Running Aces Casino

Day 1c of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event attracted 391 runners, which along with 1a's 195 and 1b’s 280 brought the total field up to 866 entries, shattering the $500k guarantee.

The field generated a $838,520 prize pool, and the top 90 players will get paid a minimum of $2,180, while the eventual winner will walk away with a $163,511 first-place prize, along with the Main Event trophy.

At the end of the third and final flight, just 47 players bagged and tagged with Jeff Petronack bagging the flight chip lead with 547,000.

Petronack went on a late-night heater to jump Tanner Pray (543,000), Steve Houle (530,000), Han (Mike) Wang (513,000), Goran Filipovic (501,000) for the top spot as each bagged north of 500k and rounded out the top five stack.

They were joined by Mike Puccio (499,000), MSPT champ Jason Sell (478,000), March’s Main Event runner-up Rory Linton (371,000), Jason Speath (350,00), and MSPT champ Curtis Vierstraete (286,000).

All surviving players from the starting flights – of which there are 102 (22 from Day 1a, 33 from 1b, and 47 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, December 10th 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 Winter Poker Classic Remaining Schedule

MSPT Winter Poker Classic
$1,110 Main Event
Entrants: 866
Prize Pool: $838,520

The MSPT Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event at Running Aces Casino attracted a total of 866 entries through three starting flights and blew past the $500,000 GTD and generated a $838,520 prize pool.

A total of 90 places will be paid a minimum of $2,180, while the winner of the event will take home $163,511 along with the coveted MSPT Winter Poker Classic Main Event trophy!

Paul Johnson raised to 15,000 from middle position and found two callers which included Peter Her from the button.

The flop was checked to Johnson who continued for 15,000 and only Her called to see the pair the board on the turn.

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

Johnson tabled for two-pair and it was good as Her released his hand into the muck.

Paul Johnson - 335,000
Peter Her - 170,000

Over the past week, players have been inside Running Aces Horse Track & Casino duking it out for the MSPT Winter Poker Classic in Columbus, MN.

In Event #12: $2,500 NLH Hall of Famer High Roller, 46 players took to the felt and generated a $105,800 prize pool that was paid out to the top 5 players.

In the end, it was Mark Sandness who secured his second MSPT title and you can read all about his win here.

So far, 55 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and a final group of hopefuls will look to add their names to that list today.

All who make it through until the end of play will return tomorrow, Sunday, December 10th, 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.

In Event #11: $250 NLH Monster Stack, 220 players took to the felt and generated a $44,000 prize pool that was paid out to the top 24 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Moon Ahmed (10th place - $792), Beile Li (15th place - $660), and Amir "AT" Tavanae (21st place - $288).

Taming the Monster Stack was Leo Pinamonti who took home the top prize along with the MSPT Winter Poker Classic trophy!

Final Table Result

*denotes chop

Mark Fink opened for 9,000 from the hijack only to have James Gregg three-bet jam for 33,000 from the button.

Action folded to TJ Murphy who called from the big blind, and Fink called as well bringing about a flop.

Action went check-check, and the dealer turned the .

Murphy quickly moved a 50,000 bet into the middle and Fink called off his stack holding less.

James Gregg:
Mark Fink:
TJ Murphy:

Gregg was ahead after flopping top set, and the river secured his triple-up while Murphy collected Fink’s remaining stack.

TJ Murphy - 361,000
James Gregg - 120,000
Mark Fink - Eliminated