Niel Mittelman

Massey Toasted

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Aaron Massey
Aaron Massey

Aaron Massey checked in the hijack with {q-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{6-Clubs} on the felt and an opponent on the button bet 3,500 into a pot of about 8,500. Massey called, bringing a {2-Clubs} turn. He shoved all in for 14,900. The player on the button thought awhile and flicked in a chip.

Massey turned over {3-Hearts}{3-Spades} but was well behind {9-Clubs}{9-Hearts}. The river was a {j-Clubs} and Massey headed out with a "nice hand."

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Massey us
Aaron Massey
Busted

Tags: Aaron Massey

Hamad Binks

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

Fadi Hamad was in the cutoff and check-called 5,500 into a pot of 8,400 on {10-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{6-Clubs}. On the {2-Spades} turn, Hamad checked and his opponent jammed for 9,400. Hamad thought briefly and called.

Fadi Hamad: {8-Spades}{6-Spades}
Button: {q-Clubs}{q-Diamonds}

The river was a {k-Spades}, giving Hamad a winning flush.

Player Chips Progress
Fadi Hamad us
Fadi Hamad
53,000
20,500
20,500

Tags: Fadi Hamad

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

Andriamahefa and Gaspard on Fire

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante
Player Chips Progress
Kevin Andriamahefa us
Kevin Andriamahefa
157,500
127,500
127,500
Jean Gaspard us
Jean Gaspard
143,300
107,500
107,500
WSOP 1X Winner
Brad Sailor us
Brad Sailor
120,100
75,100
75,100
Frank Cerminara us
Frank Cerminara
92,000
62,000
62,000
Greg Baird us
Greg Baird
71,000
7,000
7,000
Craig Casino us
Craig Casino
44,000
13,000
13,000
Jim Kasputis us
Jim Kasputis
40,700
700
700
Alex Ziskin us
Alex Ziskin
31,400
WSOP 1X Winner
Matt Shepsky us
Matt Shepsky
27,000
-23,000
-23,000
Aaron Massey us
Aaron Massey
22,400
22,400
22,400
Keith Thurman us
Keith Thurman
20,800
6,800
6,800
Rich Bai us
Rich Bai
20,000
-10,000
-10,000

Brutal Beat for Jarrett

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante

After an under-the-gun open to 1,800 and a Zachary Jarrett three-bet to 4,800 in the next seat, action folded to Craig Casino in the big blind. He dropped in calling chips and he and Jarrett went heads up to {8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}. Both players committed 6,400, though we didn't see who was the aggressor. On the {k-Hearts} turn, Casino bet 11,500, bringing a {7-Clubs} river. Casino jammed for 22,700 and Jarrett quickly called.

Casino opened {7-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} for a rivered boat.

Jarrett shot back in his seat in shock and mucked his {a-Hearts}{k-Spades} in disgust.

Player Chips Progress
Craig Casino us
Craig Casino
100,000
56,000
56,000
Zachary Jarrett us
Zachary Jarrett
9,400

Tags: Craig CasinoZachary Jarrett

Pupillo Coolered

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante

Nick Pupillo checked in a three-way pot from the big blind after {q-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}{6-Spades} flopped. A player in early position bet 2,000, someone folded from late position, and Pupillo peeled to the {6-Hearts} turn. Pupillo checked and his opponent bet 2,000 again. This time, Pupillo tossed in 8,000, and his opponent called fairly quickly. The river was a {7-Hearts} and Pupillo jammed for 19,500 effective.

After being called immediately, Pupillo, showed {7-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} for a boat, but it was no good against {k-Spades}{k-Diamonds} for kings full.

Player Chips Progress
Nick Pupillo us
Nick Pupillo
37,500
-42,500
-42,500
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Nick Pupillo

Level: 9

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

Hamad Picks Off Casino

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Fadi Hamad opened for 2,000 in the cutoff and was called by both blinds. On the {8-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{3-Spades} flop, Hamad continued for 3,500 and only big blind Craig Casino came along for the {9-Hearts} turn. Both players checked, bringing a {q-Clubs}. Casino bet 5,600 and Hamad called.

Casino showed {a-Hearts}{10-Clubs} but had been bested on the river as Hamad had {k-Spades}{q-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Fadi Hamad us
Fadi Hamad
78,000
25,000
25,000
Craig Casino us
Craig Casino
67,000
-33,000
-33,000

Tags: Craig CasinoFadi Hamad

Gaspard Has a Gambling Problem But Lots of Chips

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Jean Gaspard, pictured in a different event.
Jean Gaspard, pictured in a different event.

Prince Gaspard opened for 2,500 early and got two callers before a player on the button ripped in 14,900.

"I hate to do this, especially to a good player," Gaspard declared. "But, I have a gambling problem."

He put in 14,900 and the next player folded but Alex Ziskin jammed from the cutoff.

"Noooo," Gaspard said.

He instructed the dealer to bring in the matching wager, and it was 18,400 more. Gaspard stuck in the necessary chips and turned over {9-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}. Ziskin had {7-Clubs}{7-Spades} and the third player {k-Clubs}{q-Spades}.

The {10-Spades}{j-Clubs}{6-Diamonds} flop had Gaspard calling for his opponents' hands to improve. The {6-Clubs} didn't do it but the {8-Diamonds} gave him a winning pair. He declared that he won the side pot, perhaps jokingly, but the dealer informed him his pair of eights was good for everything.

"I get everything," he shouted in celebration. "Don't give the black guy everything!"

It was indeed all his though and he's putting together a trademark runaway Day 1 performance so far.

Player Chips Progress
Jean Gaspard us
Jean Gaspard
175,000
31,700
31,700
WSOP 1X Winner
Nick Pupillo us
Nick Pupillo
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
Alex Ziskin us
Alex Ziskin
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Prince Gaspard