Meskwaki Casino

Jason Ramos Looks to Go Back-to-Back at Meskwaki, Leads 53 Day 1B Survivors

The MSPT has set yet another record for largest-ever major ($1,000+ buy-in) poker tournament in Iowa. Day 1B of the 2017 MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship drew 270 entrants, which along with Day 1A’s 226 brought the total field up to 496 entries, the most the MSPT has ever drawn to Meskwaki. That is well ahead of the previous record of 466 set earlier this year in the #MSPT100, the tour’s 100th ever Main Event.

The top 45 players will get paid with a min-cash being worth $2,398 and the eventual winner taking home $115,109. The man from the 53 Day 1B survivors best positioned to make a run at the top prize is Jason Ramos, who bagged the chip lead with 295,500 after 14 levels of play. That is a bit ahead of Day 1A chip leader Al Hedin, who advanced with 277,500.

Ramos is actually looking to go back-to-back here at Meskwaki Casino as back in March he topped a field of 466 entrants to win the #MSPT100 (our 100^th Main Event) for $108,120.

Others who advanced from the Day 1B field were MSPT Season 7 Canterbury Park champ Jonathan Kim (261,500), Kou Vang (199,000), Phil Mader (164,500), Nikki Nelson (146,500), Jon Hanner (105,500), Mike Holm (102,500), Adam Lamphere (101,000), and Howard Hankin (26,000).

Among those who saw their 2017 MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship dreams come to an end were three-time MSPT champ Carl Carodenuto, current POY leader Keith Heine, 2016 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Champ Andy Rubinberg, MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge, MSPT Pros Matt Alexander and Blake Bohn, and reigning Iowa State Champ John Sun.

The surviving 96 players from both flights will return at 11 a.m. CDT on Sunday to play down to a winner.

Day 1B Chip Counts

Three More Hands

The tournament staff just announced that the remaining players will play three more hands before bagging and tagging on Day 1B. Stay tuned for a list of survivors with chip counts, a recap of the action, and the Day 2 seat draw.

MSPT Pro Blake Bohn and 2016 Iowa State Poker Champ John Sun Fall

MSPT Pro Blake Bohn, a two-time champ, got his last 40,000 all in preflop and found himself in a classic race against Walter Lustgraaf.

Lustgraaf:
Bohn:

Bohn was looking to hold to double, but that proved easier said than done as the flop gave Lustgraaf the lead. Neither the turn nor river help Bohn and he hit the rail.

Likewise, 2016 MSPT Iowa State Poker Champion John Sun was eliminated from the tournament, which ensures a new champ will be crowned tomorrow.

Blake Bohn - Busted
John Sun - Busted

Late Night Glamor Shots

Late Pot for Phil Mader

Phil Mader raised to 6,000 under the gun and Weston Berner called from the cutoff. The rest of the players folded and the two saw a flop of .

Mader continued for 6,300, Berner called, and the dealer burned and turned the .

Mader checked and then called a bet of 13,500 from Berner, which led to the on the river.

Mader checked and Berner paused for a few beats before checking behind. Mader tabled the and it was good as Berner sent his hand to the muck.

Phil Mader - 100,000

Adam Lamphere Sends Gary Herstein Back to Chicago

We missed the preflop action, but we do know that Gary Herstein got his short stack all in preflop and was at risk against Michigan’s Adam Lamphere.

Lamphere:
Herstein:

Herstein had a kicker problem and it didn’t get resolved as the board ran out .

Adam Lamphere - 100,000
Gary Herstein - Busted

Another Round of Chip Counts

Drew Sumner - 200,000
Kurt Bales - 120,000
Ken Pates - 120,000
Todd Melander - 95,000
Nikki Nelson - 90,000
Ryan Phan - 85,000
Andy Rogowski - 80,000
John Sun 65,000
Chris Moon - 55,000
DJ Buckley - 30,000
Rodger Johnson - 25,000
Jon Hanner - 20,000
TJ Murphy - Busted

MSPT Returns to Minnesota’s Running Aces September 16-24 for $200K GTD Main Event

For the second time in Season 8, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is heading to Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minnesota – which is just north of the Twin Cities. From September 16-24, the MSPT will host a series of $65 and $250 qualifiers culminating in an $1,100 buy-in, $200,000 guarantee Main Event the weekend of September 22-24.

