$

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Running Aces Casino

December 2 - 14, 2025

 
  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
Mike Nelson Leads First Batch of 25 Survivors After Day 1A of Winter Poker Classic Main Event
Created (12/5/2025 12:37:33 AM by Anthony Thompson)

Day 1a of the MSPT Season 16 Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event is officially in the books with 219 total entries tallied for the first starting flight.

After a hard stop was reached in Level 14 with 10:00 remaining, it was Mike Nelson who found himself atop of the chip counts, putting a whopping 730,000 on his slip to end the night.

Justin Gish

Coming in behind Nelson was Justin Gish, who ended the night with 648,000, while MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard secured the final elimination of the night, as he was the only other player to eclipse the 500k, ending with 541,000.

Last year’s Running Aces Regional champion Arlo Strozewski was a late arrival, but that didn’t stop him from rounding up a 443,000 stack, while fellow Minnesotan Ashish Gandhi rounded out the top five stacks with 425,000.

Ashish Gandhi

Others to survive the night include Daniel Kennedy (423,000), Tony Moses (293,000), MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (284,000), Loki Abboud (255,000), and WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway (144,000).

Two-Time MSPT Champ David Gonia

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to survive the night. Among those to fire and fall in Thursday’s flight were two-time MSPT champ David Gonia, Kristin Dahl, Matt Fox, Heidi Roggenkamp, WSOP bracelet winner John Reading, and fellow two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch, to name a few.

Two-Time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have two more starting flights to jump back into action.

Day 1b will kick off at 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, December 5th, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at noon on Saturday, December 6th.

The surviving players from each flight will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 7th, to play down to a winner.

MSPT Winter Poker Classic Weekend Schedule
Date Time Tournament Chips Blind Levels Gold Card Event
5-Dec 10:00 AM $265 Satellite - 1 in 5 advance to $500K GTD Day 20,000 20 Minutes
5-Dec 2:00 PM $1,110 MSPT Main Event NLH Day 1B (2-Day Event) 30,000 40 Minutes 5B
5-Dec 7:00 PM $265 Milestone Satellite - 1 in 5 advance to $500K GTD 20,000 20 Minutes
6-Dec 9:00 AM $265 Ironman Satellite - 1 in 5 advance to $500K GTD 20,000 15 Minutes
6-Dec 12:00 PM $1,110 MSPT Main Event NLH Day 1C (2-Day Event) 30,000 40 Minutes 5C
6-Dec 7:00 PM $250 Monster Stack NLH 30,000 20 Minutes 6
7-Dec 11:00 AM $1,110 MSPT Main Event NLH Day 1A (2-Day Event) - 40 Minutes 5
7-Dec 12:00 PM $300 Black Chip Bounty Bounty Ultimate Stack NLH 40,000 30 Minutes 7
7-Dec 5:00 PM $200 Ladies Monster Stack NLH 30,000 20 Minutes 8
7-Dec 7:00 PM $250 Monster Stack NLH 30,000 20 Minutes 9

Make sure to tune back in for live updates throughout the entire tournament!

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
End Day 1A Chip Counts
Created (12/5/2025 12:19:03 AM by Anthony Thompson)

Player Name Chip Count Previous Progress
Michael Nelson 730,000 612,000
Justin Gish 648,000 620,000
Josh Reichard 541,000 400,000
Arlo Strozewski 443,000 230,000
Ashish Gandhi 425,000 385,000
Daniel Kennedy 423,000 398,000
Leo Fussy 367,000 475,000
Tony Moses 293,000 90,000
Eric Eelkema 291,000 253,000
Andrew Pickett 87,000 60,000
Kou Vang 284,000 325,000
Leo Pinamonti 282,000 200,000
Loki Abboud 251,000 255,000
Gene Boyer 216,000 200,000
Uri Foox 185,000 100,000
Rob Maier 179,000 122,000
Chad Holloway 144,000 105,000
Michael Snyder 128,000 100,000
Yi (KitKat) Klassen 114,000 145,000
Joseph Larson (MN) 106,000 96,000
Paul Carney 104,000 106,000
Daniel Warner 102,000 145,000
Natan Lidukhover 97,000 30,000
Buzhyew Ansha 94,000 30,000
Chuck Kersey 29,000 171,000

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard Eliminates Prabhakar Karri on the Bubble
Created (12/5/2025 12:09:04 AM by Anthony Thompson)

Photo: Josh Reichard

Prabhakar Karri raised from middle position, and MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard defended his big blind to see a flop.

Reichard check-raised to 42,000 after Karri fired out a continuation bet, and Karri called to see the turn.

Another knock on the table from Reicahrd saw Karri move his 122,000 stack in the middle, and he was met with a quick call from Reichard.

Prabhakar Karri:
Josh Reichard:

Karri was behind needing to see a jack on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night on the bubble.

