Main Event
Day 1a Started
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
115
Level
23
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
3,000
Welcome to Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
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.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
It's On
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The tournament has begun.
Some Notables
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Shawn Schoreck, the defending champion of Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge, is in attendance.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 |
Bursavich Already Broke
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 | |
|
Busted |
Milam Calls Down
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Kenny Milam bet 850 from the small blind on a flop of 
against two opponents. The cutoff raised to 1,850, and the player on the button folded. Milam called, and he insta-called another 2,075 on the turn before checking a final time as the 
then 
completed the community. The cutoff bet 2,800 this time, and Milam quickly announced a call.
His opponent showed 
for a missed gutter, and Milam took it with 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
32,500
12,500
|
12,500 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Wunstel, Friedman, Souther Join In
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
||
|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
||
Friedman Picks Off a Bluffer
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Adam Friedman called what looked to be a check-raise to 800 on an 
flop from the player in the small blind. Friedman was on the button, and he called another bet of unknown size on the turn. On the 
river, the small blind bet 3,500, and Friedman thought for about 20 seconds before tossing in a call.
The small blind appeared very reluctant to show his hand, repeatedly rapping the table. Friedman indicated he wasn't turning his cards over until he was shown something, and the small blind showed 
. Friedman tossed 
into the middle and took the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
|
||