Welcome to Day 1a of HPT Ameristar East Chicago!
Season XVI of the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) is set to kick off here just east of the Windy City of Chicago, as the $1,650 Main Event at Ameristar East Chicago is set to kick off at 2 p.m. local time, with the first of three starting flights.
Nick Davidson was able to navigate a field of 554 players in last year's iteration of this event, taking home $178,709 after besting Mike Sabbia in heads-up play. Chris Moon was the victor in last May's Main Event here at Ameristar, as he topped a field of 570 players, including all-time HPT earnings leader Craig Casino, who eventually finished fourth, to take home $183,899. And in the third and final HPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event of the year, Wisconsin phenom Josh Reichard earned his second career HPT title, both at Ameristar East Chicago, and earned $186,812 by topping a 579 player field.
Players will receive 30,000 in starting chips, and Day 1 features a total of fifteen 40-minute levels. There will be a fifteen-minute break after every two hours of play, and a 60-minute dinner break will take place after Level 9. Registration and a single re-entry option are open for players through the dinner break (approximately 9:45 p.m. for today's flight).
There are two other starting flights available for prospective players, as Friday's Day 1b kicks off at 2 p.m. local time, while Day 1c will commence at Noon on Saturday, January 18th. All players that manage to bag up a stack will return on Sunday at 11 a.m. local time to play down to the final table of nine. Monday's televised final table will resume at Noon, and the public is welcome to come and watch the action, which will also be streamed on Twitch on a short delay.
With the likes of former WSOP Main Event champ Greg Raymer, the aforementioned Craig Casino, and others all descending on East Chicago, will Davidson be able to defend his crown? Or will another up and comer take the reigns and a likely six-figure payday and the first HPT title of 2020 back home with them? Stay tuned right here to PokerNews all weekend long, as we bring you all the action straight from the tournament floor.
flop, a player checked from under-the-gun, and the hijack bet 1,300 into a pot of 1,700. "Mr. HPT" Craig Casino, the tour's all-time earnings leader, called from the cutoff, while the under-the-gun player folded.
turn, and Casino raised to 12,000. The hijack tanked for a few minutes before making the call.
completed the board on the river, and the hijack checked. Casino bet 12,000, most of his remaining stack, and the hijack folded. Casino tabled 
for a busted gutshot before raking in the big early pot.
flop, and Joe Trezzo checked from the big blind. Andrew Clifton checked in middle position, and Sam Vizza bet 3,600 next to act. Trezzo check-raised to 10,000, chasing Clifton out of the pot. Vizza three-bet shoved for 35,500, and Trezzo called off his 21,900 stack.
turn or 
river, sending Trezzo the double.
board was already on the felt. Shanahan announced, "All in," from early position, putting Ronconi to the test for his last 18,000 from the button.
for a bluff, and Ronconi said, "What'd he show?" Upon seeing that Shanahan held just ten-high, he nodded and said, "Nice bet."
river shipped the big pot over to Orlowski.
runout to eliminate Becker.
board, Craig Casino raised a 6,000 bet from his under-the-gun opponent to 30,000, enough to put the under-the-gun player at risk for his last 18,000 total. The under-the-gun player tanked for a minute, then elected to fold.