The Mid-States Poker Tour rolls on with its third event in three weeks, this one at Belle of Baton Rouge in Louisiana, a far cry from the mountains of Black Hawk, Colo., that housed the last event.
It's the tour's second stop here this year. The first one was won by local grinder Shawn Schoreck, who took home $34,105 for defeating a field of 118, including an exciting heads-up win over MSPT team pro Kou Vang. Other notable players to make their way to the tournament included Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler and Will Souther.
In fact, it was at that very tournament in February that Kessler designed his special structure that will be in use today. Players will begin with 20,000 in chips and levels will last 40 minutes. A total of 14 levels will be played here on Day 1a, set to begin at 4 p.m. local time. The first blind level will be 50/100, and we'll watch as the blinds escalate from there, bringing you all of the relevant live updates.
Austin Bursavich, pictured at this event in February.
In one of the first hands of the tournament, My Nguyen opened for 500 in early position and saw Austin Bursavich three-bet to 1,800. Nguyen tossed 10,000 in, and Bursavich went all in. Nguyen called with , and he sent Bursavich packing with that failed to catch up.
A few more well-known names recently hopped in the tournament.
Corrie Wunstel is a local from here in Baton Rouge, but he's a familiar face at poker tournaments nation-wide such as World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events. Wunstel ran deep in the 2013 Main Event, finishing 65th for just over $100,000, and has since scored multiple five-figure cashes. including an outright win in August's Gulf Coast Poker Championship. There, he claimed $65,700.
Souther is another Mississippi native, hailing from Biloxi, and he has more than $700,000 in cashes dating back to 2005, making him a true veteran of the live poker circuit. Souther, who writes a popular poker blog, was the subject of a little bio written by PokerNews' own Chad Holloway earlier this year before the first MSPT here. Souther made a deep run then, finishing fourth for $10,914.
Friedman, meanwhile, is undoubtedly among those who have traveled farthest to get here, hailing from Ohio. He has north of $1.6 million in earning, including a prestigious WSOP bracelet from a Stud Hi/Lo event in 2012. Friedman has recently become a familiar face on the MSPT, having attended a few events since this summer's WSOP. His most successful run came in a third-place effort at MSPT Firekeeper's in Michigan, and when Friedman doesn't find himself at the final table, you can often hear him commentating about those who did make it.
All three players are surely among the favorites here.
Shawn Schoreck, who won this event last time it was here, just busted out in a hand we didn't see and he doesn't appear to be reentering at the moment.
Robbie Matthews, pictured at this event in the spring
Robbie Matthews had three-bet to 4,250 in the small blind and Brock Gary, who opened in middle position move all in for 14,600. A player who called the initial raise mucked, and Matthews called.
Matthews:
Gary:
A set flopped for Gary, and Matthews was turned dead on the run out.
Handri Maksudi opened for 2,500 in early position, and Corrie Wunstel made it 5,000 in the next spot. Action folded back to Maksudi, who called. Maksudi checked the flop, and Wunstel bet 5,000. Maksudi shoved all in for about 15,000, and Wunstel called right away.
Wunstel:
Maksudi:
Maksudi had flopped top pair and a combo draw but trailed Wunstel's top-top. The turn eliminated some outs for Wunstel, and a river harmlessly paired the board.
A player limped in, and Mihail Karasoulis made it 3,000 to go from early position. My Nguyen called, as did the small blind, and the big blind shoved for 11,900. The limper folded, and Karasoulis called. Nguyen called as well, and the small blind followed. The dealer spread the across the felt, prompting the small blind to jam for about 20,000. Karasoulis folded, but Nguyen snap-called.
Nguyen:
Small blind:
Big blind:
Nguyen's top two was miles ahead, and the and completed the board to keep him in front.
Jacob Naquin bet 2,200 in the cutoff on a flop of and got raised to 6,400 by button Jeff Quin. Naquin called, and both players checked the . On the river, Naquin again checked, and Quin bet 11,000. Naquin announced he was all in, and Quin went deep into the tank. He attempted to call the clock on himself.
William Flippen bet 4,000 from the big blind on a flop and was called by John Song in the cutoff. On the turn, Flippen bet 5,000 and was again called. A hit the river, and Flippen checked. Song moved in for 18,800, and Flippen quickly counted out the requisite chips and called.
"I've got ace-high," Song said with a sigh, showing .
Flippen had ace-high also, but his played for the knockout.
.
, meaning Lang's cards were live though, but a board of 
gave Lang nothing.
run out.
flop, and Wunstel bet 5,000. Maksudi shoved all in for about 15,000, and Wunstel called right away.
turn eliminated some outs for Wunstel, and a 
river harmlessly paired the board.
across the felt, prompting the small blind to jam for about 20,000. Karasoulis folded, but Nguyen snap-called.
and 
and got raised to 6,400 by button Jeff Quin. Naquin called, and both players checked the 
river, Naquin again checked, and Quin bet 11,000. Naquin announced he was all in, and Quin went deep into the tank. He attempted to call the clock on himself.
hit the river, and Flippen checked. Song moved in for 18,800, and Flippen quickly counted out the requisite chips and called.
.
