Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
HPT Season XV Championship
$2,500 Championship Event
Day: 1a
Photos from HPT Championship Event Day 1A
Hughes Fades a Flush Draw to Bust Ioakmides
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
John Hughes checked a 
flop from the small blind, and Andreas Ioakmides checked from the big blind. Mark Burgess bet 1,000 from the hijack, and Hughes called. Ioakmides woke up with a check-raise to 5,500, and after Burgess folded, Hughes jammed to put Ioakmides at risk for his last 13,000. Ioakmides quickly called.
Andreas Ioakmides: 
John Hughes: 
Ioakmides pinned his hopes to a flush draw, while Hughes was well out in front with top set. The 
turn and 
river failed to bring in a spade for Ioakmides, and he headed to the cashier to utilize his single re-entry on the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
|
30,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
Updated Chip Counts
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
67,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
62,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
37,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
34,500
4,500
|
4,500 |
|
28,000
28,000
|
28,000 |
|
17,400
-11,600
|
-11,600 |
|
14,600
14,600
|
14,600 |
|
||
Ortiz Goes for Value
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Chris Moon raised to 500 from middle position and was called by the hijack, as well as John Hughes in the cutoff. Jake Ortiz then three-bet to 2,800 in the small blind. The player in the big blind called, and the players behind him all elected to fold.
Both players checked the 
flop and 
turn.
After the 
river fell, Ortiz fired 2,100, and the big blind quickly folded. Ortiz tabled 
before raking in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
William Difani Wins HPT Championship Opening Event After Final Table Deal
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
For the past week, the Heartland Poker Tour has been hosting a slew of side events here at the Hollywood Casino St. Louis.
It kicked off with Event #1: #350 No-Limit Hold’em, a tournament that attracted 912 entries and offered up a $26,930 prize pool.
Among those to finish in the top 93 and get paid were Martin Warren (9th - $5,030), Andrew Echele (15th - $3,017), Nick Watson (21st - $1,875), Larry Zhao (27th - $1,875), Dennis Bohn (36th - $1,525), Craig Welko (42nd - $1,285), Corey Fleming (51st - $1,125), Kelly Rhoades (57th - $1,005), Carl Masters (61st - $1,005), Leif Nelson (74th - $820), Paul Belken (80th - $820), and David Wilkens (93rd - $750).
In the end, the final eight players worked a deal that saw them all lock up a minimum payday of $15,567, while William Difani was crowned the champ, awarded the bling, and took home $23,152 in prize money.
Final Table Deal
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles LeRoi | St. Louis, Missouri | $26,930 |
| 2 | William Difani | Maryland Heights, Missouri | $23,152 |
| 3 | Jason Simon | Ofallon, Missouri | $19,398 |
| 4 | Martin Kinder | Imperial, Missouri | $19,131 |
| 5 | Samuel Doveikis | Ballwin, Missouri | $18,275 |
| 6 | Jeff Copeland | Lake St. Louis, Missouri | $16,515 |
| 7 | Kyle Kinder | Imperial, Missouri | $16,013 |
| 8 | Austin Schaal | St. Louis, Missouri | $15,567 |
Nussrallah Chases 'Em Out
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
A player limped in from middle position, and Stephen Nussrallah raised to 800 on the button. Austin Schaal called in the small blind, as did Harry Sablotny in the big blind. The middle position limper paused for a moment, then made the call as well.
Action checked to Nussrallah on a 
flop, and he bet 2,200. One by one, his opponents folded and Nussrallah took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
38,000 |
Campbell Trips Up Heitmeyer
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Roger Campbell, who took down the $500 Seniors Championship yesterday here at the HPT St. Louis Season XV Championship, raised to 600 from early position, and was called by Bradley Heitmeyer in middle position, as well as the cutoff and big blind.
The big blind checked a 
flop over to Campbell, who bet 800. Heitmeyer raised to 1,600, and action folded back to Campbell, who called.
Both players checked through the turn, and Campbell bet 2,300 on the 
river. Heitmeyer called, only to muck after Campbell tabled 
for trip tens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
37,500
37,500
|
37,500 |
|
|
13,200
13,200
|
13,200 |
Chopping Pots in the Early Going
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
The player under the gun limped in, as did Andreas Ioakmides in the cutoff. Action folded to the big blind, who checked his option.
The 
flop saw a bet of 700 from the big blind. Both the under-the-gun player and Ioakmides called.
When the big blind fired again to the tune of 800 on the 
turn, the player under the gun folded, and Ioakmides called.
The big blind bet 2,000 on the river, and Ioakmides tossed in the call. The big blind flipped over 
and chopped it up with Ioakmides' 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
32,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
Break Time
Level 2
: 100/200, 0 ante
Players are off on their first fifteen-minute break of the day.