Day 1a Photos
Credit to HPT's Korey Stewart
2020 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago
$1,650 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2020 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago
Buy-in
$1,650
Entries
520
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
160,000
Entries
97
Players Left
15
Ronconi Finds a Flush
Level 3
: 100/300, 0 ante
Four players saw a 
flop together, and action checked to Sue Humbles in the cutoff, who bet 1,600. Darryl Ronconi, who won this very event back in 2018, called in the small blind, and the other two players folded.
Ronconi check-called another bet of 1,600 from Humbles on the 
turn, and both players checked the 
river.
"Two pair," Humbles said, tabling 
, but Ronconi turned over 
for a flush and the winner.
Ronconi has taken over the seat previously occupied by Greg Raymer, who may still re-enter the tournament with his single re-entry option later if he wishes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
47,500
17,500
|
17,500 |
|
36,000 | |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/300
Ante: 0
Graff Chips Up Through Bunce
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Glen Nelson raised to 600 from middle position, and was called by John Lappin in the hijack, as well as Daniel Bunce in the cutoff. Duane Graff three-bet to 2,600 from the big blind, and only Bunce called.
Bunce checked the 
flop to Graff, who bet 4,200. Bunce quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
23,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
Lawson Gets Some River Value
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
On a 
flop, Bekr Ali bet 1,100 into a pot of 3,500 from the small blind. An early position player folded, but John Lawson stuck around with a call from the button.
Both players checked the 
turn, and Ali checked again on the 
river. Lawson bet 1,000 and Ali called, only to muck after Lawson tabled 
for aces-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
46,000 | |
|
|
39,500 |
Top Set For Orlowski
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Jeffrey Orlowski raised to 800 from early position, and Trevor Buboltz called in the hijack. Spencer Alexander three-bet to 2,000 from the cutoff, and Andres Garcia called on the button.
"Raise," Orlowski announced, throwing a 5,000 chip on top of his original bet to four-bet to 5,800. Action folded back to Garcia, who called.
Both players checked through the 
flop, and the 
hit the turn. Orlowski bet 5,000, and Garcia folded. Orlowski showed the table 
for a set of jacks before raking in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
49,000 | |
|
42,000 |
Banducci Tangles With a Former WSOP Main Event Champ
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Greg Raymer, who won the 2005 WSOP Main Event, limped in from under the gun, and Michael Banducci, who boasts a WSOP Bracelet of his own from the 2008 WSOP, raised to 600 from the hijack. Raymer called.
Raymer checked the 
flop to Banducci, who bet 800. Raymer called.
The 
turn was checked again by Raymer, and Banducci bet 2,600. Raymer folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
39,000
39,000
|
39,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
27,500
-2,500
|
-2,500 |
|
|
||
Set-Over-Set Good For Trezzo
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Three players invested 2,200 to see a 
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.
Joe Trezzo: 
Sam Vizza: 
Vizza's set of nines was crushed by the set of aces of Trezzo, and no one-outer would fall on the 
turn or 
river, sending Trezzo the double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
50,600
50,600
|
50,600 |
|
13,600
-16,400
|
-16,400 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
Nicola Ditrapani Victorious in Event #1: $350 NLH Monster Stack
Level 1
: 100/100, 0 ante
For the past week, the Heartland Poker Tour has hosted a slew of side events and satellites leading up to this weekend's $1,650 Main Event here at Ameristar East Chicago, and we've taken the time to highlight some of the bigger events that took place, starting with Event #1: $350 NLH Monster Stack.
A staggering 1,114 entrants would converge on the felt over three starting flights, and 113 of them took home a payday, including Michael Ferrarotti (10th - $4,445), Alexander Hill (16th - $2,473), Jason Trezak (19th - $2,100), John Orfanos (30th - $1,832), Daniel Sepiol (64th - $1,135), Paul Bianchi (97th - $900), and Bradley Beetz (109th - $850).
In the end, Nicola Ditrapani was able to best George Dietz in heads-up play to take home $56,726, pushing his career tournament earnings to nearly $500,000 with the score.
Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Hometown | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicola Ditrapani | Streamwood, Illinois | $56,726 |
| 2 | George Dietz | Forest Park, Illinois | $37,650 |
| 3 | Sam Vizza | Crestwood, Illinois | $24,607 |
| 4 | Lonnie Caldwell | Eastpointe, Michigan | $17,005 |
| 5 | Nicholas Andricopulos | Ralos Park, Illinois | $13,503 |
| 6 | Prat Golla | Vernon Hills, Illinois | $10,762 |
| 7 | Bryant Madison | Columbus, Ohio | $8,120 |
| 8 | John Schray | Chicago, Illinois | $6,760 |
| 9 | Timothy Gordon | Schererville, Indiana | $5,576 |