One week after Ken Pates claimed nearly $90,000 with a victory at Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces Harness Park, the tour is back with the year's second stop at Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. Last time the MSPT came through town, Jason Sell defeated a field of 383 runners to claim a first-place prize of $97,539.
Cards are scheduled to be in the air at 4 p.m., and the tournament will be using the Allen Kessler-approved structure it adopted for the last main event here. Stacks will start at 20,000, with blinds beginning at 50/100 and going up every 40 minutes. A total of 14 levels will be played today, with each player being allotted one reentry through the first nine levels.
We found Justin Filtz in the big blind check-calling 4,000 from the player on the button on a board of . On the river, Filtz checked again and his opponent went all in. Filtz quickly called, and he was shown for a flush. Filtz had it beat though, as the same card that filled his opponent's flush gave Filtz a boat with .
Three players put in 3,000 each after a bet and a raise on a flop of . On the turn, the big blind checked, and a middle-position player bet 5,000. Larry Ormson tossed his stack in from the button, and the big blind folded. The dealer counted out the raise: 8,900 more, and the bettor made the call.
Ormson:
Middle position:
Ormson had turned a straight, and he needed only to fade a club. A black card hit, but it was the , and Ormson's six-high straight took it down.
Small blind Matt Kirby bet 2,100 into two opponents on a board, and both called. On the river, Kirby bet 5,600 and the first player folded. Belland shook his head and shrugged before tossing in a call, and Kirby showed for a full house. Belland showed how unlucky the river had been for him: for trip fives.
We found Chad Holloway with 3,300 in front of him in the big blind on a board of . A player under the gun had put 25,000 in, forcing the cutoff, who was also in the pot, out. Holloway thought it over for awhile.
"I wish I wouldn't have raised," he said, counting down his remaining stack of about 14,000. Finally, he called it off.
Under the gun:
Holloway:
The cutoff expressed disgust, saying he had mucked two pair. Holloway called for a five or seven for a chop, but he instead binked the for a winning flush.
A few hands later, Holloway sent Rob Wazwaz packing in a hand we didn't see.
Gary Tsui opened to 1,550 under the gun and got three-bet by the small blind. In the big blind, Kris Ehlen shoved all in, covering both opponents. Tsui called off his stack of 45,000 or so, and the small blind came along for less.
Ehlen:
Tsui:
Small blind:
Ehlen flopped a set of tens to bust both unfortunate opponents.
Justin Filtz bet 6,000 on a flop from the button, but Jason Mirza wanted to play for 14,300 in the small blind. Filtz called after some thought, and the hit the turn. Mirza fired just 9,700 this time, and Filtz made it 30,000 to go.
"Stupidest turn card ever," Mirza muttered. He continued thinking.
"It sounds like you're folding," Filtz said with a smile.
Mirza did just that after a couple of minutes of concentration.
Justin Filtz opened for a raise in middle position and saw Jason Mirza made it 5,800 from his left. Action folded back to Filtz, who reraised to 13,300. Mirza splashed in a five-bet to 30,200, and Filtz pushed all in. Mirza snapped it off with .
"You called me a luckbox," Filtz said, turning over to show he'd been coolered.
The board ran out , keeping Mirza's aces best and giving him the chip lead in the tournament.
We found Nick Pupillo with a bet of 18,200 in front of him before the flop from the big blind. Jim Boone, who was under the gun, had shoved all in for 55,500, and Pupillo was chewing on his sweatshirt as he waited for the count. Told the total, he thought briefly before making the call.
Pupillo:
Boone:
Boone exited his seat as the dealer spread a flop of , leaving Boone with two outs. He didn't get there on the turn or river.
At another table, sponsored pro Matt Kirby busted out.
Justin Filtz has ran kings into aces in two huge pots.
A player in early position raised to 4,100 and was three-bet to 9,400 by Justin Filtz. Cutoff Don Coy moved in for 75,900, and action folded back to Filtz. He immediately called.
Filtz:
Coy:
Coy slapped his bullets down, and a disappointed Filtz could only mutter "again?" in consternation, as he had ran kings into the aces of Jason Mirza in a monster pot earlier. The board ran out , and Filtz lost most of his stack.
. On the 
river, Filtz checked again and his opponent went all in. Filtz quickly called, and he was shown 
for a flush. Filtz had it beat though, as the same card that filled his opponent's flush gave Filtz a boat with 
.
. On the 
turn, the big blind checked, and a middle-position player bet 5,000. Larry Ormson tossed his stack in from the button, and the big blind folded. The dealer counted out the raise: 8,900 more, and the bettor made the call.
, and Ormson's six-high straight took it down.
board, and both called. On the 
river, Kirby bet 5,600 and the first player folded. Belland shook his head and shrugged before tossing in a call, and Kirby showed 
. A player under the gun had put 25,000 in, forcing the cutoff, who was also in the pot, out. Holloway thought it over for awhile.
flop from the button, but Jason Mirza wanted to play for 14,300 in the small blind. Filtz called after some thought, and the 
hit the turn. Mirza fired just 9,700 this time, and Filtz made it 30,000 to go.
to show he'd been coolered.
, keeping Mirza's aces best and giving him the chip lead in the tournament.
river.
