More Day 1a Photos
Photos courtesy of HPT's Korey Stewart
2020 Heartland Poker Tour Hollywood St. Louis
$1,650 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2020 Heartland Poker Tour Hollywood St. Louis
Buy-in
$1,650
Entries
392
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
160,000
Entries
41
Players Left
5
Time For a Break
Level 3
: 100/300, 0 ante
Players are off on their first fifteen-minute break of the day.
Level: 4
Blinds: 100/300
Ante: 300
A Round of Chip Counts
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
94,700 | 49,200 |
|
|
70,300 | 44,500 |
|
|
43,000 | 1,000 |
|
42,000 | |
|
36,600 | |
|
|
36,400 | 6,400 |
|
36,300 | -15,700 |
|
|
35,400 | |
|
|
34,100 | 4,100 |
|
33,700 | |
|
33,500 | 7,500 |
|
31,000 | 5,500 |
|
|
27,400 | |
|
|
23,100 | -8,400 |
|
22,300 | -2,700 |
|
20,300 | |
|
|
17,500 | -8,500 |
|
16,500 | -6,500 |
|
15,700 | -3,200 |
|
8,200 | -13,300 |
Pilla Piles Twice
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
Hand #1:
Gerald Claunch raised to 1,800 from early position, and action folded to Michael Pilla in the big blind. He three-bet shoved for around 18,000, and Claunch quickly folded.
Hand #2:
The very next hand, Joseph Brose raised to 800 from the cutoff, and Pilla jammed again, this time for a little over 20,000.
"Can you spread the pot, please?" Michael Esquivel said with a grin in the big blind before folding, and Brose quickly followed suit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
100,000 | 5,300 |
|
|
69,000 | -1,300 |
|
|
22,000 | 4,500 |
Three-Way Chop in Event #1: $350 No Limit Hold'em
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
The opening event of the HPT Hollywood St. Louis tournament series was Event #1: $350 No Limit Hold'em, a tournament that boasted a $200,000 guarantee. With a total of 917 entrants, including a staggering 511 entrants in the final flight, a final prize pool of $275,100 was created, easily beating the guarantee.
94 players were able to walk away with a piece of the prize pool, and a few of those lucky enough to cash include Mary Sturges (19th - $1,876), Charles Wells (38th - $1,290), Corey Fleming (58th - $1,010), Neil Patel (62nd - $1,010), and Mike Rieck (85th - $750).
In the end, the final three players struck a deal that saw Nhut Nguyen ($36,518) take the title and trophy, while Brian Tracy ($37,305) and Ian Nelson ($34,318) left with substantial chunks of the prize pool. Nguyen took the rungood from the opening event win and went on to take down the very next event, Event #2: $300 No Limit Hold'em Heads Up for another $5,224. Nelson wouldn't rest on his laurels either, as he was able to take down Event $7: $300 No Limit Hold'em w/ $100 Bounties for $6,362 later in the series.
Final Table Results
| Position | Name | Hometown | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nhut Nguyen | St. Louis, Missouri | $36,518* |
| 2 | Brian Tracy | St. Louis, Missouri | $37,305* |
| 3 | Ian Nelson | Lake St. Louis, Missouri | $34,318* |
| 4 | Kevin Garosshen | Las Vegas, Nevada | $15,390 |
| 5 | Keith Heine | Hillsboro, Missouri | $11,032 |
| 6 | Richard Barner | St. Louis, Missouri | $8,363 |
| 7 | Michael Budde | Williamsburg, Missouri | $6,740 |
| 8 | Lucas Tae | St. Charles, Missouri | $5,864 |
| 9 | Woo Moore | Fenton, Missouri | $5,030 |
Nelson Gets Dented By Brose's Flush
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
Joseph Brose raised to 1,600 from under the gun, and was called by Nick Pupillo next to act. Ian Nelson, who won Event #7: $300 No-Limit Hold'em w/ $100 Bounties earlier in the week, called from the small blind, and the big blind came along as well.
Action checked to Brose on a 
flop, and he bet 2,700. Pupillo folded, while Nelson and the big blind called.
The 
turn was checked to Brose again, and he bet 6,500. Both Nelson and the big blind came along with calls.
Action checked to Brose again on the 
river, and Brose bet 9,000. Nelson quickly called, while the big blind folded. Nelson tabled 
for two pair, but Brose managed to go runner-runner for a flush with his 
to take down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
96,000 | 27,000 |
|
|
9,700 |
Hoeft Takes One Out
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
Danny Hoeft limped in from under the gun, as did the player next to act. A middle position player jammed for 4,900, and action folded back to Hoeft, who called.
"Why not?" the other player said before making the call as well.
Action checked to the turn of a 
board, where Hoeft bet 5,000. His opponent for the side pot folded, and the remaining two players tabled their hands.
Middle Position: 
Danny Hoeft: 
Hoeft's nines improved to a straight on the 
river, and he eliminated his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,000 | 18,000 |
Moscati Up, Powers and Pupillo Out
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,000 | 23,400 |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
Esquivel Makes the Right Call
Level 4
: 100/300, 300 ante
Michael Pilla checked a flop from the small blind, and Michael Esquivel bet 1,200 into a pot of around 3,000 in the big blind. The cutoff called, as did Pilla.
Action checked through the 
turn, and the 
fell on the river. Pilla and Esquivel checked to the cutoff, who bet 2,600. Pilla folded, and Esquivel leaned up and looked at the board briefly before calling. The cutoff could only muster 
for a busted straight draw, and Esquivel took down the pot with his 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
36,000 | 15,700 |