Loki's Low Key Rise

Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota's Loki Abboud has enjoyed a steady climb up to a spot near the top of the chip counts here at the mid-way point of Day 1a in Iowa.

He told PokerNews he flopped a wheel in a big three-way pot, slow played aces in another against an opponent on jacks and has otherwise been chipping up throughout.

"I've been in some good spots and had some good hands," he said.