Salazar Lurking, Henrichs Leading as 18 Survive Day 1a of the Season XV HPT $2,500 Championship Event
The Season XV $2,500 Championship Event at Hollywood Casino St. Louis kicked off today with the first of three starting flights. 57 entrants hit the felt, all looking to navigate ten one-hour levels and find a bag. At the conclusion of play, just 18 remained, with Joshua Henrichs and his 230,300 chips leading the way.
Henrichs started his rise to the top by winning a three-way showdown between himself, Stephen Song and Mark Burgess. Henrichs applied the pressure late, and found himself with a comfortable stack of nearly 200 big blinds to take on to Day 2 play.
Eric Salazar, currently second in the Season XV HPT POY race, kept his slim hopes of taking over the top spot alive with a healthy bag of 191,500. Rounding out the top three is Season XV HPT East Chicago champ Chris Moon with 180,800 in chips. Other notables to make it through to Day 2 include WSOP Bracelet winner Brett Apter (105,000), Andreas Ioakmides (93,600) and Season XV HPT St. Louis champ Mike Shin (59,300).
Not everyone managed to make it through the day's play, however, and a few notables were unable to make it through to Monday's Day 2. Mike O'Neill, currently sitting in fourth place in the Season XV HPT POY race, was unable to get much going today and hit the felt early on. WSOP Bracelet winner Kyle Cartwright also found himself sans chips at the end of the night, as did Lily Kiletto, Jason Mangold, and Will Berry.
Current HPT POY points leader Nick Pupillo has arrived and will be in action tomorrow in what looks to be a much larger Day 1b flight, as other HPT regulars such as last year's Season XIV $2,500 Championship winner Josh Reichard, Todd Sladek, and Gary Herstein, will all be looking to join the 18 that managed to find a bag today in their quest for the final HPT trophy of the year.
Be sure to stay tuned right here to PokerNews as we catch all the action straight from the tournament floor as the second of three starting flights kicks off at Noon here at Hollywood Casino St. Louis.
flop to Williams, who bet 6,200. Martines, who only had 21,000 behind, folded. Martines would bust a short time later.
, Shin checked, and Williams continued for 4,600. Without much hesitation, Shin raised to 15,500. 
board to earn the triple, while Higgins essentially broke even with the side pot, and Mangold was left to hit the rail.
board from the big blind, and Andreas Ioakmides studied the board for a few moments before checking behind from the cutoff.
fell on the river, and Sailor bet 5,500. Ioakmides called, and Sailor tabled 
for a rivered gutshot straight. Ioakmides looked unhappy as he tossed his hand to the muck, and Sailor said, "You gave me a free card with a queen? I love you!'
flop, and the under-the-gun player called. Brett Apter then shoved for 40,000 from middle position, and Heitmeyer called off his last 20,800. The under-the-gun player tanked for a minute before calling off his last 25,000.
turn and 
turn, and Izadi checked again on the 
for trip fours and the winner.
turn left the hijack drawing dead to the 