Ameristar East Chicago

Zach Heiman Rides Late Night Heater to Lead 30 Advancing Players After Final Staring Flight

Day 1c of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Ameristar East Chicago $1,110 Main Event attracted 252 runners, which along with 1a's 115 and 1b’s 189 brought the total field up to 557 entries, blasting past the $300k guarantee.

The field generated a $538,790 prize pool, paying the top 63 players with the eventual winner walking away with a six-figure first-place prize, along with the Main Event trophy.

At the end of the third and final flight, the hard stop of 30 players was reached with 29:00 remaining in Level 14 and when chips went into the bags it was Zach Heiman who collected the most with 741,000, edging out Casey Bogus (701,00) for the overall top stack.

Rounding out the top five stacks of the final flight were Anthony Palmer (623,000), inaugural Ameristar third-place finisher Mike Puccio (557,000), and Arthur Zabronsky (478,000).

They were joined by Sarah Stefan (437,000), MSPT champ Jason Ramos (249,000), Season 14 POY points leader Umut Ozturk (248,000), Brad Sailor (247,00), and MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (229,000).

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 69 (15 from Day 1a, 24 from 1b, and 30 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, October 27th to play down to a winner.

The MSPT live reporting crew will be on the floor throughout the remainder of the tournament to provide updates, so keep it here to catch the action!

MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Remaining Schedule

End of Day 1C Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Zach Heiman	741,000	745,000
Casey Bogus	701,000	640,000
Anthony Palmer	623,000	545,000
Michael Puccio	557,000	415,000
Arthur Zabronsky	478,000	410,000
Sarah Stefan	437,000	60,000
Nicholas Cikulin	353,000	365,000
Zal Irani	249,000	249,000
Jason Ramos	249,000	252,000
Umut Ozturk	248,000	240,000
Brad Sailor	247,000	210,000
Kou Vang	229,000	200,000
Paul Barton	221,000	150,000
Nathan Howard	215,000	220,000
George Pappas	209,000	247,000
David Lee	207,000	207,000
Eddie Blumenthal	196,000	78,000
John Colella	195,000	195,000
Matthew Porter	195,000	139,000
Jerry Hapunik	184,000	111,000
Ben Chen	143,000	141,000
Klaid Hyso	133,000	133,000
James Casement	121,000	121,000
Corwin Brown	111,000	135,000
Michael Ferrarotti	108,000	108,000
Christopher Underwood	95,000	95,000
James Wilson	90,000	100,000
Yi (KitKat) Klassen	81,000	105,000
Matthew Dodd	42,000	58,000
Gabriel Neighbors	37,000	240,000

Top Bagged Stacks Thus Far

So far, 39 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and the final group of hopefuls have added their names to that list.

All 30 players who are now bagging will return tomorrow, Sunday, October 29th, at 11:00 a.m. for Day 2, where the remaining players from all starting flights will combine and play until a winner is declared.

Hapunik Rivers Four Card Staright to Eliminate Janssen

Jerry Hapunik raised the button and then called MSPT champ George Janssen’s 80,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

George Janssen:
Jerry Hapunik:

Janssen was dominated but was able to pull ahead after the flop paired his four.

Unfortunately for Janssen, the turn would be the start of bad news as it gave Hapunik an open-ended straight draw, which was completed with the on the river, ending his Main Event.

Jerry Hapunik - 180,000
George Janssen - Eliminated

Ozturk Sets Up Nikola Budzakoski for KO

Nikola Budzakoski raised from middle position only to have MSPT champ Umut Ozturk three-bet from the small blind.

Action folded back to Budzakoski who four-bet jammed and Ozturk snap-called.

Nikola Budzakoski:
Umut Ozturk:

Ozturk was ahead holding a made hand of kings and improved after the flop gave him top set.

The turn was no good for Budzakoski as it left him drawing dead to the river.

Umut Ozturk - 250,000
Nikola Budzakoski - Eliminated

Chip Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Zach Heiman	512,000	230,000
Casey Bogus	503,000	385,000
Anthony Palmer	491,000	580,000
Michael Puccio	415,000	435,000
Arthur Zabronsky	410,000	370,000
Nicholas Cikulin	365,000	240,000
Greg Jennings	270,000	233,500
George Pappas	247,000	150,000
Gabriel Neighbors	240,000	209,000
Umut Ozturk	240,000	200,000
Nathan Howard	220,000	155,000
Brad Sailor	210,000	203,500
Kou Vang	200,000	187,500
Jason Sell	150,000	90,000
George Janssen	150,000	177,000
Paul Barton	150,000	155,000
Ben Chen	141,000	100,000
Matthew Porter	139,000	160,000
Corwin Brown	135,000	190,000
Jerry Hapunik	111,000	133,500
Yi (KitKat) Klassen	105,000	30,000
Eddie Blumenthal	78,000	151,000
Sarah Stefan	60,000	98,500
Matthew Dodd	58,000	40,000
Hannah Richardson	43,000	30,000
Chris Trombley	0	30,000
Li Shen	0	60,000
Griff Woodman	0	30,000
Cero Zuccarello	0	26,700
Duane Graff	0	85,000
Loki Abboud	0	59,800
Nikola Budzakoski	0	157,500
Aaron Johnson	0	30,000

MIke Puccio Ships Seniors Event

The Mid States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to the Ameristar Hotel & Casino and hosted a $250 NLH Seniors Championship that saw 100 seniors aged 50 and up build a $20,000 prize pool that paid out to the top 12 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Mary McCullough (10th Place - $420), Anwar Baig (11th Place - $420), and Gary Garnowski (12th Place - $420).

Coming out the top senior was none other than inaugural Main Event third-place finisher Mike Puccio, who took home the MSPT trophy, along with $4,635!

Seniors Championship Final Table Results

Registration Closed

Players have returned from their final break meaning registration for the MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event is now closed.

The third and final flight drew 253 entries, bringing the grand total to 557.

The plan is to play through Level 15 unless 12% of the field (30) players is reached first with the tournament clock reading 45 players remining.

Prize pool information will be posted once available.

Ramos Flushes Estafanous in Rollercoaster Cooler

Boulos Estafanous was all in for 26,000 from early position and was called by MSPT champ Jason Ramos from the hijack.

Boulos Estafanous:
Jason Ramos:

Estafanous was in rough shape holding the inferior pocket pair, but the dealer dropped a flop giving him hope with a set.

Unfortunately for Estafanous, the running turn and river gave Ramos the better flush ending his tournament.

Jason Ramos - 252,000
Boulos Estafanous - 0

"I Only Need One Ten"

Alex Ahmed open-jammed his short stack from late position only to have Sarah Stefan go over the top for 40,000 from the hijack and Nick Cikulin isolate from the small blind.

Alex Ahmed:
Sarah Stefan:
Nick Cikulin:

“I only one ten,” uttered Stefan just before one appeared in the window on the flop giving her a set.

It seemed to be Stefan’s lucky day after the dealer sweetened the deal by dropping the on the turn just before they completed the board with the on the river.

Nick Cikulin - 260,000
Sarah Stefan - 98,500
Alex Ahmed - 0