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Corey Zedo was among the leaders last night.
With two Day 1 flights complete and 63 players having punched tickets to Day 2, just one final chance remains to advance to the championship day. Day 1c will kick off at noon local time here in Black Hawk, Colo., amid a snowfall here in the mountains.
Last night, Matt Livingston and Corey Zedo each bagged over 300,000 to join Alex Greenblatt and Blake Bohn from Day 1a at the top of the chip counts, though everyone is well behind Bohn's 511,500. Others making it through Day 1b included Eric Maier (278,000), Ben Keeline (274,500), bracelet winner John Beauprez (251,500), and Michael Lech (232,000). Feared pro Kevin "1sickdisease" Eyster (161,500), two-time MSPT champ Jason Zarlenga (150,000), Steve Anderson (120,000), Mike Ross (107,000), and former Main Event runner-up Paul Wasicka (86,500) also survived the 15 levels.
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, and players may reenter as many times as they wish. A strong turnout could push the total entries over 500, but the weather could be an impediment.
Kevin Boudreau, pictured at World Series of Poker.
Thanks to a tip on Twitter, we've been alerted that Kevin "Phwap" Boudreau is in attendance today, and we found him sitting at Table 14 in Seat 10.
He took down a recent pot when two players checked to a player in late position, who bet 2,000 on a board of . The big blind folded, and Boudreau called, seeing a turn. Boudreau's opponent checked behind this time, and Boudreau showed for queens up, a winner.
Chris Tryba just got all his money in with the nut flush, on a board of . His unfortunate opponent had turned a flush as well with and had to send Tryba about 25,000.
One player was already all in on a board of , and a player in middle position bet 2,000 into a small side pot. Kevin Boudreau called on the button, and a player who checked in early position made it 5,150. The bettor folded, but Boudreau called. Two checks followed the turn, and a hit the river. The first player bet 2,300, and Boudreau put him all in for 21,000 more. The player tanked it for about three minutes before folding what he said was a set of eights.
Boudreau showed for a straight and took down the pot.
Adam Friedman and Allen Kessler are exchanging a few mild words, as they were recently seated at the same table in the corner of the room after Kessler's table broke. From the sound of things, Friedman took issue with some comments Kessler made on the live stream of the final table of Mid-States Poker Tour Firekeepers, where Friedman finished third for $45,000.
"You kept calling him the best player at the table," an irked Friedman said. "You know how many times he shoved all in? Like fifteen times. I was all in twice."
Kessler defended himself, saying the player in question made some really good calls, and the two ended the discussion after Friedman dragged a pot.
Shortly after exchanging words with Allen Kessler, Adam Friedman got the final word in and busted him (Friedman said the two had dinner together on break, for the record).
Kessler opened for 2,500 in the cutoff, leaving himself about 6,000 behind, and Friedman made the call in the big blind. On the flop, Friedman check-called Kessler's shove with for top pair, while Kessler had for a double-gutshot. Kessler found no improvement on the turn and river, and he said he won't be reentering.
A player known only as "Chad's Mom" just scooped a decent-sized pot when she check-called 6,500 out of the small blind against a player in middle position on a board of . On the river, both players checked, and Chad's Mom rolled over for top pair, which was good.
According to sources preferring to remain anonymous, Chad's Mom was the benefactor of Mid-States Poker Tour team pro Blake Bohn, who put her into the tournament during the dinner break. Chad's Mom is reportedly the mother of one of the poker room managers.
On the turn, the board read , and both blinds checked to Izzy Garcia, who bet 7,000 on the button. Chad's Mom called in the small blind, and the big blind came along. The river was an , and two more checks followed. Garcia fired 13,000, and Chad's Mom called off her stack of 12,000 or so. The big blind folded, and Garcia winged his cards to the muck. Per tournament rules, the dealer turned over , and Chad's Mom showed .
Steve Sandt bet 8,000 on a board of from the cutoff and saw the player in the big blind raise to 22,000. Sandt announced all in, putting his opponent at risk for about 110,000.
"He's all in?" the big blind asked. "He said he's all in? I call."
Sandt showed for trips, and the big blind twirled in for weaker trips. Sandt would hold if the board didn't pair and a king didn't fall, and the was safe for him.
Nader Wahdan had more than 300,000 recently, and he's now out the door. After an flop, he continuation-bet 13,000 from middle position and was called by Mike Wright on his left and the small blind. The paired the board, and Wahdan bet 24,000 after it was checked to him. Wright shoved all in, the small blind folded, and Wahdan stood up, looking over his stack. About 140,000 remained, and he opted to call it off.
Wright:
Wahdan:
The turn was the worst card for Wahdan, as it gave him trips that were still behind. He couldn't fill up on the river, and he silently walked out the door.
. The big blind folded, and Boudreau called, seeing a 
turn. Boudreau's opponent checked behind this time, and Boudreau showed 
for queens up, a winner.
on a board of 
. His unfortunate opponent had turned a flush as well with 
and had to send Tryba about 25,000.
, and a player in middle position bet 2,000 into a small side pot. Kevin Boudreau called on the button, and a player who checked in early position made it 5,150. The bettor folded, but Boudreau called. Two checks followed the 
for a double-gutshot. Kessler found no improvement on the 
turn and 
river, and he said he won't be reentering.
for top pair, which was good.
, and both blinds checked to Izzy Garcia, who bet 7,000 on the button. Chad's Mom called in the small blind, and the big blind came along. The river was an 
, and two more checks followed. Garcia fired 13,000, and Chad's Mom called off her stack of 12,000 or so. The big blind folded, and Garcia winged his cards to the muck. Per tournament rules, the dealer turned over 
.
from the cutoff and saw the player in the big blind raise to 22,000. Sandt announced all in, putting his opponent at risk for about 110,000.
in for weaker trips. Sandt would hold if the board didn't pair and a king didn't fall, and the 
flop, he continuation-bet 13,000 from middle position and was called by Mike Wright on his left and the small blind. The 
paired the board, and Wahdan bet 24,000 after it was checked to him. Wright shoved all in, the small blind folded, and Wahdan stood up, looking over his stack. About 140,000 remained, and he opted to call it off.
river, and he silently walked out the door.
