Main Event
Day 1b Started
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$118,000
Entries
118
Level
21
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
4,000
Welcome to Day 1b of 2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Austin Bursavich set the pace by bagging over 187,000 in chips at yesterday's Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge, and everyone at today's Day 1b will be looking to better that total when play begins at 5 p.m. local time.
The potential for an even larger stack to emerge should be there, as 55 players registered yesterday, but tournament organizers are hopeful for a total in the triple digits today. All players who do survive the nine scheduled levels will return tomorrow for Day 2, at which point the fields will combine and play down to a winner.
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.
Less Than Two Minutes...
...until cards are in the air.
Level: 1
Blinds: 25/50
Ante:
Familiar Faces
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Here are some of the players we recognize as registrations continue to trickle in. Many of these players fired bullets yesterday without success.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Small One for Alexander Early
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Matt Alexander raised from the cutoff and found a caller in the big blind, who then check-called 200 on the 
flop. Both players checked the 
, and Alexander bet 600 on the river when his opponent checked again. The player called, and Alexander showed 
for top pair to take the pot.
Will Alexander actually be able to reverse his recent run of bad luck and run up a stack here in Baton Rouge? We'll keep an eye on him and let you know.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
Divided Attention
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
The tournament may be underway, but it hasn't been the primary focus of some of the players in the room.
We found two players at Table 5 sweating out the closing moments of a men's college basketball game between LSU and Kentucky on their mobile devices. At other tables, players craning their necks to see the game shown on TVs on the flanks of the tournament tables was a common sight. College sports support in the South dwarfs the passion of most fans nation-wide, and Baton Rouge is the heart of LSU country.
Tiger fans had their hearts broken moments ago though, as Kentucky wrapped up a narrow 77-76 home victory in overtime. At least the players can turn their attention back to matters at hand.
Hale and Hearty
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Two players checked to Seville Hale in middle position after the first four cards came 
. Hale bet 1,100, and the player in the big blind raised to 2,200. Hale fired back with 4,800.
"I reraise," his opponent said with a southern drawl. He tossed out 6,500 more. Hale immediately moved all in for about 15,000 total, and his opponent tanked for a couple of minutes before folding.
"Nice hand," the player said, claiming he laid down threes full.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
27,500 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 50/100
Ante:
Vang Back for Another Try
Level 2
: 50/100, 0 ante
As seems to be his custom, Kou Vang just late registered the tourney. He took a seat at Table 5.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |