HPT Player of the Year Pupillo Building Back Up

Nick Pupillo, who won the Heartland Poker Tour's Season XV Player of the Year race to earn a $10,000 package towards buy-ins and accommodations for Season XVI, got off to a slow start here in today's Day 1a flight, but caught a little heat in the last two hands to start climbing back towards starting stack.

Hand #1:

Joseph Brose raised to 800 from the hijack, and Pupillo quickly three-bet to 2,500 from the cutoff. Action folded back to Brose, who took a second before letting his hand go.

Hand #2:

Pupillo opened to 800 from the hijack, and everyone folded.

We'll be keeping an eye on Pupillo throughout the day, as he looks to finish one spot higher than the last time he cashed an HPT Hollywood Casino St. Louis Main Event, August's $1,650 Main Event where he finished runner-up to current MSPT Player of the Year Mike Shin.