The Main Event, which requires players be just 18 years of age to participate, will run from Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24. The tournament features two starting flights beginning Friday evening with Day 1A at 4 p.m., followed by Day 1B at the same time on Saturday. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned.

“The MSPT has visited Running Aces each year since our first season, and the latest will mark our 12^th Main Event held at the property,” said MSPT President Bryan Mileski. "As always, we expect Minnesota’s best to turn out in force, but they’ll have to contend with those who plan to make the trip over from such states as Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota.”

The Main Event final table will be broadcast LIVE (15-minute delay) worldwide on msptpoker.com using RFID technology allowing all viewers to see the hole cards. In addition, the entirety of the Main Event will be live reported in the MSPT live blog, which can be found on msptpoker.com once the tournament begins. Simply look for the neon green button that reads "Live Updates."

In addition, there will be a slew of Running Aces Casino Bonus Events in the week leading up to the MSPT Main Event. They include $30 and $80 no-limit hold'em tournaments, a $75 Bounty event, and a Freeroll with two $1,100 Main Event seats added.

For a full look at the MSPT Running Aces schedule, click here.

The MSPT last visited Running Aces back in February when Luke Bohnen bested a field of 358 entries – the biggest Main Event there in four years – to take down the title and an $86,440 top prize. You can read more about his win by clicking here.

Last season, cash game pro Luke Arora topped a field of 347 entrants, including MSPT Pro Matt Alexander in heads-up play, to capture an $83,773 first-place prize. In September of last year, Jeremy Dresch bested 344 entrants to win $83,045 and his second MSPT title.

Others who've captured titles at Running Aces over the years include Peixin Liu (Sept. 2015 for $85,498), Erv Bjerga (Feb. 2015 for $91,941), Ken Pates (Sept. 2014 for $87,698), Mark Sandness (Feb. 2014 for $90,913), David Gonia (Feb. 2013 for $93,940), Rodger Johnson (Feb. 2012 for $79,185), Jason Seitz (Feb. 2011 for $56,295), and Joe Matheson (April 2010 for $51,349).

Running Aces Casino is open 24/7 and offers multiple poker tournaments daily. Players can also find a variety of cash games. While you’re there, you can also have fun at Blackjack, Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat and more.

The MSPT has also worked out rates with several nearby hotels, which you can learn about by clicking here.

For those coming from the Twin Cities area, here are some helpful directions:

Directions From Minneapolis

- Interstate 35W North toward Forest Lake
- 1/4 miles after 35W merges with 35E, exit on Highway 97/Lake Drive, exit #129
- Turn left at top of exit ramp and proceed West on Lake Drive 1 mile to Running Aces Blvd
- Turn left on Running Aces Blvd
- After 1/4 mile on Running Aces Blvd, follow signs into Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Directions From St. Paul

- Interstate 35E North toward Forest Lake
- 1/4 miles after 35E merges with 35W, exit on Highway 97/Lake Drive, exit #129
- Turn left at top of exit ramp and proceed West on Lake Drive 1 mile to Running Aces Blvd
- Turn left on Running Aces Blvd
- After 1/4 mile on Running Aces Blvd, follow signs into Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Be sure to follow the Mid-States Poker Tour on Twitter @msptpoker, like us on Facebook here, and subscribe at Twitch.tv/mspt.

Late Night Counts

Jason Ramos – 205,000
Sam De SIlva – 175,000
Jon Kim – 175,000
Mike Holm – 111,000
JC Smith – 110,000
Jared Lofland – 110,000
Ken Pates – 100,000
Troy Weber – 95,000
Kou Vang – 90,000
Steve Anderson – 90,000
Thomas Peebles – 62,000
Blake Bohn – 60,000
Aaron Johnson – 60,000
Jim Duda – 45,000
Jeff Grimes – 32,000
Howard Hankin – 30,000