5 More Hands

LuisTheTD stops the playclock with 10 minutes to go in Level 15 and announces there's 5 more hands until the bag-n-tag time in Day 1A of the East Chicago $1650 Main Event.

Players who bag chips tonight come back Sunday at 1pm for Day 2, playing down to the LiveStream Table of Nine.

Check back here in about 25 minutes for the final chipcounts of those advancing to Sunday.

Level - 15
Blinds - 1500/3k
Antes - 400
Remaining - 24/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Big One For Harrington

There's an open, a raise to 27,000, and all-in from Kenneth Harrington (above), a fold and the 3-bettor calls off his stack.

Harrington is far behind his challenger -   to   - but the flop goes    to put Harrington out in front.

The  creates a flush-draw-sweat, but the river is a blank and Harrington scores a knockout, moving to 160,000 with 30 minutes left in the night.

There was a knockout at each table while I was writing this up - including Jason Baumgartner - causing a table to break and the overall number to drop to 25 entries.

Level - 15
Blinds - 1500/3k
Antes - 400
Remaining - 25/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

1 2 Go

The final Day 1A Main Event level is here, just 40 minutes of play left before the Bag-N-Tag takes place.

Level - 15
Blinds - 1500/3k
Antes - 400
Remaining - 29/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Gieth Moves Up

There's already 15,000 in the pot and a bet to 12,000 from Shane Slovick on the    flop. Robert Geith (above) bumps it up to 25,000, the BB folds and Slovick looks truly confused by the bet.

He pauses for about 45 seconds, then folds, flashing the  as his cards go in the muck.

Geith - who made it to a 2x stack early in the day - had stayed at that 60k mark for about 7-8 levels. He's now up to 135,000

Level - 14
Blinds - 1200/2400
Antes - 300
Remaining - 29/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Friday at @HPTPoker @Ameristar EC

There are three Main Event Satellites and one Main Event flight set for Friday for the Heartland Poker Tour at Ameristar East Chicago.

• 10am - $375 Multi-table satellite - 12k stacks, 30-minute levels - 10 seats GTD
• 2pm - $1650 Main Event Day 1B - 30k stacks, 40-minute levels
• 4pm - $375 Multi-table satellite - 12k stacks, 30-minute levels - 5 Seats GTD
• 7pm - $375 Multi-table satellite - 12k stacks, 30-minute levels - 5 seats GTD

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Recent Eliminations

Judge Leo Boothe, Mike VanderWoude, Casey Carroll and Ryan Gregor (above) are among the players recently knocked out of Day 1A in the East Chicago Main Event.

Level - 13
Blinds - 1k/2k
Antes - 300
Remaining - 36/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Break It Up, Folks

Day 1A Main Event players are on their final 15-minute break of the night. Play continues to the end of Level 15, the bag-n-tag taking place at about 1:45am.

Day 1B starts at 2pm - 30,000 stacks and 40-minute levels.

When play resumes, action for JW Carter (above) and friends is at

Level - 13
Blinds - 1k/2k
Antes - 300
Remaining - 42/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

All In, All Out, All In

Kenneth Harrington moves all in preflop for his last 20BB and is called by his challenger on his right, putting Harrington at risk.

Harrington is in a flip JJ v AQ for his tournament life.

He's on his way out the door when a Queen comes in the window.

He's back when a Jack falls on the turn, giving him a set.

Kenneth Harrington - 75,000

There was a LevelUp and a table broke as I wrote, this, so action is now at

Level - 12
Blinds - 800/1600
Antes - 200
Entries - 45/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Our Best to Sebesta

The current leader in the @HPTPoker Player of the Year Race - Ed Sebesta - is away from poker due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Sebesta lives in the Houston metropolitan area and is dealing with the unbelievable storms that have hit the region in the last week.

Our best to Ed and to all the residents of that region as they deal with the impacts of Hurricane Harvey.

Level - 11
Blinds - 600/1200
Antes - 200
Remaining - 48/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

But Jack Gets His Chips Back

It took two orbits, but Jack Torcolese got all his chips back from Stephen Lee - along with the balance of Lee's stack as well - a few minutes in to Level 11.

Yeah, I missed the hand, I only saw the chips being pushed Jack's way....

