Silverado Casino

The second and final starting flight of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) 2023 MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship is in the books!

Day 1b attracted 216 runners during Saturday's action, bringing the grand total to 434 entries (218 from Day 1a; 216 from 1b) which was enough to blast past the $200k guarantee.

The field generated a $419,480 prize pool and the top 45 players will get paid a minimum of $2,307, while the eventual winner will walk away with a $92,286 first-place prize, along with the coveted custom Deadwood trophy!

After the completion of Level 15, just 27 players bagged with Joe Schroer (523,00) edging out Kevin Ellis (518,000) for the top stack while Jared Bonn (316,000), Austin Gates (301,000), and Jeff Bowen (271,000) round out the top five stacks.

Others to punch their tickets to Day 2 were Rob Urbatsch (254,000), Lawrence Vigil (230,000), Delbert Ghost Bear (181,000), and MSPT champ Umut Ozturk (151,000).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to make it through the night. Among those to fire and fall in Saturday's flight were MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson, MSPT champ Ryan Skluzak, 2019 Deadwood champ Sergio Mireles, and defending champ Chris Burke just to name a few.

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 53 (26 from Day 1a and 27 from 1b) – will return at 11 a.m. local time tomorrow and will play down to a winner.

2023 MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship Payouts

Remaining MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship Schedule

Lawrence Vigil raised from early position and then called the 45,000 three-bet jam Aaron Knudson made from the cutoff.

Aaron Knudson:
Lawrence Vigil:

Knudson was dominated until the dealer dropped a flop pairing his queen.

Things started to get sweaty for Knudson after the dealer turned the giving Vigil a Broadway draw only to drop the on the river to end his Main Event.

Lawrence Vigil - 200,000
Aaron Knudson - Eliminated

Jeff Bowen opened under the gun for 15,000 and then called the 54,000 three-bet jam Terry Rehurek made from the next seat over.

Terry Rehurek:
Jeff Bowen:

It was a classic race with Bowen taking the lead after the flop gave him top two pair.

Unfortunately for Rehurek, he was unable to catch up as the turn followed by the river ended his tournament.

Jeff Bown - 240,000
Terry Rehurek - Eliminated

MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship
Entrants: 434
Prize Pool: $419,480

Austin Gates raised to 10,000 from middle position and was called by Tom Estes from the hijack, along with Craig Reiman from the button.

The flop saw Gates continue for 12,000 and only Estes called to see the turn.

Both players checked, and then did the same after the completed the board on the river.

Estes rolled over for a missed nut draw but it was good as Gates couldn’t beat ace-high and mucked his hand.

Tom Estes - 290,000
Austin Gates - 115,000

There were 26 players who advanced from a 218-entry field after Day 1a and players who make it through tonight will join that group tomorrow for Day 2 at 11 a.m.

Tom Tines raised to 16,000 from middle position and then called the big blinds 33,000 three-bet to see a flop.

The big blind quickly announced they were all in and Tines snapped off his 93,000 stack.

Tom Tines:
Opponent:

Tines pulled ahead after flopping a set of tens and the turn followed by the river secured his double-up.

Tom Tines - 240,000