Josh Reichard - 540,000
Prabhakar Karri - 0

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
Hand-for-Hand Begins
Created (12/4/2025 11:55:01 PM by Anthony Thompson)

After the elimination of Rory Linton, 26 players remain, meaning the hand-for-hand process has begun, with only 25 players making a Day 2 berth.

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
Late Night Counts & Bust Outs
Created (12/4/2025 11:49:51 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Player Name Chip Count Previous Progress
Justin Gish 620,000 280,000
Michael Nelson 612,000 225,000
Josh Reichard 400,000 385,000
Ashish Gandhi 385,000 280,000
Kou Vang 325,000 230,000
Loki Abboud 255,000 360,000
Eric Eelkema 253,000 182,000
Arlo Strozewski 230,000 100,000
Chuck Kersey 171,000 240,000
Andrew Pickett 60,000 200,000
Matt Fox 0 60,000
Phong Vang 0 182,000
Michael Wilklow 0 210,000
Rory Linton 0 79,000
Jacob Long 0 42,000
Phil Mader 0 70,000
Matt Alexander 0 78,000
Blake Bohn 0 30,000
Wesley Cannon 0 55,600
Jeremy Dresch 0 115,000

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 3000
  • Ante: 5000
Get Ready for the 2026 Golden State Poker Championship Series!
Created (12/4/2025 11:35:37 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Golden State Poker Championship Series at Sycuan Casino, featuring 19 Gold Card Events and a $300,000 GTD Main Event❗

🤑: THREE (3) $1,110 Main Event Seat Drawings
🤑: ONE (1) Flip & Go FREEROLL Seat giveaway to the $3,500 MSPT Championship in 2026❗

📍: Sycuan Casino Resort - San Diego, CA
🗓️: January 8-19, 2026
🏆: Golden State Poker Championship
💰: $400 / $100,000 GTD Mini Main Event (Jan. 8-11)
💰: $1,110 / $300,000 GTD Main Event (Jan. 15-28)
🃏: 19 Gold Card Events

🏨: https://msptpoker.com/.../book-today-for-the-golden-state...

Event Schedule: https://msptpoker.com/showpdf.aspx?eventID=577msptpoker.com

  • Level: 13
  • Blinds: 2000
  • Ante: 4000
Moses Triples with Cowboys, Johnson Dropped by Vang
Created (12/4/2025 11:17:11 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Photo: Tony Moses

There was three-way all-in action preflop between MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson from middle position, fellow Hall of Famer Kou Vang from the hijack, and Tony Moses from the cutoff, with Moses holding an effective starting stack.

Tony Moses:
Aaron Johnson:
Kou Vang:

Moses was ahead holding a made hand of cowboys, and the runout secured him a triple-up, while Vang collected his fellow Hall of Famer’s remaining stack.

Kou Vang - 285,000
Tony Moses - 100,000
Aaron Johnson - 0

  • Level: 13
  • Blinds: 2000
  • Ante: 4000
Updated Chip Counts & Bust Outs
Created (12/4/2025 10:58:18 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Player Name Chip Count Previous Progress
Leo Fussy 475,000 430,000
Daniel Kennedy 398,000 150,000
Josh Reichard 385,000 308,000
Loki Abboud 360,000 302,000
Prabhakar Karri 300,000 220,000
Ashish Gandhi 280,000 105,000
Justin Gish 280,000 230,000
Chuck Kersey 240,000 109,000
Michael Wilklow 210,000 30,000
Phong Vang 182,000 150,000
Eric Eelkema 182,000 130,000
Daniel Warner 145,000 135,000
Rob Maier 122,000 45,000
Jeremy Dresch 115,000 60,000
Paul Carney 106,000 40,000
Chad Holloway 105,000 218,000
Joseph Larson (MN) 96,000 30,000
Tony Moses 90,000 30,000
Umut Ozturk 0 30,000
Adithya Pailla 0 114,000
Mark Larson (MN) 0 90,000
Jeff Leeps 0 65,000
David Gonia 0 60,000
Marc Harrell 0 30,000
Scott Geier 0 70,000
Jerric Jiang 0 79,000
Aaron Johnson 0 80,000
Jason Sell 0 92,100
Bruce Simmons 0 105,000
Dennis Stevermer 0 45,000

  • Level: 13
  • Blinds: 2000
  • Ante: 4000
Registration Closed
Created (12/4/2025 10:43:49 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Level 13 has started, meaning registration for Day 1a of the annual MSPT Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event at Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minnesota, is now closed, with the first starting flight tallying an impressive 219 total entries.

The plan is to play until 11% of the field (rounded up to 25 players) is reached, with the tournament clock reading 41 players remaining.

  • Level: 12
  • Blinds: 2000
  • Ante: 3000
Karri Straightens Out Bohn and Simmons for a Double KO
Created (12/4/2025 10:25:07 PM by Anthony Thompson)

Photo: Prabhakar Karri

Bruce Simmons moved his 33,500 stack into the middle from under the gun, only to have five-time MSPT champ Blake Bohn go over the top for 53,000, and Prabhakar Karri call from the big blind to put them both at risk.

