Day 1A of the 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship at Tropicana Evansville drew 147 entrants, which was more than last year’s 142 runners for the opening flight. That means the field is on pace to surpass last’s year field of 340 entrants.

After 14 levels of play, just 25 players remained with five-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Kurt Jewell and his stack of 350,500 leading the way. Others to bag big stacks were “Big” Al Hedin (222,000), Charles Payne (207,500), Donnie Phan (194,500), and three-time WSOP ring winner Bob Castoire (189,000).

Another player making it through was Charlie Dawson, who hails from Owensboro, Kentucky. Back in Season 5, Dawson topped a field of 225 entrants to win the first-ever MSPT Tropicana Evansville for $60,527, so he’s going for his second title here at Tropicana. He’ll return Sunday with a stack of 160,000.

Others who punched their ticket to Day 2 were Clinton Hubble (140,500), Jordan Miller (99,000), Henry Tran (83,000), and Chad Bowley (42,500).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to fall on Day 1A were Kimo Sabe MSPT Mezcal Season 8 Player of the Year contender Keith Block, 2016 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Champ Andy Rubinberg, MSPT Season 4 POY Pat Steele, former MSPT Tropicana Evansville champ Mike O’Neill, and World Series of Poker bracelet winners Nick Jivkov and Adam Friedman.

All of those players and anyone new to the field will have the chance to play on Day 1B, which will kick off at 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday. As always, we’ll bring you updates straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to join us then.