Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
421
Level
30
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
15,000
Wilson Bags Lead, Seeks Second Straight MSPT Final Table
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
James Wilson claimed the chip lead and a $2,000 bonus on the very last hand of Day 1a at Mid-States Poker Tour bestbet Jacksonville. He topped 31 survivors of 14 levels of play out of 185 total runners, a field nearly big enough to hit the $200,000 guarantee before Day 1b even dawns. Wilson scored $61,473 for second place at the last MSPT of 2014 at Canterbury Park.
Others joining Wilson for Sunday's Day 2 include Austin McCullers (242,000), Toby Boas (239,500), Timothy Forsberg (234,000), Men “Not the Master” Nguyen (221,500), former MSPT Player of the Year Patrick Steele (200,500), Judd Greenagel (145,000), Mark Hodge (109,500), Jason Zarlenga (89,000), and Steve Anderson (42,000). Hodge also made the final table at Canterbury, where he finished seventh.
Wilson's decision to gamble on the final hand of the night paid off, separating him from a tight bunch at the top of the counts. He opened to 7,000 in early position with blinds of (1,200/2,400/300) and saw an opponent make it 35,000 on the button. Wilson called, and the two got it in on an 
flop. Wilson had flopped a set with 
and he easily held against 
.
Boas also owes his massive stack to a huge late pot. After Zarlenga opened early to 5,000, Boas made it 15,000. Chan Nguyen cold-called in the small blind, and Zarlenga came along to see 
flop. Zarlenga opted to lead into the raiser for 22,000. Boas was undeterred, shoving all in for 51,600. Nguyen cold-called once again, and Zarlenga called as well. The two checked down the 
and 
, and Boas slapped down the 
for top set. He had dodged two flush draws, Nguyen's 
and Zarlenga's 
.
All of the players in that pot ultimately bagged up, but a number of competitors weren't so fortunate. Tour pro Matt Kirby, as well as regulars Adam Lamphere, “East Coast” Mike Ross, and Jim Boone also fell during the course of play. The most decorated player in the field, 2004 Main Event champion Greg Raymer, also found himself busto after failing to get much going in the early levels. The good-natured Raymer at least kept his tables entertained with friendly banter for the duration of his run.
Raymer and the rest of the vanquished still have one more day to qualify for this burgeoning prize pool, as Saturday's Day 1b is expected to attract another sizable field. Cards are scheduled to fly at 2 p.m., and PokerNews will once again provide live updates.
End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
320,500 | 198,500 |
|
242,000 | 52,000 |
|
239,500 | 34,500 |
|
234,000 | 234,000 |
|
221,500 | 14,300 |
|
200,500 | |
|
191,500 | 191,500 |
|
|
162,000 | -38,000 |
|
145,000 | -1,300 |
|
144,000 | 144,000 |
|
|
137,500 | 137,500 |
|
|
114,500 | 114,500 |
|
113,500 | 62,500 |
|
109,500 | 37,500 |
|
|
102,000 | 73,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
91,500 | 91,500 |
|
89,000 | -11,000 |
|
|
87,500 | 87,500 |
|
|
83,000 | -123,200 |
|
|
80,000 | 80,000 |
|
|
76,000 | 76,000 |
|
|
69,500 | |
|
|
64,500 | -51,600 |
|
|
56,000 | 56,000 |
Photos: MSPT bestbet Jacksonville Day 1a
Wilson Seizes Likely Lead on Last Hand
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
James Wilson opened to 7,000 and then saw the player on the button make it 35,000. Wilson called after some thought, and the two appeared to shove all in simultaneously on the flop. It was Wilson miles ahead with against , and he had it locked up after the 
turn.
Players are now bagging their stacks, and Wilson looks likely to claim the $2,000 bonus for the chip lead.
Boas Triples Up in Monster Pot
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Jason Zarlenga opened for 5,000 in early position, and Toby Boas made it 15,000 on his left. Action folded to Chan Nguyen, who called in the small blind. Zarlenga called as well, and the flop brought . Zarlenga bet 22,000 after Nguyen checked, and Boas shoved all in for 51,600. Nguyen announced a call, and Zarlenga thought for a couple of minutes before calling as well. The two active players checked through the and .
Boas stood up and slapped down the , knowing he'd tripled up with top set. Nguyen and Zarlenga both missed flush draws with and , respectively.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
205,000 | 129,500 |
|
|
200,000 | -16,000 |
|
|
76,400 | -95,600 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400
Zarlenga Outflops McCullers, Busts a Third Player
Level 13
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
A player shoved his last 16,700 in middle position and was called by both Austin McCullers (cutoff) and Jason Zarlenga (small blind). Zarlenga check-called 20,000 on the 
flop, and both quickly checked the 
turn. Zarlenga bet the 
river and McCullers snap-folded with exasperation. Zarlenga showed 
and took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
190,000 | -6,100 |
|
|
172,000 | 2,000 |
Kelley Finds a Backdoor Double
Level 13
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Dave Lee limped in early position, and Men Nguyen raised to about 6,000. Action folded to Chuck Kelley, who shipped all in for 37,200 in the big blind. Lee folded, and Nguyen snap-called.
Nguyen:
Kelley: 
"Ohhh, nice hand," Nguyen said.
But it was Nguyen with the better hand after the 
flop, a one-outer according to Lee, who said he folded 
. The gave Kelley some hope with a flush draw, and the dealer peeled off the to save his tournament life.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
207,200 | 6,200 |
|
|
77,800 | -300 |
Lorgeree Doubles Through Wilson
Level 13
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
We found cutoff Doug "Skippy" Lorgeree all in with 
, top two on the 
flop. James Wilson had him at risk with 
for the nut flush draw but he bricked out despite turning a straight draw as the was followed by a . The total was 54,500, and Lorgeree collected his double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
122,000 | -89,500 |
|
|
116,100 |