Welcome to Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge is set to kickoff here at 5 p.m. local time, as the last satellite before the start of the tournament just wrapped up.
MSPT Belle of Baton Rouge, the second stop on Season 5 of the MSPT, will be the first MSPT event held here. The riverboat casino sits on calm waters, soaking in the sun on a beautiful southern day. We'll see how the turnout is, but we do know one player who will be here: Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler just registered for the tournament.
Players will complete nine levels of play, and blinds will start out at 25/50 before eventually progressing to 800/1,600/200. The starting stack will be 15,000, though a 5,000 add-on is available for $10 and will likely be universally used. Each level will last 50 minutes, and players will receive breaks after every two levels. Players are allowed one reentry per Day 1 flight in the first four levels, so be advised that players busting early on may still be playing.
Be sure to tune in throughout the day as we bring you all of the live updates here on PokerNews.
, an under-the-gun Matt Alexander had a wager of 2,000 in front of him. Frank Bravata, in the big blind, raised to 5,000, and Alexander thought for a bit before calling. The 
turn paired the board, and Bravata bet 5,000 more.
face up into the middle.
, and Graphia bet 600 after his opponent checked. The player made the call, and the two checked the 
turn. On the 
river, the first player bet 600, and Graphia raised to 1,700, only to see his opponent come back with 6,000. Graphia four-bet to 12,000, and his opponent made the call.
for flopped quads, while opponent showed 
for kings full.
, and Austin Bursavich pushed all in. Bravata called immediately.
river wasn't the card he needed to catch up. He was forced to send another 7,350 to his opponent.
flop in a raised pot, Will Souther got all in for 11,275 from the hijack against a middle-position opponent, while a player on the button folded after putting in 4,500.
, giving him a straight draw if he could find a ten. The river was the 
though, and Souther doubled up.
and 
didn't bring nearly enough help.
flop. Bursavich made the call, and he then called 5,000 more on the 
, and Bravata bet 5,000 more. Bursavich put him all in for about 15,000 more, and Bravata snap-called.
