Bill Hamilton opened to 11,000 in early position and got called by the small blind. The big blind shoved all in for 37,500, and both players called. The small blind and Hamilton checked down the 
, and the big blind showed 
. Hamilton had it beat with 
, and he collected the pot.
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.
Mark Johnson finished second last time the Mid-States Poker Tour was here, and he just got a huge boost on his quest for another final table. We didn't see the action, but he doubled up with 
, good for Broadway on a 
board. His unfortunate opponent had 
.
Sean Munjal's time near the top of the counts was short-lived as it appears he's lost a few pots since then, including one to Ryan Dykhouse where he paid off a river bet of 28,000 on a board of 
. Dykhouse showed him 
.
Level: 16
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 500
Scott Hammett was thinking about calling off for his tournament life on a board of 
when we arrived at his table. Nick Pupillo had put him all in for about 50,000, and Hammett ultimately opted to call.
Pupillo showed for the nut straight, and Hammett couldn't beat it.
We found Griff Woodman shoving all in on a flop and being called by Sean Munjal.
Woodman:
Munjal: 
Munjal improved to trips as the board ran out and he took the pot.
We found Nick Jivkov all in for his last 55,500 and at risk against Nicholas Aranda.
Aranda: 
Jivkov:
The 
flop was clean for Aranda, but a 
turn gave Jivkov his double.
Level: 15
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 500
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.
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