Running Aces Casino

Another full day of action was played to its conclusion during the MSPT500 Series Main Event at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack as Day 1b hit its hard stop at the end of Level 16, with 2:51 remaining at 4,000/8,000/8,000.

The second of three flights drew 170 entries, bringing the two-day total to 294, and ensures the $150k guarantee will be surpassed with one flight still remaining tomorrow.

Of the 170 entries, only 19 players remained when pens went to slips, with Gene Boyer going on a steamroller to bag the top stack of 894,000, which is good enough for second overall thus far.

Boyer positioned himself well in hopes of making another deep Day 2 run as he did just one month ago for the Minnesota Poker State Championship, while two-time MSPT Champ Mike Estes will be looking to continue his Season 17 hot streak after he finished second in chips with 630,000, putting himself third in the Day 2 lineup.

North Dakota’s Brad Pausch sat down and started collecting chips from the get-go, accumulating 403,000 to put in his bag, while Cody Torke (384,000) and Chaehae Zhur (348,000) rounded out the top five stacks of the flight.

Several other familiar players will also be joining the aforementioned five, which include Jamar Adams (338,000), Kanat Ozturk (230,000), Daniel Kennedy (183,000), the MSPT’s top casher DJ Buckley (93,000), and Kristin Dahl (93,000), are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster, along with the 19 to have already advanced from Day 1a.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1b included Vic Peppe, John Mcnee, MSPT Champ Jeffrey Birt, Joey Osterbauer, fellow MSPT Champ Brian Landon, and Eric Eelkema, just to name a few.

The final starting flight will get underway tomorrow at noon. Late registration and re-entries will remain open through Level 12 (approximately 9:10 p.m.).

Make sure to tune in to see who makes it through to Day 2.

MSPT500 Series Remaining Schedule

Steve W raised all-in for 73,000 from middle position, and Vlad Revniaga looked him up from the button.

Steve W:
Vlad Revniaga:

Revniaga was ahead holding a pair of cowboys, and the flop gave him a full house to take a commanding lead.

The dealer then completed the board with the on the turn, followed by the on the river, ending play to the night.

Vlad Revniaga - 300,000
Steve W - 0

So far, just 14 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and another group of 19 hopefuls will look to add their names to that list tonight.

The surviving players from the three starting flights will then return for Day 2 at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 10^th, and will play until a winner is crowned.

After the elimination of Brian Twete, just 20 players remain meaning, the hand-for-hand process has begun as only 19 of them will be making it to Day 2.

Photo: Mike Wilklow

WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow raised all-in for 66,000 from the button, and Gene Boyer went over the top from the small blind, giving him isolation.

Mike Wilklow:
Bene Boyer:

Wilklow was ahead, holding an ace, and the flop paired both players, while also giving Boyer a Broadway draw.

Unfortunately for Wilklow, the dealer quickly turned the , giving Boyer the nuts, and then dropped the on the river, ending his night.

Gene Boyer - 650,000
Mike Wilklow - 0

These 14 Players have already earned a $3,500 Seat to the $2M GTD RRPO MSPT Championship Main Event

Matthew Wantman

Kevin Meyers

Zilong Zhang

Vincent Moscati

June 'Oh Geez' Kim

Alex Foxen

Umut Ozturk

Jorden Helstern

Aaron Johnson

Wesley Cannon

Michael Estes

Yuchen "Carson" Chen

Lee Rzentkowski

Hamid Izadi

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL POKER OPEN (RRPO)

MSPT Championship (MAJOR)

: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood, FL

: Nov. 18 - Dec. 2, 2026

: $3,500 Main Event (1.5X POY) / $2M GTD (Nov. 27 - Dec. 2)

: MSPT will be ADDING a $3,500 RRPO MSPT Championship Seat to every Main Event 1st Place in 2026

Photo: Alan Baker

Steve W raised to 11,000 from middle position and was called by the small blind before Alan Baker fired out a 50,000 three-bet from the big blind.

Action quickly folded back to the small blind, who called off their shorter stack, and both hands were tabled.

Opponent:
Alan Baker:

Baker found himself in a race and took a quick lead after the flop fell, pairing his ace,

The turn was a good sight for Baker, as it kept him in the lead, and he faded a lucky lady on the river to eliminate his opponent.

Alan Baker - 125,000