Both blinds checked to Nicholas Aranda on a board, and he beat 105,000. Brian Newman snap-called, and the big blind folded. Aranda showed for quads and took the pot.
Players are redrawing new seats as 27 are now remaining.
Mike Pastein shoved in from the button for about 85,000, and Jim Dark called in the small blind. Mike Ross shoved for about 235,000 in the big blind, and Dark called that as well.
Ross:
Pastein:
Dark:
Dark looked like he would get a massive pot with ease, and the flop did little for anyone. The turn gave Pastein a glimmer of hope with a gutshot, and the completed his straight. Dark, meanwhile, still raked in a handsome profit at the expense of Ross, who was eliminated.
Adam Friedman defended his big blind from a 10,000 open by William Rogers, who was under the gun. Friedman checked the flop, and Rogers bet 12,000. Friedman jammed for 27,000 more, and Rogers began thinking it over. Friedman projected confidence as the two exchanged banter, and Rogers eventually flipped in a call.
Friedman:
Rogers:
Friedman thought he was fading overcards, but he was actually in need of improvement, which he didn't find as the turn and river ended things for him.
Three starting flights are in the books, and 119 players are ready to go for Mid-States Poker Tour FireKeepers Casino Day 2. Originally reported as a 120-player field, one player forfeited a Day 1b stack and bagged again on Day 1c.
There's a hefty carrot up top in the form of more than $142,000 in prize money. Some of the top contenders today include MSPT team pros Nick Pupillo and Jason Zarlenga, chip leader Brian Newman, Tom Midena, Patrick Steele, Dan Bekavac, Ken Baime, Andy Rogowski, Mark Johnson, David Gutfreund, and Adam Friedman.
Play kicks off at Level 15 (1,500/3,000/500) and will continue until a champion has been determined. There will be a dinner break when the final table is reached, at which point levels move from 40 minutes to one hour.