Ameristar East Chicago Main Event Kicks Off Flight 1A

Level 1
Blinds - 100/100
Entrants- 26

The first HPT Main Event of 2019 is moments from kicking off Day 1A at the Ameristar East Chicago in Northwest Indiana. The event flirted with a $1 million prize pool in November that Josh Reichard took down for $221,293.

Three opening flights are on the books for Thursday, Friday and Saturday - with Saturday kicking off a little earlier at noon. Players begin with a 30,000 starting stack and are allowed unlimited re-entry.

The schedule calls for 15 30-minute levels before players bag chips for the night or until 13% of the field remains.

Reigning HPT Player of the Year for 2018 Aaron Johnson is in the field, using some of his $10,000 package of buy-ins for his first bullet.

-- Paul Oresteen