2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki Casino

Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki Casino

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k3
Prize
$100,075
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
389
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000

Mike Lang Bags Day 1b Lead as MSPT Sets Another Record

Level 14 : 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Mike Lang topped the Day 1b field, and he'll take 287,500 into Day 2.
Mike Lang topped the Day 1b field, and he'll take 287,500 into Day 2.

Mike Lang bagged up 287,500 to lead the 40 survivors of Day 1b here at Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki Casino. Mike Vanier (267,000), online wizard James "mig.com" Mackey (238,000), Isidro Sandoval (203,500), and Aaron Johnson (193,000) trail close behind Lang in a tightly bunched top five.

A total of 214 runners bought stacks today, which, combined with the 175 entrants on Day 1a, was enough to set a new record for entrants in a major poker tournament (buy in > $1,000) in Iowa. The mark smashed the old record of 367, and it comes just a day after the MSPT set an internal record for Day 1a entrants and two weeks after it broke the Wisconsin entrants record with 383.

Thao "Scratch" Thiem (172,500), Peixin Liu (114,500), Steve Belland (109,500), Jeremy Dresch (99,500), David Gonia (79,000), and "Minneapolis" Jim Meehan (30,000) were among those bagging stacks at the conclusion of today's 14 levels. Not so fortunate: Bill Romer, Matt Alexander, Blake Bohn, Allen Kessler, Jon Hanner, Rob Wazwaz, Mike Deis, Mark Sandness, Larry Ormson, Christian Pham, and Blair Hinkle.

As for Lang, we only caught him in one hand. After a flop of {a-Hearts}{9-Spades}{5-Diamonds}, he got it all in against a shorter-stacked opponent.

Lang: {9-Clubs}{5-Clubs}
Opponent: {a-}{j-}

Lang was ahead with bottom two pair, and he filled up on the river with the {5-Hearts} after the {3-Spades} bricked off the turn.

Mackey, who sports more than $2.3 million in live tournament earnings and has a World Series of Poker bracelet to boot, seemed to accumulate his stack relatively quietly. He busted Wazwaz in a key hand when Wazwaz opened for a raise in early position and was called by Mackey in the big blind. After the flop, Mackey check-raised all in and Wazwaz called it off. He was unable to catch up with {q-}{q-} against Mackey's {k-}{k-} on a board of undercards.

The 30 players who made it through Day 1a will combine with tonight's 40 survivors at 10 a.m. tomorrow for Day 2, when we'll watch them play down to a champion. Be sure to tune in to PokerNews for all of the relevant updates.

Tags: Aaron JohnsonAllen KesslerBill RomerBlair HinkleBlake BohnChristian PhamLarry OrmsonJon HannerJames MackeyDavid GoniaMark SandnessMatt AlexanderMike DeisMike LangMike VanierPeixin LiuRob Wazwaz

Schertz Ousts Hanner in Beat

Level 14 : 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
"Minnesota" Jon Hanner had a rough go of it on Day 1b, unable to get anything going.
"Minnesota" Jon Hanner had a rough go of it on Day 1b, unable to get anything going.

Kyle Schertz opened for 5,000, and action folded to "Minnesota" Jon Hanner, who shoved all in for 24,300. Schertz made the call, and Hanner quickly tossed {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs} into the middle. Schertz tabled {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts}, and he gained outs when the {9-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{j-Diamonds} gave him a straight draw. The {10-Diamonds} turn improved him to a set and left Hanner drawing to a chop or a two-outer, and the {5-Clubs} meant he was done for.

"Nice hand," Hanner said, quickly making his exit.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kyle Schertz
Kyle Schertz
84,000
-18,200
-18,200
Profile photo of Jon Hanner us
Jon Hanner
Busted

Tags: Jon HannerKyle Schertz

Howard Busts Yeh

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Anthony Yeh
Anthony Yeh

Anthony Yeh checked from under the gun on a {2-Spades}{10-Hearts}{8-Clubs} flop, and Taylor Howard bet 4,500. Yeh made it 12,000, and Howard wasted little time pushing all in. Yeh tanked for a couple of minutes before announcing call of his 60,000 or so.

"I have a set," Howard said, flipping {2-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}.

"Nice hand," Yeh said as he tabled a nearly-dead {10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}.

The {5-Hearts} turn sealed it for Howard, and Yeh's once-large stack is now gone.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Taylor Howard us
Taylor Howard
198,000
Profile photo of Anthony Yeh
Anthony Yeh
Busted

Tags: Anthony YehTaylor Howard

Another Day, Another Record

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Jeff Grimes said he was the record-breaking entrant.
Jeff Grimes said he was the record-breaking entrant.

