Main Event Day 1c | 2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago

09-01-2019 05:44 UTC

Vazanellis Surpasses 500K to lead Day 1c as 50 Advance to Day 2

Anthony Thompson

Level 15 : 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

There is another player you can add to the list to bring a half-million chips into Day 2 as Day 1c of the Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago $1,650 Main Event has come to an end.

George Vazanellis pushed toward 20 starting stacks as he finished the day with 512,000, putting him third overall behind Mike O'Neill and Josh Reichard, who advanced from the 1a flight. Vazanellis caught a hot streak after the dinner break and never looked back as he eclipsed the 500,000 before the last three levels of the night.

Second in chips was Kevin Theodore who was the only other player to surpass 400,000 on Day 1c with 474,000. Peter Kelly (391,000), Henry Zou (381,000), and Nick Pupillo (354,000) round out the top five stacks to end the night.

Others advancing included Chris Moon, Blake Whittington, Ben Grise, Shawn Roberts. Eric Salazar, Jacob Bazeley, Eddie Blumenthal, Aaron Massey, and reigning HPT Player of the YearAaron Johnson.

The total prize pool was calculated at the end of registration, coming to $833,760 with $186,812 and a $3,500 HPT Championship package to the winner. With 50 bagging Day 1c, that leaves a total of 94 runners left in the event out of 579 runners. Of those, 63 will get paid.

HPT Ameristar East Chicago Payouts

Place	Prize Money
1	$186,812
2	$115,406
3	$75,637
4	$52,555
5	$38.192
6	$29,640
7	$24,908
8	$20,757
9	$16,605
10-12	$12,786
13-15	$9,548
16-18	$7,306
19-27	$5,480
28-36	$4,566
37-45	$3,819
46-54	$3,238
55-63	$2,989

Day 2 kicks off Sunday at 11 a.m. local time. Come back to PokerNews as action rolls to the final table.

Tags: Aaron Johnson Ben Grise Blake Whittington Chris Moon Eddie Blumenthal Eric Salazar George Vazanellis Henry Zou Jacob Bazeley Josh Reichard Mike O'Neill Nick Pupillo Peter Kelly Shawn Roberts

09-01-2019 03:45 UTC

Asadorian Stays Aggressive, Puts Massey to the Test

Anthony Thompson

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Adam Asadorian opened for 6,500 on the button and was called by George Vazanellis from the small blind along with Aaron Massey from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Asadorian who continued for 6,500 getting called by Massey after Vazanellis folded.

Massey check-called Asadorian's 11,500 bet after the came on the turn and the dealer completed the board with the river.

Massey checked his option once more and Asadorian fired out 36,500 which was half of Massey's stack.

After careful consideration and a few glares, Massey mucked his hand and Asadorian raked in the chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Vazanellis	580,000 60,000	60,000
Adam Asadorian	135,000 55,000	55,000
Aaron Massey	80,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Adam Asadorian George Vazanellis Aaron Massey

09-01-2019 03:20 UTC

Zou Doubles Through Roberts

Anthony Thompson

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Shawn Roberts opened for 5,500 from early position and Henry Zou three-bet to 15,000 from middle position. Action folded back around to Roberts who four-bet Zou all in and was called.

Shawn Roberts:
Henry Zou:

The flop of was no help to Roberts but the turn gave him a wheel draw.

The dealer then dropped the on the river and Roberts sent 53,500 over to Zou.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shawn Roberts	200,000 -50,000	-50,000
Henry Zou	110,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Shawn Roberts Henry Zou

09-01-2019 02:25 UTC

Johnson Building

Anthony Thompson

Level 12 : 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

George Vazanellis opened under the gun for 4,000 and a middle position player three-bet to 11,500. Aaron Johnson called sitting directly to his left along with Vazanellis.

The flop was checked to the turn.

Vazanellis checked his option to the initial who followed and Johnson bet 14,000. Vazanellis mucked his hand while the initial raiser called.

The dealer dropped the on the river putting a staright on the board along with four hearts.

Johnson fired out 35,000 after the option was checked to him and his opponent called to see Johnson table for the winner.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Vazanellis	365,000
Aaron Johnson	135,000 75,000	75,000

Tags: George Vazanellis Aaron Johnson

09-01-2019 02:05 UTC

Former HPT Champ Shepsky Eliminated by Vassios

Anthony Thompson

Level 12 : 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Ted Vassios opened for 4,000 from middle position and was called by a player from late position. Action was on Matt Shepsky who moved all in for from the big blind and was called by Vassios.

Matt Shepsky:
Ted Vassios:

Shepsky was behind and didn't receive any help from the flop.

The turn paired the board with the and Shepsky needed a seven to stay alive.

Unfortunately, the river doubled paired the board with the and he was eliminated from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ted Vassios	130,000
Matt Shepsky	Busted

Tags: Matt Shepsky Ted Vassios

09-01-2019 01:32 UTC

Prize Pool Information Released

Anthony Thompson

Level 11 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

The 579 entries created a prize pool of $833,760. There will be 63 places paid. The winner of the event will claim $186,812 along with a $3,500 HPT Championship package. A min-cash in 63rd will be worth $2,989 .

Payout information has been released to PokerNews. It's unofficial until the start of Day 2.

Place	Prize Money
1	$186,812
2	$115,406
3	$75,637
4	$52,555
5	$38.192
6	$29,640
7	$24,908
8	$20,757
9	$16,605
10-12	$12,786
13-15	$9,548
16-18	$7,306
19-27	$5,480
28-36	$4,566
37-45	$3,819
46-54	$3,238
55-63	$2,989

09-01-2019 01:05 UTC

Vazanellis Dusts Another

Anthony Thompson

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

There was heads up action after the flop between Vazanellis from the big blind and a middle position player.

The board read and Vazanellis checked his option to his opponent who bet 13,000. Vazanellis raised to 40,000 putting his opponent all in and was called.

George Vazanellis:
Opponent:

Vazanellis turned trips leaving his opponent drawing to a tree or six.

The river fell the improving Vazanellis to a full boat eliminating his opponent from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Vazanellis	260,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: George Vazanellis

08-31-2019 23:14 UTC

Vazanellis Rivers Broadway and Gets Paid

Anthony Thompson

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

There was heads up action between George Vazanellis who sat under the gun and his opponent from middle position.

The board read and with 25,000 already in the middle, Vazanellis raised his opponents 20,000 bet to 40,000.

Vazanellis's opponent went into the tank for sometime before talking himself into making the call.

Vazanellis tabled and his opponent tossed his hand into the muck exposing .

Player	Chips	Progress
George Vazanellis	220,000 220,000	220,000

Tags: George Vazanellis

08-31-2019 22:27 UTC

Raghavan Doubles with Tens

Anthony Thompson

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante

A player from late position opened action and Ravi Raghavan jammed for 12,600 on the button getting a call from the initial raiser.

Ravi Raghavan:
Opponent:

Raghavan was ahead but had to dodge two overcards as the flop fell .

The dealer turned the and Raghavan doubled up after the board paired with the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ravi Raghavan	28,000 -4,000	-4,000

Tags: Ravi Raghavan

08-31-2019 21:48 UTC

Morford Sends Opponent Packing

Anthony Thompson

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

Leon Morford opened for 1,500 from early position and the button player three-bet jammed for 8,000 getting a call from Morford.

Leon Morford:
Opponent:

Morford was behind until the flop fell pairing his jack.

The turn gave Morford's opponent a gutterball but Morford would trip up with river to eliminate his opponent.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leon Morford	45,000 -25,000	-25,000

Tags: Leon Morford