Running Aces Casino

Sam Topalovic Bags One of the Biggest Day 1A Stacks in MSPT History

Day 1A of the latest Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces Casino proved to be a record-breaking affair on two fronts. First, the 179 entrants made it the largest-ever Day 1A field at the venue. Second, Sam Topalovic bagged up one of the largest Day 1 chip lead in tour history with 467,500.

Topalovic only has one MSPT cash, which was $2,286 for finishing 35^th in a Season 6 stop at Canterbury Park. All told, he had $38,416 in live tournament earnings with his career best being $15,376 for finishing eighth in the 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Horseshoe Hammond High Roller.

After 14 levels of play, 29 players remained including other big stacks like two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch (398,500), Eric Eelkema (216,500), and WSOP bracelet winner John Reading (194,000).

They were joined by current MSPT POY points leader Keith Heine (174,500), 2016 Minnesota Poker Player of the Year Saad Ghanem (95,000), Wisconsin’s Rick Syverud (62,500), MSPT Season 2 Canterbury Park champ Kou Vang (35,500). and defending champ Luke Bohnen (113,500), who won earlier this season for $86,440.

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to try and fall were MSPT champs Paul Cross, Jonathan Kim, Erv Bjerga, Matt Kirby, Peixin Liu, Joe Matheson, Josh Reichard, John Sun, and Jason Sell. Likewise, WSOP bracelet winner Mitch Schock, MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge, MSPT Season 7 POY Rich Alsup, and professional soccer player Bernardo Anor all found themselves on the rail.

Day 1B will kick off at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday. Before that at 10:30 a.m., there will be a last-chance $250 satellite with 20% of the field advancing to the Main Event.

We’ll be back tomorrow to bring you all the latest and greatest straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to join us then.

End-of-Day 1A Chip Counts

"So F'd Up" Hand Gives Durwin Matuska Huge Triple

Joseph Michael raised to 5,200 from UTG, and got a call from a John Reading in middle-position. Durwin Matuska then three-bet jammed for 52,100 from the small blind, and Jason Sell snap-called for 51,400. Michael then snap-shoved for 53,000 total, which led Reading to lay his hand down.

Michael:
Matuska:
Sell:

Matuska picked a bad spot to rip his fours in, and Sell found himself in a cooler situation with his kings. Michael looked poised for a huge triple up, but the flop had other ideas.

“So f***ed up!” Michael said disgustedly.

The changed nothing, and the sealed Sell’s fate and crippled Michael down to under a big blind. Matuska meanwhile picks up a huge pot at the close of the night.

Durwin Matuska - 165,000 (69 bb)
Joseph Michael - 1600 (<1 bb)
Jason Sell - Busted

Three More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play three more hands before bagging and tagging on the night. Stay tuned for a list of survivors with chips counts along with a recap of the Day 1A action.

Andrew Raddeman Bests Aaron Johnson

Aaron Johnson raised to 15,000 in early position, which was the majority of his stack. Andrew Raddeman then shoved for about 35,000 from the small blind, and Johnson quickly called off his remaining 7,200.

Johnson:
Raddeman:

The flop proved to be something for everyone; , giving Johnson a Royal Flush draw and Raddeman two pair.

“What the hell?” Steve WazWaz exclaimed upon seeing the flop.

The provided no help to Johnson, though, and although the river was paint, it was the , which wasn’t enough to secure Johnson the win. He took his leave and Raddeman picked up a crucial pot late in Day 1A.

Andrew Raddeman - 62,000 (26 bb)
Aaron Johnson - Busted

Eric Eelkema Takes from Kou Vang

MSPT Season 2 Canterbury Park champ Kou Vang raised to 5,200 from middle position and Eric Eelkema three-bet to 13,500 from the small blind.

Vang made the call and the flop came down . Eelkema led out for 14,000, Vang called, and the dealer burned and turned the .

This time Eelkema bet 21,000 and that sent Vang deep in the tank. After a few minutes, he opted to give it up and Eelkema’s aggression won him the pot.

Eric Eelkema - 200,000 (83 bb)
Kou Vang - 52,000 (22 bb)

Vic Peppe vs. Jason Sell

WSOP bracelet winner John Reading raised to 4,700 from middle position and Vic Peppe, who was to his direct left, made the call. MSPT Season 5 Ho-Chunk Champ Jason Sell came along from the big blind and three players took a flop of .

Two checks saw Peppe bet 12,000 and only Sell called to see the turn, which they both checked. Action then repeated itself on the river.

“I have a three,” Sell said.

Peppe then tabled the to win the pot. Fun Fact: That’s the same hand Phil Hellmuth used to win the 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Vic Peppe - 120,000 (60 bb)
Jason Sell - 90,000 (45 bb)

Some Late Night Shots

Vic Peppe Limps and Eliminates

Vic Peppe, who finished runner-up to Jeremy Dresch in this very event one year ago, limped under the gun and the player in the cutoff moved all in for 19,600. The button and blinds folded and Peppe, a falconer, opted to call.

Peppe:
Cutoff:

“Live cards,” Peppe said. Indeed, he was behind but had two live ones. The flop was kind in that it gave Peppe a pair, and he locked it up on the turn when the made it trips.

The meaningless was run out on the river and Peppe was pushed the pot.

Vic Peppe - 105,000 (52 bb)

Late Night Chip Counts

Sam Topalovic - 300,000 (150 bb)
Jeremy Dresch - 250,000 (125 bb)
Tria “T” Vue - 175,000 (88 bb)
Keith Heine - 150,000 (75 bb)
Bill Gallup - 150,000 (75 bb)
Luke Bohnen - 140,000 (70 bb)
Max Havlish - 115,000 (58 bb)
Kou Vang - 90,000 (45 bb)
Vic Peppe - 80,000 (40 bb)
Xong Lee - 60,000 (30 bb)
RIchard Syverud - 55,000 (28 bb)
Jason Sell - 42,000 (21 bb)
Mike Lang - 30,000 (15 bb)
Aaron Johnson - 25,000 (13 bb)
Katie Gebhart - 23,000 (12 bb)