Main Event | 2015 Mid-States Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville

01-25-2015 11:22 UTC-4

Welcome to Day 2 of Mid-States Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville

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Two grueling Day 1 heats are in the books and a 421-player field has been pared to 71. Today, one will stand above the rest and claim a first-place prize of more than $100,000 and the title of first Mid-States Poker Tour champion of 2015.

Plenty of tough contenders have made their presences felt, but the biggest buzz would be created if 2004 Main Event champion Greg Raymer were to take down the tournament. Raymer comes in with as good a chance as anyone, as he totes the fourth-biggest stack with 266,500. Others with a chance to grab the win include chip leader Jeff Klein (400,000), James Wilson (320,500), Rod Rodrigue (301,000), Patrick Steele (200,500), Judd Greenagel (145,000), Jim Boone (106,500), two-time champ Jason Zarlenga (89,000), Ryan Dykhouse (67,000), and Steve Anderson (42,500).

The tournament resumes at 11 a.m. local time here in Jacksonville, Fla. and will play down to a winner, pausing for a dinner break when a final table is determined.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeff Klein	400,000
James Wilson	320,500
Rod Rodrigue	301,000
Greg Raymer	266,500

Austin McCullers	242,000
Toby Boas	239,500
Hal Lewis	238,000
Tim Forsberg	234,000
Men Nguyen	221,500

Andrew Dykeman	220,000
Scott Brewer	215,000
Daren Wooten	215,000
Patrick Steele	200,500
Brian Arbaugh	194,000
Luke Graham	191,500
Jason Murray	172,500
Chan Nguyen	162,000
Saum Sharifi	159,500
matthew zimmerman	146,500
Judd Greenagel	145,000
Devin Stoll	144,000
Shane Horvath	137,500
Allan Deguino	135,500
Mark Smith	126,500
Anthony Lee	118,000

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Tags: Greg Raymer

01-25-2015 12:41 UTC-4

Wilson Turns Fiorenza Dead

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Level 15 : 1,500/3,000, 500 ante

Toni Fiorenza opened for 9,000 on the button, and James Wilson made it 25,000 to go in the small blind. Fiorenza shoved all in after some thought, and Wilson snapped for about 110,000.

Wilson:
Fiorenza:

It was a race for about 70 big blinds, and Wilson held his lead on the flop. The turn was just what he needed to end the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Wilson	330,000 9,500	9,500
Toni Fiorenza	Busted

Tags: James Wilson Toni Fiorenza

01-25-2015 13:20 UTC-4

Johnson Flops Royal

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Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

Timothy Johnson opened for 8,500 in middle position and was called by Mark Hodge on the button. The small blind jammed it in for 49,000, and Johnson called. Hodge looked pained but folded. Johnson turned over .

"I was just squeezin' buddy," the small blind said. "I guess I'm glad you have that."

He showed for two live cards, but they went from live to totally dead after the flopped to give Johnson the royal flush, much to the amazement of his table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timothy Johnson	208,000 111,000	111,000

Tags: Mark Hodge Timothy Johnson

01-25-2015 13:59 UTC-4

Wilson Massive Leader

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Level 17 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

James Wilson has taken a huge lead over the field after making a flush against Chan Nguyen's trip nines to double through and then busting a player with by hitting an ace on the river all in preflop against .

Player	Chips	Progress
James Wilson	650,000 302,000	302,000
Chan Nguyen	Busted

Tags: James Wilson Chan Nguyen

01-25-2015 15:28 UTC-4

Wilson Puts a Beat on Stoll

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Level 19 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

We found Devin Stoll in middle position with 41,000 in front of him preflop. He was facing a four-bet to 136,000 from James Wilson, and Stoll jammed it in for 320,000. Wilson called.

Wilson:
Stoll:

Stoll was in great shape, but Wilson's hot run continued as the board ran out , ending his tournament in brutal fashion.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Wilson	1,000,000 350,000	350,000
Devin Stoll	Busted

Tags: Devin Stoll James Wilson

01-25-2015 16:54 UTC-4

Murray Heros McCullers

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Level 21 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante

Austin McCullers got caught bluffing in a huge pot.

