A New Record Is Set is Set; DePalma Leads Day 1b Flight
Day 1b has been completed in the the Hollywood Poker Open Toledo $1,115 Regional Main Event, and the Day 2 field is set. With 323 total entries in the tournament, a new record was set for largest HPO Regional Main Event. The top 36 places will reach the money, with the winner set to earn $77,514.
Nicholas DePalma ended the day atop the leaderboard with 298,000 in chips. DePalma had a healthy stack most of the day, but as the evening went on he shot to the lead. Not only did DePalma bag the chip lead on Day 1b, but he topped all survivors moving forward. On Day 1a, Lance Howard finished with 288,000 in chips as the biggest stack, so he'll enter Day 2 second on the leaderboard.
Firas Sadou may not have the biggest stack, but he had one exciting roller coaster of a day. He reentered at least three times and the third bullet proved to be the charm as he rode it all the way to Day 2. He was soaring near 200,000 in chips before a series of unfortunate events led him short stacked. But, Sadou battled back and ended the day on 96,500.
Jacob Wojtuniecki (56,500) joined his brother Phillip Wojtuniecki (143,500) in advancing to Day 2, but their other brother Erik Wojtuniecki failed to make it through.
The 34 players who survived Day 1b will join the 14 from Day 1a, which included HPO ambassador and 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker. Day 2 will start on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. local time and play will continue until a winner is crowned.
Stay tuned to PokerNews.com for the thrilling conclusion of this record-setting event.