Canterbury Park

Jim Boone Leads Surviving 37 Day 1a Players in the Season 7 Finale

Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Canterbury Park, the final stop of Season 7, drew 213 runners, which surpassed the advertised $200K guarantee with Day 1b still to go. After 14 levels of play, just 37 players remained with Jim Boone and his stack of 363,000 leading the way.

Boone got a great deal of his chips after scoring a rare triple elimination, the result of cracking aces with kings when a third cowboy appeared on the flop. Boone is on a bit of a hot streak in the last quarter of the season. In September, he had the best cash of his MSPT career when he finished third in the MSPT Running Aces for $32,321, and two months later he placed 15^th in the MSPT Golden Gates for an additional $6,179. He’s certainly got the chips to make another deep run.

Others who bagged were World Series of Poker bracelet winner John Reading (277,000), Aaron Johnson (267,000), Alan Carty (266,000), MSPT Season 5 Ho-Chunk champ Jason Sell (204,000), John Morgan (101,500), MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge (92,000), and MSPT Pro Matt Kirby (32,000).

Of course, not everyone was so lucky. Among those to fall on Day 1a were four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Daniel Lowery, MSPT Pro Blake Bohn, MSPT Meskwaki champ Ken Komberec, Minnesota Poker Hall of Famer Mike Schneider, and Carl Carodenuto, who has not only won the last two MSPT Canterbury Park Main Events, but also leads the MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year race.

Speaking of the POY, a tight race is coming down to the wire here at Canterbury. Seven players were still in contention, but with two of them opting to skip the stop, five are essentially vying for the title. MSPT Season 6 Meskwaki champ Rich Alsup sits just 100 points behind the leader, and he’s primed to close that gap as he made it through to Day 2 with 140,500.

Likewise, two-time MSPT Jeremy Dresch made it through, albeit with 57,000. Dresch will need a win in this event to take the lead provided the field reaches 500 players. John Sun and Josh Reichard are the other two in the race, but both busted on Day 1a.

They will have the opportunity to play again on Day 1b, which will kick off at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday. As usual, we’ll be here to bring you all the action. Until then, goodnight from Minnesota!

End-of-Day 1a Chip Counts

Three More Hands

The clock has been paused and the tournament staff has drawn for the final number of hands. 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 along with a full recap of the Day 1a action.

Jesse Haabak Done and Dusted

Jesse Haabak moved all in for 15,800 from the hijack and John Pierce three-bet all in over the top for 50,000 from the button. The blinds both folded and Haabak discovered the bad news.

Haabak:
Pierce:

Haabak needed a lot of help, and he got some when the flop delivered him an open-ended straight draw. Unfortunately for him, neither the turn nor river would complete it and he was sent home just shy of advancing to Day 2.

John Pierce - 70,000
Jesse Haabak - Busted

Benjamin Valder Fails to Survive Day 1a

Rich Alsup limped, as did the player to his left, and then Benjamin Valder raised to 8,200. Action folded back to Alsup, who called, and the other player got out of the way to make it heads-up action to the flop.

Valder led out for 12,000, Alsup moved all in, and Valder called off for right around 35,000.

Valder:
Alsup:

Valder was out in front, but Alsup had a lot of outs. The turn was one of them, and just like that Valder needed an ace on the river to stay alive. Unfortunately for him, life isn’t always a Barry Greenstein book and the bricked.

Rich Alsup - 180,000
Benjamin Valder - Busted

Some Late Night Counts

John Reading - 240,000
Schuyler Thorton - 220,000
Alan Carty - 220,000
Aaron Johnson - 190,000
John Morgan - 105,000
Rich Alsup - 100,000
Mark Hodge - 100,000
Steve Belland - 80,000
Jeremy Dresch - 60,000
Hussain Sajwani - 50,000
Matt Kirby - 43,000
Jon Moras - 40,000

Jim Boone Spikes a King to Score Triple Eliminatio

After a short-stacked player moved all in for 7,600 and Jim Boone flatted, Sherry Hammers three-bet all in over the top for around 55,000. Jason Hartwig opted to call off for 20,000 from the blind, and Boone snap-called to put all three players at risk.

Boone:
Hammers:
Hartwig:
Opponent:

Hammers was the huge favorite to win a massive pot, but lady luck had other plans as a king on the flop gave Boone a set. Neither the turn nor river changed a thing, and Boone scored a rare triple knock out while extending his chip lead.

Jim Boone - 300,000

Pocket Rockets Propel David Michel to a Double

Matt Hamilton opened for 4,500 and David Michael, who was seated to his direct left, three-bet all in for 19,100. Joe Okochi called from the small blind and Hamilton got out of the way.

Michael:
Okochi:

Michael was looking to duck the old lady to double, and that’s just what he did after the board ran out a safe .

Joe Okochi - 150,000
David Michael - 49,000

Wisconsin's Rick Syverud Dispatched By Sherry Hammers

After Sherry Hammers opened with a raise, Wisconsin’s Rick Syverud three-bet all in for around 23,000. Action folded back to Hammers, and she called to put Syverud at risk.

Syverud:
Hammers:

Syverud was behind, and while he managed to pair his king, it did him little good as Hammers would pair her ace. Syverud said he hopes to return tomorrow.

Meanwhile on the other side of the room, Sherry’s husband, Tom Hammers, was eliminated in unknown action.

Rick Syverud - Busted
Tom Hammers – Busted

Last Break of the Night

Players are now on their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return they’ll play two more levels before bagging and tagging on Day 1a.