Bruce Simmons:
Blake Bohn:
Prabhakar Karri:

Simmons rolled over the best made hand, until a flop fell, giving Bohn a set of sevens, while Karri picked up a gutshot straight draw.

The turn wasn’t much of a sewat for Bohn, and just before the dealer could complete the board, Karri yelled, “FIVE,” just before the fell on the river to complete his staright, securing him the double elimination.

Prabhakar Karri - 220,000
Blake Bohn - 30,000
Bruce Simmons - 0

 
 
Player Name
City
State
Country
Chips
Progress
MN 
730,000  
118,000 
 
NE 
648,000  
28,000 
 
WI 
541,000  
141,000 
 
MN 
443,000  
213,000 
 
Blaine 
MN 
425,000  
40,000 
 
MN 
423,000  
25,000 
 
MN 
367,000  
108,000 
 
MN 
293,000  
203,000 
 
MN 
291,000  
38,000 
 
MN 
284,000  
41,000 
 
MN 
282,000  
82,000 
 
MN 
251,000  
4,000 
 
MN 
216,000  
16,000 
 
MN 
185,000  
85,000 
 
MN 
179,000  
57,000 
 
WI 
144,000  
39,000 
 
MN 
128,000  
28,000 
 
MN 
114,000  
31,000 
 
MN 
106,000  
10,000 
 
MN 
104,000  
2,000 
 
Duluth 
MN 
102,000  
43,000 
 
IL 
97,000  
67,000 
 
Blaine 
MN 
94,000  
64,000 
 
MN 
87,000  
27,000 
 
MN 
29,000  
142,000 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
 
 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
WI 
0  
Busted 
 
Eagan 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
NE 
0  
Busted 
 
NE 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Carver 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Joliet 
IL 
0  
Busted 
 
Fargo 
ND 
0  
Busted 
 
Blaine 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Blaine 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Hugo 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
WI 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Duluth 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Welch 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Orono 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Morton 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
WI 
0  
Busted 
 
WI 
0  
Busted 
 
Motley 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Hugo 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
IA 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Edina 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
IA 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
Rank
Player Name
City
State
Country
Amount
Points
1
Blaine 
MN 
$138,953
1,600
2
MN 
$114,000
1,600
3
MN 
$70,986
1,500
5
MN 
$40,150
1,300
6
MN 
$30,514
1,200
8
MN 
$18,469
1,000
10
Blaine 
MN 
$11,242
800
11
WI 
$11,242
800
12
MN 
$11,242
800
15
MN 
$9,636
700
16
MN 
$8,030
600
18
Joliet 
IL 
$8,030
600
19
Fargo 
ND 
$6,745
500
20
MN 
$6,745
500
22
ND 
$5,701
400
23
Oxbow 
ND 
$5,701
400
27
WILTON 
NY 
$4,657
350
28
WI 
$3,533
300
29
MN 
$3,533
300
31
MN 
$3,533
300
32
Duluth 
MN 
$3,533
300
33
Duluth 
MN 
$3,533
300
34
MN 
$3,533
300
37
MN 
$2,891
250
38
WI 
$2,891
250
39
MN 
$2,891
250
40
MN 
$2,891
250
42
NE 
$2,891
250
45
MN 
$2,891
250
46
SD 
$2,570
200
47
Fargo 
ND 
$2,570
200
48
MN 
$2,570
200
50
Hugo 
MN 
$2,570
200
51
MN 
$2,570
200
52
MN 
$2,570
200
53
MN 
$2,570
200
54
Eagan 
MN 
$2,570
200
55
MN 
$2,409
150
56
MN 
$2,409
150
58
Fargo 
ND 
$2,409
150
59
MN 
$2,409
150
60
Hugo 
MN 
$2,409
150
61
NE 
$2,409
150
62
MN 
$2,409
150
63
MN 
$2,409
150
66
Blaine 
MN 
$2,248
100
67
Edina 
MN 
$2,248
100
69
Duluth 
MN 
$2,248
100
72
MN 
$2,248
100
77
MN 
$2,168
75
78
MN 
$2,168
75
80
SD 
$2,168
75
85
MN 
$2,088
50
87
MN 
$2,088
50
88
ND 
$2,088
50
90
MN 
$2,088
50
LEVEL INFO
Level
14
Blinds
3,000 / 5,000
Ante
5,000
TOURNAMENT INFO
Entries
219
Players Remaining
25
Average Chip Stack
262,800
Total Chips
6,570,000
TOP 10 CHIP COUNT
RANK
PLAYER
CHIPS
730,000
648,000
541,000
443,000
425,000
423,000
367,000
293,000
291,000
10 
284,000
SEASON TOP 10 POY POINTS
RANK
PLAYER
CHIPS
10,372
9,947
8,099
5,400
5,283
5,155
4,763
4,150
10 
4,111