Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$201,000
Entries
201
Level
24
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
4,000
Ihringer Leads 20 Day 1b Survivors; Vang in Second
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
The field is set for Day 2 of Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino after Ken Ihringer bagged 275,500 to lead the 20 survivors of Day 1b. Kou Vang, who is trying to retake the lead in the MSPT Player of the Year race after Mike Deis caught him in the last event, finished the night with the second-biggest stack with 236,500.
Ihringer, who has no recorded live cashes, started his climb in Level 11, when he cracked Steve Senger's 
with 
, making trips to score the elimination. A bit later, he was the one holding 
when he fired 10,000 on the turn against Mark Sandness on a board of 
. Sandness called, then paid off 20,000 more on the 
river.
Ryan Skluzak (235,000), Ahmed Ouda (150,000), Jason Robertson (142,000), Marty Rahbusch (105,000), Jeff Bryan (101,000), "Red Bull" Robbie Thompson (87,500) Adam Zych (86,000), former champion Sandness (80,500), Lance Harris (53,500), and Renee Kessel (45,500) were also among those advancing after the 14 levels of play.
Thompson is a popular tournament director and announcer at the World Series of Poker who hails from South Dakota. He was able to cruise to the end of the day after doubling to more than 90,000 when he busted an opponent by getting all in with 
, good for aces up on the turn against a player holding 
on a board of 
. The river didn't help Thompson's opponent.
Among those failing to make it through the day: Dan Dykhouse, Mark Hodge, MSPT Meskwaki winner Jonathan Olson, Matt Alexander, Matt Kirby, Brian Soja, Everett Carlton, and John Morgan.
Soja took one of the more brutal beats of the day when he got all in against Sluzak on a flop of 
. Sluzak had 
for an open-ended straight flush draw, but he was crushed by Soja's 
. Sluzak hit a four on the river to pair up, enabling him to bag a massive stack while a dejected Soja wondered what might have been.
Day 2 play will begin at 10 a.m. sharp on Sunday, so tune in to PokerNews to see who will win this tournament.
End of Day 1b Counts (full)
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
275,500
87,500
|
87,500 |
|
236,500
76,500
|
76,500 |
|
235,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
142,000
142,000
|
142,000 |
|
105,000
-25,000
|
-25,000 |
|
101,000
-300
|
-300 |
|
|
97,000
97,000
|
97,000 |
|
|
95,500
95,500
|
95,500 |
|
87,500
-4,500
|
-4,500 |
|
86,000 | |
|
80,500
-21,500
|
-21,500 |
|
70,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
59,500
59,500
|
59,500 |
|
53,500
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
47,500
47,500
|
47,500 |
|
|
46,500
46,500
|
46,500 |
|
45,500
500
|
500 |
|
24,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
22,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
Gerleman Doubles Through Sandness to End Night
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
On the last hand of the night, Duane Gerleman pushed his last 19,900 in and was called by Mark Sandness on the button.
"I hope you don't have a pair," Gerleman said.
Sandness: 
Gerleman: 
Gerleman's wish was granted, and his fours held as the community came 
.
Three-Ball
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Each table will deal three more hands.
"Nice Value Bet"
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Ryan Skluzak bet 6,200 on a flop of 
, and Lance Harris raised to 15,600. Skluzak called, and both players checked the 
. Skluzak bet 20,000 on the 
river, and Harris insta-folded. Skluzak tossed 
into the middle.
"Nice value bet," Harris said.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
220,000
63,000
|
63,000 |
|
|
63,500
16,500
|
16,500 |
Photos: MSPT Grand Falls Day 1b
Lucky Double for Kessel
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
We found Renee Kessel receiving a much-needed double up, as she found the ace she needed all in with 
against Tom Lynde's 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
45,000
22,125
|
22,125 |
Bryan Wakes Up
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Action folded to the small blind, who shoved all in for about 34,000. Jeff Bryan cut out enough to call, which was most of his stack. He thought only briefly before pushing the stack in.
Bryan: 
Small blind:
Bryan had woken up with a dominant ace, and the 
board was clean for him.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
86,000
-6,000
|
-6,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400