2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Golden Gates Casino

Rosie Paules stacked 242,800 after 10 levels to top a field of 153 runners here at Mid-States Poker Tour Golden Gates Day 1c. Nader Wahdan (234,900), who led for much of the night, finished right behind her, while Colin York (215,600), Olimpia May (194,900), and Brian Hartner (172,100) also ended the night with top-five stacks.

Forty-two players finished out the night with chips, and they'll return tomorrow at noon for the combination of three Day 1 fields. Among the survivors: Lance Harris (148,100), Bill Romer (112,600), Kou Vang (98,700), Matt Alexander (77,600), Patrick Steele (66,100), Blake Bohn (25,000), Matt Kirby (25,000), and John Hayes (25,000).

Paules dragged two pots that we recorded, including a bust of the red-hot Kou Vang, coming off consecutive MSPT final tables in Gary, Ind., and Baton Rouge, La. Vang check-shipped on a board of after Paules had bet from late position. Paules called with , and Vang was drawing dead with .

A little while later, we found Aaron Frei all in with against the of Paules. The queens held when the board came , eliminating Frei from the tournament.

Paules didn't seem to have any significant setbacks, as her stack stayed hefty every time we checked on her.

Harris was perhaps the highest profile player to bag a top stack. He started the day off bluffing, but it was the hands when he had the goods that drove his count up. First, he got a shorter stack all in on a board. Harris' opponent showed , but he had run into the of the Minnesotan. The was a blank on the river, and Harris has one of the larger stacks in the room.

A bit later, it was QQ leading to another bust when he stayed in front of a short stack's sevens all in preflop.

Finally, he opened for 4,200 in the hijack, and Hayes moved all in from the cutoff for about 24,000. When it got back to Harris, he called right away.

Harris:
Hayes:

Hayes' three outs turned to nothing but backdoor possibilities on the flop. A turn gave him a worthless pair, leaving him drawing dead.

Thanks for tuning in to PokerNews' coverage of Day 1c, and be sure to come back tomorrow at noon for Day 2.

Tournament staff is counting down stacks, and play is done for the night.

We found Kelly Whitlock all in for 34,300 against one opponent.

Whitlock:
Opponent:

"Don't be mad," Whitlock said.

The flop gave her opponent a set, while Whitlock now had a straight draw. She got there immediately with the turn.

"Pair the board," Whitlock's opponent said. The did not, and Whitlock, who was persuaded by a tournament staff member to buy in about an hour ago, doubled up.

Five more hands will be played.

Lance Harris opened for 4,200 in the hijack, and John Hayes moved all in from the cutoff for about 24,000. When it got back to Harris, he called right away.

Harris:
Hayes:

Hayes' three outs turned to nothing but backdoor possibilities on the flop. A turn gave him a worthless pair, leaving him drawing dead.

"Good luck, guys," he said after pushing his stack to Harris.

Matt Kirby jammed for 19,600 in middle position, and Colin York thought for awhile before calling in the small blind.

York:
Kirby:

Kirby had live cards, but York flopped a deadening pair on the flop. The meant Kirby was done for, and an finished out the hand.

Blake Bohn shoved all in after action folded to him in the cutoff, and "Wild" Bill Romer called in the small blind.

"I hope you don't have a pair," Bohn said, tabling .

"Pair of clubs," Romer said, revealing .

A flop meant Bohn was way behind. The didn't help him, and neither did a river.

Bohn wished the players good luck on Day 2 before making his exit.

After a raise to 5,500 and a call from the hijack, Olimpia May jammed a covering stack from the cutoff. Action folded back to the caller, who put his last 20,000 or so in.

May:
Hijack:

The flop came bringing a couple of additional outs for the hijack. He called for a ten or an ace, but two babies came out: and , leaving May's kings good.