Running Aces Casino

Local Businessman Jeff Birt Wins Largest-Ever MSPT Running Aces for $81,402

The latest MSPT Running Aces Main Event became the largest in tour history with 383 runners (179 on Day 1A, 204 1B), besting the previous record of 367 set back in 2013. After two long days of play, 50-year-old local businessman and part-time poker player Jeff Birt emerged victorious to claim an $81,402 first-place prize.

“I thought I played pretty well,” said Birt, who is married with two daughters. “I was short stacked, I just had to pick the right spots, be patient, and let the cards come to me. It’s been a long time coming. It was a good time, enjoyable.”

Prior to the win, Birt had just one MSPT cash, that being $7,626 for finishing 11^th in the Season 7 finale at Canterbury Park. All told he had $50,691 in tournament earnings, but more than doubled that over the weekend.

“This is my passion,” he said of poker. “It took over the game of golf. I suck at golf.”

Final Table Results
1 Jeff Birt (Bloomington, MN) $81,402
2 Tony Lacey (Lacrosse, WI) $50,325
3 Steve Webb (Mitchellville, IA) $36,631
4 Vlad Tkachuk (Ukraine) $27,011
5 Xong Lee (Monticello, MN) $20,351
6 Steve Wazwaz (Brooklyn Park, MN) $15,540
7 Freddie West (Andover, MN) $12,210
8 Durwin Matuska (Crosby, MN) $9,620
9 Alex Moua (Lake Elmo, MN) $7,030
10 Harold Brenden (Rapid City, SD) $5,920

Day 2 saw 68 players return to action, but with only 45 slated to get paid, 23 would leave empty handed including Kou Vang, Max Havlish, and last year’s runner-up Vic Peppe. Once Joseph Michael busted on the bubble in 46^th place, the in-the-money finishes included defending champ Luke Bohnen (41^st - $2,035), 2016 Minnesota Poker Player of the Year Saad Ghanem (35^th - $2,220), World Series of Poker bracelet winner John Reading (25^th - $2,590), and two-time champ Peixin Liu (19^th - $3,478).

Another player to fall was Keith Heine, who not only earned $4,070 for finishing in 18^th place, but also 200 POY points. He already sat atop the Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 8 Player of the Year leaderboard, and he extended his lead to 2,967 points over the likes of Keith Block (2,500 points), Jason Ramos (2,250 points), and Al Hedin (2,100 points), who all failed to cash at Running Aces.

After the likes of two-time champ Jeremy Dresch (16^th - $4,070), Day 1A chip leader Sam Topalovic (15^th - $4,810), MSPT Grand Falls champ Ahmed Taleb (15^th - $4,810), and Robert O’Connell (11^th - $5,920).

The first final table elimination came when Harold Brenden, who was fresh off finishing fifth in the MSPT Grand Falls, got his short stack all in preflop with ace-queen against both ace-jack and five-six. The ace-jack flopped Broadway, and that was all she wrote for Brenden, who jumped up to 1,100 POY points.

Not long after, Day 1B chip leader Alex Moua followed him out the door after check-raising all in with middle pair on the flop only to run into the top pair of Stan Webb. Next to go was the short-stacked Durwin Matuska, who shoved his last two bigs with top pair of jacks, got called by the king-queen of Tony Lacey, and saw a queen spike on the turn.

Freddie West earned his first MSPT cash of $12,210 after busting in seventh place, the result of three-betting all in with queen-jack only to run into the pocket kings of Vlad Tkachuk. Likewise, Steve Wazwaz, the cousin of poker pro and MSPT regular Rob Wazwaz, notched his first cash on the tour. He finished in sixth place for $15,540 after his ace-ten failed to overcome Webb’s Big Slick.

After a failed bluff, Xong Lee was left short and moved all in holding ace-ten and was called by Webb, who one again looked down at ace-king. The better ace won and Lee had to settle for fifth place and $20,351 in prize money.

Tkachuk bowed out next. The experienced player wasn’t afraid to make moves and apply aggression, but unfortunately for him he ran into bigger hands time and again. Eventually he shoved the button with queen-nine suited only to run into the ace-queen suited of Birt in the big blind. The board ran out clean and Tkachuk took his leave in fourth place for $27,011.

Three-handed play lasted quite a while with players taking turns holding the chip lead. Eventually the blinds and antes got up there (Level 32: 80,000/160,000/20,000) when Webb got it in on the flop with a spade flush draw against Birt’s bottom two pair. The spade escaped Webb, and he headed to the exit to collect $36,631 for his third-place finish.

Heads-up play began with Birt holding 4.675 million in chips to Wisconsin truck driver Tony Lacey’s 2.965 million. Still, it didn’t take long for things to come to a head when both players made a pair of aces on the turn. The chips went in and thanks to his kicker, Birt claimed the title.

