Running Aces Casino

Matt Alexander Leads 20 Survivors After Day 1A

Day 1a of the MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) $1,110 Minnesota State Poker Championship at Running Aces Casino has come to a close after seeing 172 entrants kick things off.

Almost a full day of action was played to completion with the hard stop of 20 players being reached with 11:43 remaining in Level 15.

The final level was full of eliminations which saw two MSPT Hall of Famer’s, Blake Bohn and Kou Vang depart before chips were marked on slips which saw Matt Alexander (555,000), edge out John Pierce (544,000), and MSPT champ Jon Kim (520,000) for the top spot.

Jay Chaudhary (422,000), and Eric Seeliger (359,000) rounded out the top five stacks while WSOP bracelet winner Ian Matakis (338,000), MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup (266,000), Chuck Kersey (263,000), and fellow Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz (227,000), also finding a Day 2 berth.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a included MSPT Hall of Famer’s Jason Seitz & Matt Kirby, MSPT champ Derek McMaster and three-time MSPT champ Carl Carodenuto just to name a few.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have two more starting flights to jump back into action. Day 1b will kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time Friday, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at Noon on Saturday.

The surviving players from each flight will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor at Running Aces Casino!

Season 15 MSPT Minnesota Poker State Championship Remaining Schedule

End Day 1A Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Matt Alexander	556,000	247,000
John Pierce	544,000	325,000
Jonathan Kim (MN)	520,000	503,000
Jay Chaudhary	422,000	326,000
Eric Seeliger	359,000	272,000
Ian Matakis	338,000	310,000
Rob Maier	292,000	150,000
Richard Alsup	266,000	217,000
Chuck Kersey	263,000	250,000
Gene Boyer	247,000	200,000
Michael Wilklow	216,000	220,000
Sean Hinton	180,000	100,000
Dennis Stevermer	150,000	203,000
Chris Zimmerman	114,000	120,000
Wesley Cannon	109,000	100,000
Bob Serreyn	108,000	240,000
Bruce Swart	107,000	155,000
Gennady Shimelfarb	75,000	120,000
Paul Loeffler	65,000	122,000

Erick Wright Takes Down Monster Stack

The MSPT traveled back home to host the Season 15 Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #12: $250 No-Limit Monster Stack, 162 hunters took to the tables and created a $32,400 prize pool which was reserved for the top 18 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Bob Van Syckle (10th Place - $616), Jerry Fuhrer (11th Place - $616), Brandon Kelzenberg (14th Place - $518), and Rob Maier (17th Place - $545).

In the end, it was local grinder Erick Wright who tamed the Monster to take down the lion's share of the prize pool along with the Sapdey trophy!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

Stevermer Survives

After losing a race with pocket in a previous hand, Dennis Stevermer got his remaining 75,000 stack in the middle from the button and Paul Loeffler looked him up from the small blind.

Dennis Stevermer:
Paul Loeffler:

Stevermer didn’t like seeing Loeffler roll over a dominating ace and stood from his chair just before the dealer dropped a flop.

Stevermer then knocked on the table, acting like it was all but over until the was peeled off on the turn putting him out on front.

Once the completed the board on the river, Stevermer took his seat and collected his chips.

Dennis Stevermer - 150,000
Paul Loeffler - 65,000

Alan Berlin Finds an Epic Win

For the eighth stop of its 15th season, the MSPT traveled back home to host the Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #11: $200 No-Limit Hold'em Epic Stack, 150 epic players took to the felt and generated a $24,000 prize pool that was paid out to the top 15 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Tyler "TK" Kolness (10th Place - $492), Peter Greese (11th Place - $492), MSPT champ Max Havlish (12th Place - $492), Kyler McKnight (13th Place - $408), Richard Larson (14th Place - $408), and David Kramber (15th Place - $408).

When the dust settled, it was Alan Berlin of Shoreview, MN who came out on top with the lion's share of the prize pool, along with the Sapdey trophy!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

Wilklow Sets Up Strom in Brutal Fashion

Mike Wilklow raised to 10,000 from late position and then called Christopher Strom’s 43,000 three-bet jam from the hijack.

Christopher Strom:
Mike Wilklow:

Strom was out in front holding the superior made hand but fell behind after the flop gave Wilklow a set of nines.

The turn paired the board leaving Strom needing a ten on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night.

Mike Wilklow - 218,000
Christopher Strom - 0

Late Night Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Jonathan Kim (MN)	503,000	472,000
Jay Chaudhary	326,000	268,000
John Pierce	325,000	96,000
Ian Matakis	310,000	160,000
Chuck Kersey	250,000	140,000
Matt Alexander	247,000	267,000
Bob Serreyn	240,000	191,000
Michael Wilklow	220,000	80,000
Richard Alsup	217,000	106,000
Rob WazWaz	141,000	227,000
Paul Loeffler	122,000	125,000
Chris Zimmerman	120,000	61,000
Ezequiel Gonzalez	105,000	131,000
Wesley Cannon	100,000	30,000
Ger Lor	100,000	203,000
Matt Kirby	0	62,000
Josh Smith (IA)	0	81,000
Christopher Strom	0	63,000
Xa Vang	0	65,000
Chad Chizek	0	57,000
Bruce Fagan	0	130,000
Matthew Fox	0	70,000
Durwin Matuska	0	50,000
Derek McMaster	0	128,000

David Ehlke & Brian Knoop Dominate Tag Team Event

For the eighth stop of its 15th season, the MSPT traveled back home to host the Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #10: $300 No-Limit Hold'em Tag Team, 442 players took to the field and generated a $50,830 prize pool that was paid out to the top 24 teams.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Shawn Libersky & John Volgren (14th place - $762), James Reno & Kevin Hicks (17th place - $686), Thai Dinh & Yume Carr (20th place - $564), and Rory Linton & Kurtis Koenig (22nd place - $488).

Coming out the top team was David Ehlke & Brian Knoop who took home the top prize along with the MSPT Spadey trophies!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

Maier Takes from Gonzalez

Ezequiel Gonzalez opened under the gun and was called by MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn from the small blind and Rob Maier from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Gonzalez who continued for 12,000 and only Maier check-called to see the turn.

This time, Maier check-raised to 38,000 after Gonzalez fired out a 15,000 bet and it was enough to push him off the pot.

Rob Maier - 238,000
Ezequiel Gonzalez - 58,000

Round of Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Jonathan Kim (MN)	472,000	244,000
Eric Seeliger	272,000	247,000
Jay Chaudhary	268,000	103,200
Matt Alexander	267,000	219,000
Blake Bohn	205,000	265,000
Ger Lor	203,000	200,000
Dennis Stevermer	203,000	218,000
Bob Serreyn	191,000	85,000
Ian Matakis	160,000	141,000
Bruce Swart	155,000	166,000
Chuck Kersey	140,000	134,000
Ezequiel Gonzalez	131,000	75,000
Bruce Fagan	130,000	221,000
Gennady Shimelfarb	120,000	65,000
Richard Alsup	106,000	151,000
Michael Wilklow	80,000	121,000
Matthew Fox	70,000	188,000
Christopher Strom	63,000	57,600
Chris Zimmerman	61,000	52,000
Durwin Matuska	50,000	47,000
Tanner Pray	0	40,000
Yi (KitKat) Klassen	0	30,000
Cory Cove	0	112,000
Sou Vang	0	75,000