Karakikov Leads Vang by a Nose After Day 1a (full)
Pavlin Karakikov bagged 187,800 to log a tiny chip lead over Kou Vang (187,400) and 32 other players on Day 1a here at Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star. Leon Morford (147,600), Brian Zimcosky (129,600), and John Simon (108,000) round out the top five.
Amazingly, we didn't catch Karakikov in a single reported pot today. He explained to us that he build his stack almost entirely in the last couple of levels.
"I flopped a set against top pair and a flush draw," Karakikov said of his most critical pot.
Vang showed up late, as seems to be his custom, but he made up for lost time by quickly building a stack. Easily his most important hand came against fellow MSPT grinder Matt Alexander.
A player in the hijack opened for 2,700, and Kou Vang called from the cutoff, as did the small blind. Alexander made it 11,000 in the big blind, and the initial raiser promptly folded. Vang pushed all in, the small blind folded, and Alexander called off for 60,800 total.
Alexander: 
Vang: 
The first four cards came 
, keeping Alexander's kings best but fifth street was the 
to send him to the rail.
With just about 90 minutes remaining in the tournament, Vang held a huge lead over the field after this pot we witnessed, but evidently Karakikov went on a massive rush to pass him.
Vang, who is coming off of a second-place finish at the last MSPT stop two weeks ago, looks to continue his hot run by adding another big score to his more than $500,000 in career tournament earnings. Karakikov is no slouch himself, sporting just under $150,000 in winnings logged mostly at World Series of Poker Circuit events in the Midwest.
A total of 126 runners entered today, and Karakikov and Vang weren't the only notable survivors. Also bagging stacks were Jeremy Dresch (80,300), Matt Kirby (72,800), Patrick Steele (60,000), Tim Ebenhoeh Jr. (58,300), Bruce "Hammer" Swart (45,200), and John "JohnnyGstaks" Hayes (38,000). Those dropping out included the aforementioned Alexander, MSPT Baton Rouge winner Shawn Schoreck, Tom Midena, and Terry Ring.
Be sure to in to PokerNews tomorrow for coverage of Day 1b.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
187,800
187,800
|
187,800 |
|
187,400
-2,600
|
-2,600 |
|
147,600
18,600
|
18,600 |
|
129,600
129,600
|
129,600 |
|
108,000
-3,200
|
-3,200 |
|
106,800 | |
|
|
106,300
106,300
|
106,300 |
|
103,100
3,100
|
3,100 |
|
|
87,800
49,125
|
49,125 |
|
84,000
84,000
|
84,000 |
|
80,300
35,300
|
35,300 |
|
|
78,600 | |
|
|
77,000 | |
|
|
75,500
75,500
|
75,500 |
|
73,700
73,700
|
73,700 |
|
72,800
-6,200
|
-6,200 |
|
|
72,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
|
67,300
67,300
|
67,300 |
|
60,000 | |
|
|
59,700
59,700
|
59,700 |
|
|
58,300
58,300
|
58,300 |
|
|
56,200 | |
|
53,500
53,500
|
53,500 |
|
51,500
-6,900
|
-6,900 |
|
47,100
47,100
|
47,100 |
flop, and Jerry Gumila raised to 3,700 from the cutoff. Matt Alexander woke up with a cold three-bet to 7,000 on the button, and Vang quickly folded. Gumila shoved, and Alexander got out of his seat as he made the call.
. "Ace, queen, or king."
on the board though, and Alexander had his opponent barely covered.
flop, and he fired 6,000, about the size of the pot. Ron Kruk, under the gun, moved all in for 9,500 more, and everyone else folded. Loizzo made the call.
river made Kruk a straight.
. His opponent contemplated for a bit before making the call with 
came to give him a straight draw. "Jack," he added hopefully.
two pair bested the 
for top pair held by his opponent.
