Gutfreund Grabs Day 1a Lead at MSPT Meskwaki
Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki attracted 182 entrants — a new record for the stop — but after 14 levels of play just 35 remained with David Gutfreund and his stack of 238,500 leading the way.
The Chicago native has a solid tournament résumé with more than $350,000 in cashes, and he's had some success playing MSPT events in the past. However, his history on the tour is also littered with agonizingly close calls. He narrowly missed final tables in back-to-back weekends in Colorado and Wisconsin this past March, finishing 14th and 11th respectively. Back in 2012, he did score a final table at Meskwaki only to bow out eighth for $8,729.
Other players bagging at night's end included Nick Pupillo (181,500), Loki Abboud (174,500), Kevin Shimp (168,000), Todd "sharkslayerr" Breyfogle (167,000), Sam DeSilva (165,000), Mike Lang (161,000), Jim Lawrence (135,500), James "mig.com" Mackey (99,500), and Ralph Massey (63,000).
Pupillo has been cashing like a madman on the MSPT as of late, already notching three final tables in the past three months for about $55,000 in winnings. He received a big boost to his stack in Level 11 (600/1,200/200) moments before the final break of the night after a flop of 
. Pupillo had flopped the nuts with 
, and he managed to get Tyler Newman all in with . Pupillo faded the full house to climb over 100,000, and he kept accumulating from there.
Another Chicago native, Massey owes his survival to a couple of well-timed big pairs. First, he stopped the run of a player who had survived four straight all ins by holding with 
against 
on a 
run out on the penultimate level of the night. Then, as the clock was winding down towards bagging time, Massey shipped for about 30,000 over an early open with 
and was called by the opener, who had 
. Again, safe board rolled out for Massey.
Some of those who will need to saddle up for Day 1b if they hope to get a chunk of the prize pool included Aaron Johnson, Dustin Dirksen, Josh Reichard, Brandon Meyers, former MSPT Meskwaki champ Jonathan Olson, Will Givens, Phil Mader, tour pro Matt Kirby, and possibly the most accomplished tournament player in the field, Blair Hinkle.
Day 1b kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, and PokerNews will be back on hand for more live updates.
flop, but the 
turn and 
appeared in the window, but it was Dirksen collecting his belongings when the door card was followed by 
. The 
and 
turn and 
, clearly not expecting to win, and the big blind had it beat with 
for a set though, and he dragged the pot to add to his room-leading stack.
. The first player checked, and Mackey bet 12,000, about half of his stack. His opponent shoved, and Mackey called with a locked in hand, 
for a set against 
flop. DJ Deery shoved all in from Meyers' left in the multi-way pot, and Matt Kirby made the call. A slew of folds later, Meyers tossed in the last of his stack and the hands were revealed.
, and his opponent, Darin Utley, had shoved all in from middle position. Carpenter made the call.
hit the turn and the 
and lost to a player holding 
