FIRST BREAK CHIPCOUNTS

It's all fun and games for Mike VanderWoude (pictured) and friends until the blogger comes around to do chipcounts.

Two levels are down in Day 1A of the @HPTpoker $2,500 Season Championship, players are headed off for their first 15-minute break of the day, BB Ante kicks one level after  they return, so let's take a look as some random estimated chipcounts from around the tournament area.

Jason	Mangold	67,000
Shawn	Roberts	64,000
Paul	Fisher	63,000
Tim	Shortell	56,000
Casey	Carroll	39,000
Mark	Gieth	35,000
Roger	Campbell	34,000
Aaron	Johnson	34,000
David	McGowan	34,000
Alex	Ziskin	32,000
Aaron	Massey	27,000
Niel	Mittleman	25,000
Mike	VanderWoude	24,000
Mark	Morris	23,000
Ben	Ponzio	20,000
Ryan	Julius	17,000
Craig	Casino	15,000
Jake	Baumgartner	14,000

When play resumes, action moves to

Level - 3
BB Ante - 0
Blinds - 100/200
Entries - 63

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates
-- Hayley Hochstetler Photos

KINGS HOLD, BARELY

There's an open UTG from Paul Fisher, a call from Jake Buamgartner - the current No. 2 of the @HPTpoker Player of the Year leaderboard - and Mark Geith. Action folds around to Niel Mittleman, who bumps it to 1,100.

Fisher makes it 4,400 - forcing both Baumgartner and Geith out of the hand.

Mittleman, however, 4-bets to 11,100. Fisher isn't ready go go away yet, and he tosses four 5k chips out for a 5-bet that's almost all of Mittleman's stack. All-in go the rest of Mittleman's chips, and there's a call from Fisher.

Mittleman -  
Fisher -  

The flop goes   , and when the  turn falls, Baumgartner lets everyone know he fold
 .

River is  and Fisher eliminates Mittleman - and avoids a major dent to his stack by having pushed Baumgartner out of the pot.

Paul Fisher 65,000

Level - 2
BB Ante - 0
Blinds - 75/150
Entries - 56

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates

EARLY ARRIVALS

Among those with a 30,000 starting stack in play for Day 1A of the $2,500 @HPTpoker Season Championship is Aaron Johnson, Craig Casino, Jake Baumgartner (file photo), Aaron Massey, Shawn Roberts, Andy Rogowski, Mark Geith, Roger Campbell, Mike VanderWoude, Mark Morris and Tim Shortell.

Registration and the single re-entry period is available until the start of Level 7 at about 11:45-ish pm.

Level - 1
BB Ante - 0
Blinds - 50/100
Entries - 51

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates

1 HAND, 1 DOUBLE-UP

So, I'm getting set up for a 12-hour day of tournament coverage, and I hear "All-in," from the dealer at Table 7 in Day 1A @HPTpoker Season Championship @AmeristarEC.

Hold on, @JMangold in all-in on his first hand played? And @KCCarroll10 calls?

Wait, it gets better.

The flop is    when both players get their chips in the middle.

Wait, it gets better.

Mangold (pictured)  -  
Carroll -  

Wait, it gets better

The board runs out  .

Mangold gets a full double to 60,000 with 8-high.

Carroll had played a few hands already, won one, so he still has 2k left.

Level - 1
BB Ante - 0
Blinds - 50/100
Entries - 42

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates

LETS GET THE SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP STARTED

Welcome to the first of three starting flights in the Season XIV @HPTpoker $2,500 Season Championship @AmeristarEC.

@HPTJeremy just put cards in the air - 30,000 starting stacks, BB Ante format, quarter-chips in play until first break in this hour-long-levels tournament.

Registration and the single re-entry per player, per flight is available until the start of Level 9 at somewhere around 11:45pm.

Day 1B starts Saturday at noon and there's a Sunday Day 1C flight starting at noon as well.

Monday is Day 2, an 11am start playing down to the final table, with Tuesday's final day of action kicking off at noon as well.

Level - 1
BB Ante - 0
Blinds - 50/100
Entries - 32

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates