Jeff Manley opened to 17,000 from the cutoff before James Hart shoved for his final 79,000 on the button. Manley put in the call and Hart was at risk for his tournament life.
James Hart: Q♣Q♥
Jeff Manley: A♥10♠
Hart picked up a great hand to get back into the game after a tough loss earlier, but he needed to fade the ace.
The 5♣3♥J♣ flop was a safe one for Hart as his queens were well in control.
Manley gained some outs on the K♥ turn as Hart no longer wanted to see a queen.
Hart's hopes of a double were shattered when the A♦ hit the river to upgrade Manley to a pair of aces and dispatch of Hart from the tournament.
Jaxiya Watkins opened to 25,000 from the hijack before James Hart defended his big blind.
Hart checked the 3♦J♦9♣ flop before Watkins continued for 35,000. Hart called.
It was checked to Watkins on the Q♥ turn before she bet 50,000. Hart stuck around with a call.
Both players knuckled the 5♠ river and went to showdown.
Hart showed A♥J♣ for a pair of jacks, but it was no good. Watkins revealed the turn was just what she needed when she tabled A♠Q♠ for a pair of queens to claim the pot.
The inaugural Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event hosted a total of 390 entries creating a prizepool of $128,700. First place is set to receive $26,751 and the title of first-ever champion.
Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event Payouts
Play has started on Day 2 of the Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event. A total of 46 players returned to resume the chase of the inaugural title.
No more opening flights. No more reentries. The remaining 45 players who outlasted a total of 390 entries to return for Day 2 of the inaugural Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event are the select few who will have the opportunity to make history as they walk into the Horseshoe Casino Tunica to become the first-ever champion and take home the biggest piece of the $128,700 guaranteed prize pool.
Day 1c chip leader William Joyner (607,000) will enter the final day of play with the biggest stack in the room. Bill Onley (515,000) follows with the second most chips, and Day 1b chip leader Kerry Dawson (431,000) enters Day 2 with the third most chips.
Cards, chips and branding
Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
1
William Joyner
United States
607,000
2
Bill Onley
United States
515,000
3
Kerry Dawson
United States
431,000
4
Andrea Hizer
United States
414,000
5
Michael Holland
United States
412,000
6
Brandon Owens
United States
386,500
7
Kenneth Stewart
United States
382,500
8
Jason Miller
United States
365,000
9
Jesse Lott
United States
362,000
10
Jaxiya Watkins
United States
350,000
William Joyner
Joyner will enter as the biggest stack as he embarks as one of the remaining players aiming to become the first-ever Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event winner. Joyner will certainly lean on his experience in the live tournament scene where he has amassed over $450,000 in earnings, per The Hendon Mob.
Billy Onley
Onley battled back from near elimination during his Day 1c run to one of the top stacks atop the chip leaderboards. His patience exhibited during his opening flight run could be a factor as he looks to make a splash with the biggest live score of his tournament career.
Dawson’s The Hendon Mob profile reflects that he has accrued plenty of earnings at Horseshoe Tunica, but he has to win a major title at this venue. Day 2 could change all that in a hurry if he accomplishes the feat of becoming the inaugural champion.
Matt Vaughan (340,000) has already won a title at the Mississippi State Poker Championship when he took down the $250 Monster Stack event for $6,953. Vaughan could turn a great week into an historic one should he go on to become the first to win the main event and the monster stack in the same week. The moment will not be too big for the Kentucky native who has a smidge over $370,000 in career live earnings on his The Hendon Mob page.
Day 2 will begin with 35-minute blind levels. The blind levels will increase to 40 minutes per level at the beginning of the final table. Action will continue until a champion is crowned.
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Stay tuned here at PokerNews for complete coverage of Day 2 of the Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event at the Horseshoe Casino Tunica, as an inaugural champion will be crowned.
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