Main Event Day 1b | 2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Tropicana Evansville

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Oberst	295,500 -59,500	-59,500
Charlie Dawson	286,500 -3,700	-3,700
Alex Yen	270,000 -10,000	-10,000
Nicholas Pupillo	220,500
Rory Monahan	171,000 33,600	33,600
Chris Cornell	162,000 31,000	31,000
Chris Hale	153,500
David Mitchell	137,000 2,000	2,000

Crystal Utley	129,000 77,975	77,975
Evan Niemeier	108,000
Tri Do	88,500
Lisa Phillips	88,000 12,400	12,400
John Utley	82,500 -3,700	-3,700
Ricky Stinson	60,000
Neil Patel	58,500 33,450	33,450
Michael Sumner	54,500 14,500	14,500
Robbie Frank	36,000

Player

Chips

Progress

Brian Oberst

295,500

-59,500

Charlie Dawson

286,500

-3,700

Alex Yen

270,000

-10,000

Nicholas Pupillo

220,500

Rory Monahan

171,000

33,600

Chris Cornell

162,000

31,000

Chris Hale

153,500

David Mitchell

137,000

2,000

Crystal Utley

129,000

77,975

Evan Niemeier

108,000

Tri Do

88,500

Lisa Phillips

88,000

12,400

John Utley

82,500

-3,700

Ricky Stinson

60,000

Neil Patel

58,500

33,450

Michael Sumner

54,500

14,500

Robbie Frank

36,000

It was a roller coaster Day 1b for Brian Oberst in the Mid-States Poker Tour Tropicana Evansville Main Event, but he ended up in the spot every runner hopes for: leading the chip counts with 295,500. He topped a field of 120 players, with 17 advancing to Sunday's Day 2 where they will join the 26 survivors of Day 1a.

Barely trailing Oberst were Charlie Dawson (286,500) and Alex Yen (270,000). Nicholas Pupillo (220,000), Rory Monahan (171,000), Chris Cornell (162,000), Chris Hale (153,500), David Mitchell (137,000), and the married duo of Crystal Utley (129,000) and John Utley (82,500) also bagged stacks.

Pupillo would have taken the overall chip lead heading into Day 2 had things gone differently on the final hand of the night. He flatted a middle-position open with the and then called a shove from Mitchell on the button, who had the . A run out saw Mitchell survive.

Oberst scuffled early, punting off his first bullet and grabbing a new seat. At that point, he began steadily climbing up the counts, until a monster late rush vaulted him to a peak of about 450,000. In the first massive pot, Oberst checked a flop, and his lone opponent checked behind. On the turn, Oberst bet 25,000, and his opponent called. The finished out the board, and Oberst shoved all in. His opponent made the call for about 50,000, and Oberst turned over for a set of kings. His unlucky foe revealed for a turned set of tens.

Oberst's surge continued on the penultimate level of the night, when Oberst and two short stacks were all in preflop, and Oberst held against and . The board came , and Oberst spiked his set on the river to bust both players and hit his peak chip count.

However, Oberst lost some chips over the course of the last level, including paying off a big bet from Yen, whom Oberst described as his "nemesis." Oberst will slightly trail Day 1a leader Michael Hahn's 299,000 when Day 2 begins.

Among the players who won't be back for Day 2 are Jeff Grimes, Dan Chambers, Jacob Bazeley, Henry Tran, Matt Lushin, and Brad Rhodes. Bazeley was among the headliners on Day 1b, but the well-known tournament grinder never really got much going. He grinded a short stack for much of the day, shoving or folding for awhile after registration ended before ultimately bowing out just before the final break.

Day 2 will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, so be sure to come back to find out which of final 43 players will claim an MSPT championship.

Tags: Brian Oberst Jacob Bazeley Nicholas Pupillo