Main Event
Day 1a Started
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
463
Level
30
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000
Welcome to Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming
The Mid-States Poker Tour has crowned its first two champions of 2015, Brian Arbaugh at bestbet Jacksonville and Ervin Bjerga at Running Aces. Now, the third event of the season is set to kick off at Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wisconsin Dells, a staple of the tour.
Last time the MSPT came to town, Ben Berlowski defeated a field of 349 to take down $90,632 in prizes. He topped a final table featuring tour regulars Nick Pupillo (now signed on as a tour pro), Mike Ross, Ken Payne, and Rob Wazwaz, as well as bracelet winner Nick Kost.
Action will get underway here in chilly Wisconsin at 4 p.m. local time, with the Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler-designed structure in use. Stacks start at 20,000 apiece, and blinds begin at 50/100, progressing for 14 40-minute levels until everyone left bags up. Each player is allowed one reentry during Day 1a play, with two more bullets allotted for tomorrow's Day 1ab.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
"Let 'Em Fly"
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The tournament director just uttered those words, and play has begun.
Regulars
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
||
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
|
||
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
||
Nice Early Pot for Morford
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Leon Morford bet 600 from the big blind in a three-way pot on a 
flop, and Ervin Bjerga raised to 1,200 from the cutoff. The third player folded from the small blind, and Morford called. He check-called another 2,200 on the 
turn before checking a final time on the 
river. Bjerga tossed in one chip.
"Five thousand," Morford mused. Apparently, the bet didn't phase him as he raised to 12,000, getting a quick fold.
Neither Morford nor Bjerga is a stranger to deep Mid-States Poker Tour runs, as Morford has a second-place finish at MSPT Majestic Star last year, while Bjerga was the most recent MSPT champ, taking down the event at Running Aces a couple of weeks ago for $91,941.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
28,900
8,900
|
8,900 |
|
12,500 |
Two Tour Pros Arrive
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Mid-States Poker Tour-sponsored pros Nick Pupillo and Matt Alexander have taken their seats.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
||
|
19,500 | |
|
|
||
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Pupillo Fills Up Early
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Nick Pupillo just dragged a massive pot on a board of 
, having shown down 
for kings full. We didn't see his opponent's hand, which was already in the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
47,600
2,100
|
2,100 |
|
|
||
More Regs
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Among the recent registrants is tour pro Matt Kirby, leaving Jason Zarlenga as the tour's only sponsored player yet to make an appearance.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
||
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |