Welcome to Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Golden Gates Casino
One week after circuit grinder Nick Jivkov snagged more than $100,000 for winning Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki, the tour is back in action for its second Colorado stop of the year at Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, just outside of Denver.
Last time the tour came through town, Dan Colpoys topped a field of 453 entrants to claim a $114,156 first-place prize, one of the bigger ones awarded this season by the MSPT. Colpoys has not made an appearance on the tour since, so we'll see if he comes back to defend his title. He bested a final table that included notable pros Will Givens and Kou Vang.
This stop features some slight tweaks that will be a bit different to those familiar with the tour. For one thing, we'll see three starting Day 1s instead of the usual two. Also, those starting flights will begin at noon rather than the usual 4 p.m. Furthermore, players may reenter multiple times rather than the usual once. Finally, starting stacks will be 30,000 instead of the usual 20,000. Other than that, the normal Allen Kessler-approved blind structure will be in place, with 40-minute levels starting at 50/100. Fifteen levels are scheduled today, so don't go anywhere as one of the bigger events on the tour this year should be on tap.
from early position and was called by the small blind. Both players checked the 
, and a 
hit the river. Bullard's opponent checked, and Bullard bet 2,000. His opponent quickly called, and Bullard showed 
.
and was called by both opponents. On a 
flop with two diamonds, the preflop flat-caller bet 700, which Bullard raised to 2,050. Alex Greenblatt, a California-based player with about $400,000 in live cashes, made it 6,000 to go and was called by Bullard. On the 
turn, Greenblatt bet 12,000 and called Bullard's 20,000 shove with 
, binking the flush on the river.
flop. Monroe came out betting with 2,400 on the 
, and Kessler called. On the 
river, Monroe shoved in for 11,175, and Kessler tanked for a couple of minutes before calling.
for a boat, and Kessler slid his cards in before turning over 
.
.
, and the board finished out with two bricks to send the pot to Monroe.
flop, and Matt Kirby made it 3,775, chasing out a third player. The big blind called, then bet out another 10,000 on the 
was a harmless blank on the river, and Kirby, who has been unable to get much going early, is at least back to par.
was checked to him on the button, where he bet 4,000. One player in early position made the call, and an 
, having turned a flush. His opponent tossed 
in, and she was drawing dead with a worthless straight draw.
hit the river. Bohn checked, and Prom checked back.
, but a board of 
meant Vang pulled out the win on the river.
flop. Bohn checked, and an early play fired 6,000, being called by the player on the button. Bohn raised, and the bettor got it in with him with 
, missing his flush draw against Bohn's set of fives.
flop at Mike Ross' table, with Sardor Gaziev all in for about 80,000 in the small blind, and Mike Ross all in for about the same amount from late position. The player on the button was in the tank after betting 12,000, and he tossed in his last 20,000 reluctantly.
hit, sending the pot to Gaziev.
for queens up, ahead of his opponent's 
for top pair. Bohn still had cards to fade, but the 
kept things clean for him.