We found Jason Murray and Austin McCullers playing a monster pot of around 500,000 with the board having come . Murray checked, and McCullers bet 150,000. Murray made the call after thinking only briefly, and McCullers announced ace-high. Murray tossed in and took the huge pot down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Murray	1,000,000 155,000	155,000
Austin McCullers	670,000 18,000	18,000

Tags: Austin McCullers Jason Murray

01-25-2015 18:09 UTC-4

Arbaugh Doubles Through Wilson to Take Monster Lead

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Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

In the last hand of Level 22, James Wilson opened for 34,000 under the gun, and Brian Arbaugh three-bet to 82,000 on the button. Wilson called, and the two saw a flop. Wilson led out for 125,000, and Arbaugh made it 290,000. Wilson called, seeing a turn. He checked, and Arbaugh announced he was all in. Wilson asked for a count, and it was 483,000. Wilson cut out the required amount, thought for about three minutes, and then slid the stack forward to create the biggest pot of the tournament yet.

Wilson:
Arbaugh:

Arbaugh's kings were good but he had some outs to fade. A red card hit the felt, but it was the , Arbaugh exhaled.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Arbaugh	1,700,000 1,030,000	1,030,000
James Wilson	215,000 -485,000	-485,000

Tags: James Wilson Brian Arbaugh

01-25-2015 19:31 UTC-4

Klein Gets Another Wish; McCullers Busto

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Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante

Jeff Klein got what he asked for - twice.

We found Jeff Klein considering an all-in check-raise from Alan Phillips. The flop had come , and Phillips was in for 248,000 more. Klein was thinking hard, muttering to himself about possible hands.

"I fold, I'm folding the best hand," he said. Moments later, he splashed in a call.

Klein:
Phillips:

Klein did not, in fact, have the best hand. The turn was an .

"Give me a seven," Klein said.

River:

The table erupted in amazement as Klein binked his second straight set on the river after requesting one from the dealer.

"Million dollar pot," Phillips said wistfully.

"You shoulda reraised me preflop," Klein said as he dragged the pot.

"I was very happy with the way things turned out," Phillips said.

At the other table, Austin McCullers busted, saying he lost a race.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeff Klein	1,500,000 500,000	500,000
Austin McCullers	Busted
Alan Phillips	Busted

Tags: Austin McCullers Alan Phillips Jeff Klein

01-25-2015 21:02 UTC-4

Mark Hodge Eliminated in 10th Place ($5,231)

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Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Mark Hodge shoved all in from the cutoff for 295,000, and Jeff Klein peeked at his hole cards in the big blind. He immediately dropped in a call upon seeing . Hodge held and asked for face cards. He got them as flopped. The gave him even more outs with an open-ender. A river was a brick though, and Hodge followed up his seventh-place finish at Mid-States Poker Tour Canterbury Park last month with a 10th place here in Jacksonville.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeff Klein	1,910,000 440,000	440,000
Mark Hodge	Busted

Tags: Jeff Klein Mark Hodge

01-25-2015 21:26 UTC-4

Wil Augenstein Eliminated in 8th Place ($11,669); Greg Raymer Eliminated in 9th Place ($8,047)

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Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante

Toby Boas opened for a raise on the button and then called a three-bet to 140,000 from Greg Raymer. Both players checked the flop, and the turn made the board . Raymer check-called 160,000, and a hit the river. Raymer checked again, and Boas bet 200,000. Raymer called immediately, and Boas showed for two pair. Raymer mucked face-up.

"Only hand I was worried about," he said.

The next hand, Wil Augenstein opened for 70,000 under the gun, and Jeff Klein called. Boas made it 170,000 to go, and Raymer called off for 100,000. Augenstein shoved, and Boas snap-called.

"I hope I don't have to get too lucky," Raymer said. He would indeed need to.

Boas:
Augenstein:
Raymer:

Boas' kings were well poised for two knockouts, and it came to be when the board ran out .