The final starting flight for the HPT Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event kicks off at Noon local time, and the largest field of the weekend is expected to come out in force, looking to join the 44 survivors from the first two flights.
In yesterday's Day 1b flight, 29 players (including one double-bagger, meaning his smaller stack from Day 1a will be removed) survived from a field of 172 entrants, with Edward Blazer and his 463,000 chips leading the way. Defending champ Nick Davidson (430,000) finished with a healthy stack as well, and both players sit ahead of Day 1a chip leader Robert Keeling and his 422,000 in chips.
Other players that made it through include Peter Palanca (359,000), Roger Campbell (347,000), Bradley Beetz (191,000), Mike Shin (116,000), and former HPT Player of the Year and WSOP Main Event champ Greg Raymer (82,000).
Today's Day 1c flight will play fifteen 40-minute levels, with a fifteen-minute break after every three levels, and a dinner break after Level 9. Registration remains open through the completion of the dinner break (approximately 7:30 p.m.) and a single re-entry option is available for players unfortunate enough to bust. All players that make it through today's flight will combine with the 44 survivors for Day 2 action on Sunday, January 19th at 11 a.m. local time to play down to a final table of nine. Those lucky enough to earn a spot at the televised final table will reconvene on Monday, January 20th at Noon, and play down to a champion.
Cards will be in the air at Noon local time, so be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as we follow the final flight here at HPT Ameristar East Chicago.
