Grand Falls Casino

Wesley Ismay Leads After Day 1a of MSPT Grand Falls; 19 Players Advance

Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa – which is just outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota – attracted 87 entries, which puts the tournament well on pace to surpassing the advertised $150,000 guarantee.

After 14 levels of play, the field was whittled down to the final 19 with Vale, South Dakota's Wesley Ismay (pictured) and his stack of 224,500 leading the pack.

Ismay, who ranks 16^th on South Dakota's all-time money list with $93,235 in live tournament earnings, is looking for his first MSPT cash, and no doubt hopes to earn a payday similar to the $57,991 he won in 2009 after finishing 88^th in the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Others who bagged and tagged were Timothy McReynolds (190,000), Joe Barnard (106,500), Phil Mader (90,000), MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge (69,000), James Weaver (54,500) and Aaron Johnson (25,000).

Of course not everyone was so fortunate. Among those to fall on Day 1a were the father-son duo Brett and Josh Reichard; four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Mark Fink; MSPT Pros Blake Bohn and Matt Alexander; MSPT Season 3 Running Aces champ Rodger Johnson; poker pro Jeff Fielder; and PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah.

Of course all of those players have the option of returning for Day 1b at 4:00 p.m. local time Saturday. We'll be back then to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor of the MSPT Grand Falls Casino, so be sure to join us then.

End-of-Day 1a Chip Counts

Wesley Ismay bags the Day 1a chip lead with 224,500 at Grand Falls Casino Resort
19/87 players advance to Day 2
#canyoufeelit

Wesley Ismay - Vale, SD 224,500
Timothy McReynolds - Omaha, NE 190,000
Luke Blindert - Sioux Falls, SD 110,500
Joseph Barnard - St. Paul, MN 106,500
Jon Maras - Hartford, SD 98,000
Jared Mohnen - Mitchell, SD 97,500
Lonny Beynon - Sioux Falls, SD 97,000
Johnny McGriff - Quinn, SD 96,000
Brian Wika - Sioux Falls, SD 90,500
Phil Mader - Grand Island, NE 90,000
Harold "Larry" Sherman - Goodwin, SD 87,000
Darlo Van Surksum - Doon, IA 85,500
John Cap - Scotland, SD 79,000
Mark Hodge - Corcoran, MN 69,000
Howard Dion - Trent, SD 60,000
Keith Ehlers - Kimball, SD 58,000
James Weaver - Rapid City, SD 54,500
Robbin Green - Groton, SD 48,000
Aaron Johnson - Red Wing, MN 25,000

Three More Hands

The tournament staff has just announced that the remaining players will play three more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a list of survivors with chip counts as well as a full Day 1a recap.

Mo Nuwwarah Eliminated Late in the Night

Action folded to Howard Dion on the button and he moved all in for 23,000. Phil Mader then moved all in over the top from the small blind and Mo Nuwwarah opted to call off his 17,000 from the big.

Nuwwarah:
Mader:
Dion:

Nuwwarah seemed disappointed that he didn’t hold two live cards, while Mader felt the same about Dion’s kicker. That’s the card that made the difference too as the board ran out .

Howard Dion - 60,000
Phil Mader - 18,000
Mo Nuwwarah - Busted

Timothy McReynolds Gets Lucky to Stay Alive

In the next hand after losing most of his chips to Robbin Green, Timothy McReynolds moved all in under the gun for 17,000 and Darlo Van Surksum called from the small blind.

McReynolds:
Van Surksum:

McReynolds had a kicker problem, but it got resolved on the flop. Neither the turn nor river changed a thing and McReynolds sat back down with new life.

Darlo Van Surksum - 95,000
Timothy McReynolds - 38,000

Robbin Green Doubles Through Timothy McReynolds

Timothy McReynolds was among the chip leaders for most of the day, but he just hit a huge speed bump in the form of Robbin Green.

We missed the action unfold, but we do know that Green fot his last 60,100 all in on the turn with the board reading .

McReynolds:
Green:

Both players held trips, but Green’s kicker had him out in front. The river was of no consequence, and Green doubled through McReynolds.

Robbin Green - 140,000
Timothy McReynolds - 17,500

MSPT Pro Matt Alexander Dispatched By James Weaver

“I’m out,” MSPT pro and commentator Matt Alexander told us.

Alexander, who has been keeping the room entertained by buying rounds of drinks, then explained that he shoved his last six big blinds holding and ran smack dab into the of Rapid City’s James Weaver.

The aces held and that was all she wrote for Alexander, who will give it another go tomorrow on Day 1b.

James Weaver - 80,000
Matt Alexander - Busted

Read New Issues of MSPT Magazine Online Absolutely Free

Earlier this season, the Mid-States Poker Tour launched the first issue of MSPT Magazine, which is released on monthly basis. Physical copies of the magazine are available at all MSPT host venues, but for those around the world who may not be able to make it to those casinos, you can now read issues online absolutely free.

Simply click here to be taken to our library!

Last Break of the Night

Players are now on their last 10-minute break of the night.

Charles "Doc" Hanson Eliminated By Joe Barnard

Joe “The Next Big Thing” Barnard opened for 3,300 only to have Charles "Doc" Hanson three-bet jam for 9,700 from the button. Both blinds folded and Barnard made a quick call.

Hanson:
Barnard:

“Put a queen out there,” Hanson requested. The dealer did not oblige and instead ran out a dry .

Joe Barnard - 92,000
Charles "Doc" Hanson - Busted