Welcome to Day 1b of HPT Golden Gates
The Heartland Poker Tour Golden Gates $1,650 Main Event resumes today with the second of three initial flights.
Day 1a drew 102 entries yesterday, with 16 advancing to Day 2 after a 12-hour day. When chips went into bags, Aaron Frei found himself atop the leader board. He came into the last two hours of play with less than six figures-worth of chips in his stack. He then began his ascent, which was headlined by winning two huge pots with pocket aces en route to finishing the day with 408,000 in chips.
Cards are set to fly at noon local time. Players will receive 30,000 in chips and play 15 levels of 40 minutes in length. There will be 15-minute breaks at the completion of every three levels and a one-hour dinner break after Level 9. Unlimited re-entries are available through the dinner break until the start of Level 10.
Since today is the second flight of three, all who are not fortunate enough to advance will have the option to take their shot again tomorrow for the final flight of the tournament. Everybody who does advance will return for Day 2 action at 11 a.m. on Sunday to play down to the final table, which will also be live streamed Monday in addition to being televised.
PokerNews will be bringing continuing coverage of the tournament. Don’t go anywhere.
and a player had 2,500 out in front of him from under the gun with action on James Rice, who was in the cutoff. Rice thought for a bit and then put out a raise to 10,000. His opponent called.
for a full house, queens full of tens. 
for a no-good three of a kind.
and Sweeney checked to Macias, who made a continuation-bet of 1,000. Zoller called and Sweeney folded.
saw both Macias and Zoller check, bringing the river 
where both players checked again to take the hand to showdown.
, prompting Zoller to table 
and take down the pot with two pair, aces and jacks.
and Dapo Ajayi checked to Wendy Freedman, who bet 4,500 from early position. The player to her left in middle position called and action was back on Ajayi, who check-raised to 15,500. 
and Moon announced a continuation-bet of 6,500. His opponent thought for a few moments before letting his hand go.
. However, the turn 
to give Williams eights up, with his hand remaining best the whole way even prior to hitting on the river. Freedman found herself dry on chips as a result and is expected to be seen tomorrow on Day 1c with one last chance at advancing.