Jack Torcolese - 100,000

Level - 11
Blinds - 600/1200
Antes - 200
Remaining - 48/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Jack's Aces Go Bad

Jack Torcolese probably didn't mind the 2-3-5 flop, and still felt fine with the Ace on the turn. When a 4 fell on the river, well, so much for feeling fine.

Then there was the fact Stephen Lee moved all-in, and suddenly the Pocket Aces of Torcolese didn't seem that good at all, as they had been corrupted by the board Going Wheel.

Torcolese made the call, and saw Lee turn over Sixes, a 6-high straight and Torcolese's Aces were cracked.

Jack Torcolese - 65,000
Stephen Lee - 39,000

Level - 10
Blinds - 500/1k
Antes - 100
Entries - 63

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

117 for Day 1A

Registration has closed on the first of three @HPTPoker @AmeristarEC flights in the $1650 Main Event and the board shows a total of 117 entries.

63 players returned from dinner to play six more 40-minute levels, or when down to 18 players - 15 percent of the starting field - whatever comes first.

Day 1B goes tomorrow at 2pm, with Saturday's Day 1C starting an hour earlier at 1pm.

Level - 10
Blinds - 500/1k
Antes - 100
Remaining - 63/117

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Level 9 Chipcounts

Players are getting ready to head off on dinner break, so I thought I'd grab some chipcounts early and try to bet the rush to the buffet.

160,000 - Fabi Hamadi
130,000 - Ed Ochana
124,000 - Jacob Baumgartner
110,000 - Rob Richmond
105,000 - Greg Raymer
96,000 - JW Carter
83,000 - Judge Leo Boothe
82,000 - Shane Slovick
80,000 - Paul Fisher
60,000 - Mark Geith
58,000 - Nick Jivkov

55,000 - Jack Torcolese
55,000 - Greg Baird

42,000 - Brad Sailor
42,000 - Jeff Grimes
32,000 - Roger Campbell
31,000 - David McGowan
28,000 - Ryan Gregor
28,000 - Joe Elpayaa
27,000 - Casey Carroll

19,000 - Mike VanderWoude

Level - 9
Blinds - 400/800
Antes - 100
Entries - 115

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Was it the Hat?

The flop didn't look all that scary, neither did the initial bet, but when Jeff Grimes (above) 3-bet, his challenger went away pretty fast.

It was either the hat, or me walking up ... I vote on it being the hat ...

Jeff Grimes - 37,000

Level - 8
Blinds - 300/600
Antes - 75
Entries - 114

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

A New 6-Figure Stack

Jacob Baumgartner has run very well here at @AmeristarEC in the last two $1650 HPT Main Events. He was 4th in January for a $53k cash, and 22nd in May.

While his first entry today did not produce positive results, he quickly doubled on his second entry, and just doubled again to move to 145,000.

Level - 8
Blinds - 300/600
Antes - 75
Entries - 112

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Raymer KO's Kamenjarin

A 4-way limped pot is nothing to write home about, but the action ramped up fast once there was a flop over at Table 7.

   was the flop, there was a bet, a raise from Greg Raymer, another raise, a 5-bet-shove from Michael Kamenjarin once the action reached him, and Raymer wa sthe one to call to put Kamenjarin at risk.

Raymer's set of Fives was up against the   top pair and second-nut-flush draw of Kamenjarin on the final hand before break.

No hearts on the turn or river and Raymer moved to 65,000.

(Hand reporting from sideline reporter Greg Raymer)

Level - 7
Blinds - 250/500
Antes - 50
Entries - 112

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Ochana Chipping Up

2013 @HPTPoker East Chicago champ Edward Ochana has better than a 4x stack after 6 levels of play today. Ochana - who defeated Aaron Massey heads up at Majestic Star in 2013 for his HPT title - eliminated Jason Baumgartner and another challenger on a single hand, en route to amassing 127,000 so far.

Level - 7
Blinds - 250/500
Antes - 50
Entries - 110

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Carter Gets VanderWoude

JW Carter had quite a run at @AmeristarVI, winning the opening event - earning the inaugural HPT Champion Belt - and making the Main Event final table and taking 4th place.

