Austin Bursavich set the pace by bagging over 187,000 in chips at yesterday's Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge, and everyone at today's Day 1b will be looking to better that total when play begins at 5 p.m. local time.
The potential for an even larger stack to emerge should be there, as 55 players registered yesterday, but tournament organizers are hopeful for a total in the triple digits today. All players who do survive the nine scheduled levels will return tomorrow for Day 2, at which point the fields will combine and play down to a winner.
Blinds will start out at 25/50 before eventually progressing to 800/1,600/200. The starting stack will be 15,000, though a 5,000 add-on is available for $10 and will likely be universally used. Each level will last 50 minutes, and players will receive breaks after every two levels. Players are allowed one reentry per Day 1 flight in the first four levels, so be advised that players busting early on may still be playing.
Players react to the late stages of LSU versus Kentucky.
The tournament may be underway, but it hasn't been the primary focus of some of the players in the room.
We found two players at Table 5 sweating out the closing moments of a men's college basketball game between LSU and Kentucky on their mobile devices. At other tables, players craning their necks to see the game shown on TVs on the flanks of the tournament tables was a common sight. College sports support in the South dwarfs the passion of most fans nation-wide, and Baton Rouge is the heart of LSU country.
Tiger fans had their hearts broken moments ago though, as Kentucky wrapped up a narrow 77-76 home victory in overtime. At least the players can turn their attention back to matters at hand.
With the board reading , Kou Vang bet 2,275 from the cutoff after a player under the gun checked. Vang's opponent raised to 6,000, and Vang put him all in for another 6,000. The player made what appeared to be a resigned call, and Vang showed him for a flush. The player under the gun mucked his hand, but the dealer was forced to turn over per tournament rules, and the meaningless completed the board.
We found a huge pot brewing between three players in a recent hand.
After two checks, the hijack bet 3,500 on a board of . Michael Benton called in the big blind, and Isidro Sifuentes made it 13,000. The hijack jammed for 14,725, and Benton shoved over that for more than 30,000. Sifuentes called off his stack with no hesitation.
"You have the nuts?" Benton asked him. He didn't, but he did have the lead.
Sifuentes:
Benton:
Hijack:
The player in the hijack was drawing dead, but Benton could still win the pot if the board paired. The river brought the , and Benton celebrated while the dealer counted out stacks. Sifuentes was covered, so Benton took both players' stacks.
According to Gene Dudek, he just coolered Nick Jivkov when they got all in with sets of kings and deuces, respectively. Dudek had his opponent covered, and he collected Jivkov's stack.
With a community of , Darius Brown bet and got raised by a player on the button. Brown shoved all in for 12,125, and his opponent made the call.
Brown:
Button:
Brown got up to leave, but the dealer burned and turned the , giving him a winning two pair.
"Back from the dead," another player at the table said, and indeed Brown is now above the starting stack after being down to 3,000 following a rough beat in an earlier pot.
After a flop of , Larry Green fired 3,700 from middle position. Kenny Milam shoved 13,500 on the button, and Green made the call.
Milam:
Green:
Milam wasted no time pulling ahead with the turn, but he was far from out of the woods since that gave Green a flush draw. A river was a brick, and Milam doubled up.
With the community reading , a player bet 2,000 into Matt Alexander, who raised to 4,500. A few more raises later, the two were all in for Alexander's 19,800.
Alexander:
Opponent:
Alexander's recent run of poor luck seemed to be continuing, as his trip tens were no good. He managed to spike the on the river for a flush though, and he doubled up while leaving his opponent crippled.
Matt Alexander opened for 4,000 in early position, and Erica Sumner made it 12,000 from his immediate left. Action folded to the button, who shoved for 14,400. Alexander shipped it as well after the blinds folded, and Sumner immediately called.
Sumner:
Button:
Alexander:
"She's gonna be massive chip leader," a player at the table said, and indeed the board came , giving Sumner an unnecessary straight.
, Kou Vang bet 2,275 from the cutoff after a player under the gun checked. Vang's opponent raised to 6,000, and Vang put him all in for another 6,000. The player made what appeared to be a resigned call, and Vang showed him 
for a flush. The player under the gun mucked his hand, but the dealer was forced to turn over 
per tournament rules, and the meaningless 
completed the board.
, and Benton celebrated while the dealer counted out stacks. Sifuentes was covered, so Benton took both players' stacks.
, Darius Brown bet and got raised by a player on the button. Brown shoved all in for 12,125, and his opponent made the call.
, providing no help to Kessler's opponent.
turn, but he was far from out of the woods since that gave Green a flush draw. A 
, a player bet 2,000 into Matt Alexander, who raised to 4,500. A few more raises later, the two were all in for Alexander's 19,800.
, giving Sumner an unnecessary straight.