Season 7 of the Mid-States Poker Tour continued tonight with Day 1a action from FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. It turned out to be a record-breaking day too as the 165 entries set a record for largest Day 1a flight at the venue. That means the field is on pace to surpass last year's 614 entries.

After 14 levels of play, Isaac Kratchman led the 33 survivors with 191,000 in chips. Others who advanced were Troy Parks (187,000), Chris Moon (142,500), Jake Baumgartner (132,000), World Series of Poker bracelet winner and 2008 Main Event November Nine bubble boy Dean Hamrick (110,000), MSPT Pro Matt Alexander (109,500), WSOP Seniors Champ Dan Heimiller (80,500), and Wisconsin's Rick Syverud (59,500).

Regarding Kratchman, who only has $3,318 in tournament earnings according to HendonMob, he won a lot of his chips in Level 12 (800/1,600/200) off poker pro Kenna James.

It happened when James opened for 3,500 and Kratchman three-bet to 12,700. James made it 29,500 to go Kratchman called, and then both player checked the flop. When the appeared on the turn, Kratchman bet 23,700 and then called when James shoved. Kratchman held top set with the , which bested the of James.

Among those to join James on the rail throughout the day were MSPT Pro Matt Kirby, WSOP bracelet winner Adam Friedman and Nick Jivkov, MSPT Season 4 Player of the Year Patrick Steele, and Casey Carroll, who was fresh off winning the Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago last weekend for $174,469.

All of those players will have the opportunity to try again at Noon on Saturday, which is when Day 1b action will get underway. Once again we'll be on the tournament floor to bring you all the action right here in the MSPT Blog, so be sure to join us then.