Carter was struggling early here in Day 1A, but just reversed his fortunes with a knockout of Mike VanderWoude right before break to get up to 40,000.

Level - 7
Blinds - 250/500
Antes - 50
Entries - 107

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Casino Gets Some Back

There's an open to 1,000, a call and Craig Casino (above) also calls.

The flop comes out   , the original raiser checks, a bet to 2,000 and Casino moves in for his last 8,625.

Both players find a fold, with the original bettor announcing he laid down 99.

Casino just grinned and raked in the chips.

Players are now on their second 15-minute break. When play resumes, action is at

Level - 7
Blinds - 250/500
Antes - 50
Entries - 107

Dan Ross - Hold'em live Updates

Level 5 Chipleaders

There's a huge gap between first and the rest of the field here with 5 levels down in Day 1A of the HPT $1650 Main Event at Ameristar Easy Chicago. Here are chipcounts from around the room

154,000 - David McGowan

87,000 - Nick Jivkov

81,000 - Rob Richmond

66,000 - Mark Geith

61,000 - Dan Loizzo 

58,000 - Judge Leo Boothe

56,000 - Mike VanderWoude

48,000 - Paul Fisher

47,000 - Shane Slovick
37,000 - Brad Sailor

36,000 - Ravi Raghavan

32,000 - Ryan Gregor 

31,000 - Mike Kamenjarin

30,000 - Roger Campbell

28,000 - Henry Zou

28,000 - Jeff Grimes

27,000 - Greg Raymer
22,000 - Joe Elpayaa

19,000 - Kevin Saul

14,000 - Craig Casino
13,000 - Jacob Baumgartner

11,000 - JW Carter

10,000 - Greg Baird

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Another KO at Table 5

The Table of Bustouts claims another.

Robert Castoire is all in with A9 on a   x flop, with David McGowan (above) calling with 
 and a boatload more chips than Castoire.

The turn is  to complete the flush, with Castoire needing an Ace or 9 for a boat. He misses and is out here in Level 5, while McGown moves to 154,000.

Level - 5
Blinds - 150/300
Antes - 25
Entries - 101

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

And Away They Go

Aces twice in one orbit for Joe Elpayaa. He doubles the first time, holding against a King-high flush draw.

He's ahead of the AK of Brad Sailor on a King-high flop this time ... but there's another King on the turn, and Elpayaa is back to about 22,000. Sailor moves to 37,000.

Level - 5
Blinds - 150/300
Antes - 25
Entries - 100

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Make it 100 to Go

Just a few minutes in to Level 5 and the board shows triple digits for Joe Elpayaa and friends in the first of four starting flights in the $1650 Ameristar East Chicago Main Event.

Elpayaa just doubled, calling off his last 17,550 with Aces and holding against a King-high flush draw from his challenger.

Level - 5
Blinds - 150/300
Antes - 25
Entries - 100

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

The Story Gets Better

OK, we already know Rob Richmond more than doubled with AA > KK > KJ back in Level 3, but there's More to the Story.

Let's start with  ...

Part A - and me mis-identifying Richmond .when the blog first posted.
Part B - Richmond busted the $375 satellite 5 players from earning a Main Event seat.
Part C - he went in to the main casino and hit a promotional Blackjack hand for more than the $1650 Main Event buyin.
Part D - AA > KK > KJ was the FIRST hand he played today.

#EasyGame

Level - 4
Blinds - 100/200
Antes - 25
Entries 99

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates

Aces Are a Poker Player's Best Friend

There's good times to pick up Aces, and then there's the time you get Aces AND get your chips in the middle preflop with two callers. That just happened over at Table 3.

Rob Richmond (above) - AA
Ryan Gregor - KK
James Calkins - KJ

There's an Ace in the window, along with a Ten on the flop so Calkins - the short stack of the three - has a gutterball Broadway draw .. but it misses on the turn and river.

Calkins is eliminated on the hand and Gregor ships just shy of 30,000 over to Richmond.

Gregor doubled earlier so he still has about 45,000 as Level 3 comes ot an end and players head out on their first 15-minute break of the day.

When play resumes, action is at

Level - 4
Blinds - 100/200
Antes - 25
Entries - 90

Dan Ross - Hold'em Live Updates