“I know a lot of people would’ve shipped it with a lot of hands I laid down, but that’s not my style,” Birt said of his up-and-down journey. “I try to pick the better spots. The very next hand you could have pocket aces and double up, so I don’t always believe in getting it in. I had a couple of lucky spots, but I think I played well.”

Season 8 of the MSPT continues in October with the 2017 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Anthony Lacey Eliminated In 2nd Place ($50,325)

Anthony Lacey limped the button for 160,000, and Jeffery Birt checked his option in the big blind.

Birt checked the flop over to Lacey, who bet 250,000. Birt stuck around with a call.

The on the turn saw Birt check again, and Lacey fire 400,000. Birt stuck in a check-raise to 1.4 million, and that sent Lacey in the tank. After a few moments, Lacey elected to shove for 2.4 million total and Birt snap-called.

Lacey:
Birt:

Both players turned an ace, but Lacey had kicker problems. He needed a deuce to win or a four or six to chop the pot, but the fell on the river to eliminate Lacey in second place, making Birt our champion here at MSPT Running Aces!

Anthony Lacey - Eliminated in 2nd Place ($50,325)

Heads Up Chip Counts

Jeffery Birt - 4.675 million (29 bb)
Anthony Lacey - 2.965 million (19 bb)

Stan Webb Eliminated In 3rd Place ($36,631)

Jeffery Birt raised to 420,000 on the button and Stan Webb defended his big blind. Webb open-shoved his stack of 1.1 million on a flop and Birt immediately called.

Birt:
Webb:

Webb had flopped a flush draw, but Birt had flopped two pair. The on the turn added three more outs for Webb to catch, but the on the river was no help, and Webb’s roller coaster ride of a final table ends in 3rd place for $36,631.

Jeffery Birt - 4.675 million (29 bb)
Stan Webb - Eliminated in 3rd Place ($36,631)

A Flurry Of All-In Action, A Flurry Of Double-Ups

First Jeffery Birt flopped middle pair with his and got it to hold against the unimproved of Stan Webb to double his 1.15 million chip stack up.

Next Stan Webb got his last 230,000 in with and held against Birt’s .

Then a few hands later, Birt doubled Webb up again when he could find a jack with against .

The end result?

Jeffery Birt - 2.825 million (23 bb)
Stan Webb - 1.56 million (13 bb)

Jeffery Birt Doubles Up

Jeffery Birt jammed for 635,000 from the button and Anthony Lacey called from the small blind.

Birt:
Lacey:

Lacey gambled with his suited king, but found no help on a runout and doubled up Birt.

Anthony Lacey - 4.8 million (40 bb)
Jeffery Birt - 1.45 million (12 bb)

Anthony Lacey Back Over Five Million

Anthony Lacey limped the button, before Stan Webb raised to 325,000 from the small blind. Jeffery Birt folded, and Lacey called.

The flop brought another 325,000 bet from Webb. Lacey didn’t take long to shove with a covering stack.

Webb stood up, pained by the situation. “Why didn’t you fold preflop?” He asked Lacey.

“Because I like my hand.”

“Dang it. Show me?” Webb asked Lacey. Lacey agreed.

Webb tabled and folded. Lacey showed the for a flopped middle pair, and Webb looked frustrated as Lacey shipped the pot.

Anthony Lacey - 5.435 million (45 bb)
​​​​​​​Stan Webb - 1.805 million (15 bb)

Updated Chip Counts

Anthony Lacey - 5.18 million (43 bb)
Jeffery Birt - 1.6 million (13 bb)
Stan Webb - 1.22 million (10 bb)

Anthony Lacey Doubles Through Stan Webb And Reclaims The Chip Lead

Anthony Lacey limped the button, and Stan Webb raised to 400,000. Jeffery Birt cold-called, and Lacey came along as well.

The flop brought two checks from Birt and Lacey, before Webb bet 700,000 after some thought. Birt folded, but Lacey woke up with a check-raise all-in for 1.38 million. Webb stood up, and finally made a reluctant call.

Lacey:
Webb:

Lacey had flopped trips, but the turn brought Webb hope to snatch the hand away from Lacey.

The fell on the river, though, and Lacey doubled into the chip lead as this three-handed battle continues.

Anthony Lacey - 4.02 million (40 bb)
Stan Webb - 1.29 million (13 bb)

Stan Webb Takes Back The Chip Lead

Stan Webb raised from the small blind to 300,000, and Jeffery Birt called in the big blind.

Both players checked the flop, then Webb led out for 250,000 on a turn. Birt stuck around with a call.

On the river, Webb bet 350,000, and Birt didn’t take long to put in a call.

Webb tabled for two pair, and Birt told Webb “Nice hand, sir,” as he chucked his hand into the muck,

Stan Webb - 3.2 million (32 bb)
Jeffery Birt - 2.06 million (21 bb)