With 214 entrants today, the Mid-States Poker Tour has made it three records in the past two events. After breaking the Wisconsin state record for entrants with 383, the MSPT broke its internal record of Day 1a entrants with 175 yesterday. Now, with 389 total entrants for this event, the MSPT has set a new record for entrants in a major Iowa event (buy in > $1,000). The new mark shatters the old record of 367.

First place will pay over $100,000.

Tags: Jeff Grimes

Kessler Out

Level 9 : 400/800, 100 ante
Allen Kessler busted with AA.
Allen Kessler busted with AA.

According to the players at Table 17, Allen Kessler got it all in with {a-}{a-} against an opponent holding {a-}{k-}. Unfortunately for Kessler, his opponent made runner-runner broadway straight, and Kessler announced he is not reentering.

Players are on a 10-minute break.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Allen Kessler us
Allen Kessler
Busted

Tags: Allen Kessler

Bohn Done Early

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante
Blake Bohn fired two blanks today.
Blake Bohn fired two blanks today.

Blake Bohn opened for 1,500 in the hijack and got called by the cutoff. Jeff Petronack made it 3,800 in the hijack, and Bohn called, as did the cutoff. The flop came {a-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}, and Bohn moved all in for about 7,500. The cutoff folded, and Petronack agonized for a bit before calling.

Petronack: {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}
Bohn: {10-Hearts}{6-Hearts}

Bohn needed a heart flush, but he picked up a couple of additional outs on the {q-Diamonds} turn. The {4-Spades} bricked off the river, and Bohn wished the players good luck before making his exit.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jeff Petronack us
Jeff Petronack
47,300
Profile photo of Blake Bohn us
Blake Bohn
Busted

Tags: Blake BohnJeff Petronack

Jefferson Doubles With Ladies

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante
Ryan Jefferson's queens held up all in preflop.
Ryan Jefferson's queens held up all in preflop.

A player in the hijack opened for 1,500 and was called by the small blind. Ryan Jefferson shoved all in for 6,150 in the big blind, and the raiser called while the small blind folded.

Jefferson: {q-Spades}{q-Clubs}
Hijack: {a-Spades}{j-Clubs}

A flop of {10-Clubs}{j-Spades}{k-Diamonds} gave the hijack a pair and a gutter, while Jefferson now had an open-ended straight draw. The {8-Clubs} turn was a brick, and the {10-Hearts} paired the board on the end to preserve Jefferson's lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ryan Jefferson
Ryan Jefferson
15,000
-10,350
-10,350

Tags: Ryan Jefferson

Thiem Doubles in Big Race

Level 5 : 150/300, 25 ante
Thao "Scratch" Thiem
Thao "Scratch" Thiem

We found Thao "Scratch" Thiem with about 8,000 in front of him in the small blind facing a reraise all in from the button. Thiem called off his 40,125 stack.

Thiem: {j-Spades}{j-Hearts}
Button: {a-Clubs}{q-Spades}

The community came clean for Thiem's jacks: {k-Hearts}{7-Spades}{4-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}, and he doubled up to a large early stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Thao Thiem us
Thao Thiem
81,000
61,000
61,000

Tags: Thao Thiem

Blits Spikes an Out on Mackey

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante
James Mackey was outdrawn on the turn.
James Mackey was outdrawn on the turn.

We found James Mackey firing 2,500 out of the small blind on a flop of {9-Spades}{6-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}. Jarred Blits called in the cutoff, and a {3-Clubs} prompted Mackey to shove for about 7,500. Blits called instantly. flipping {5-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} for a straight. Mackey could only chuckle as his {a-Diamonds}{a-Hearts} was drawing dead.

Mackey headed for the registration desk to use his final allotted bullet.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jarred Blits
Jarred Blits
30,200
Profile photo of James Mackey us
James Mackey
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 2X Winner

Tags: James Mackey

"Is the Rebuy Period Over?"

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante
Christian Pham hit his two-outer.
Christian Pham hit his two-outer.

Allen Kessler opened for a raise and saw Matt Morfitt three-bet behind him. Christian Pham came out with a cold four-bet, and Kessler folded. Morfitt shoved all in.

"Is the rebuy period over?" Pham asked a nearby tournament official. Assured reentries were still allowed, he made the call.

Pham: {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}
Morfitt: {a-Spades}{a-Clubs}

Pham had been right that he was on the wrong end of the cooler, but he managed to spike a king on the turn to double through Morfitt and survive.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Christian Pham us
Christian Pham
34,600
14,600
14,600
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matt Morfitt
Matt Morfitt
14,525
-25,475
-25,475

Tags: Christian PhamMatt Morfitt