Welcome to Day 2 of 2019 HPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event
At long last, the time has come for the eliminations to be final and the field to be whittled down toward a winner. After four starting flights, Day 2 of Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event is here.
Out of 570 entries, 96 were able to punch tickets to Day 2. They'll all combine under one roof for the first time here Monday and play until an official final table has been reached.
Plenty of the Midwest's finest poker players are among those 96. While chip leader Brendan Shiller and other big stacks Craig Casino and Nadya Magnus are in good position, they'll have plenty of competition from the likes of Nick Pupillo, Josh Reichard, Aaron Johnson, Keven Stammen and Kou Vang, 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. Unlike Day 1s, levels will be an hour apiece now.
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.
. Ochana had the overs with 
but was left wanting on the 
runout.
flop. The money was already pulled into the middle so we didn't see how much the all-in of Cerminara was worth, but he was at risk.
and 
and Cerminara doubled up.
when the blinds mucked. Alsup had 
and the third player held 
.
was the brick sought by Salazar but a 
in the big blind. Magnus showed 
and the board ran out 
, busting the former chip leader.
flop and Chris Moon bet 125,000 from under the gun. Mark Morris called from middle position and they were heads up to the 
turn. Moon checked and Morris bet 225,000. Moon moved all in and Morris tanked awhile. Eventually, he called for his last 715,000.
river was a brick.
and crushed by 
suited but couldn't overcome the 
, Kalpesh Shah shoved in the small blind for about 200,000. From under the gun, Taylor Firebaugh announced he was all in for what looked like 1,140,000. Craig Casino was in middle position and called it off.
kept his straight best. He was barely covered by Firebaugh, who had 40,000 left and busted the next hand.
