Mark Hodge is back after firing and missing on Day 1a. The current Mid-States Poker Tour Player of the Year points leader is seated at Table 32. He has a wide lead over second-place Jason Mirza, but he's not content to rest on his laurels and is looking to grind out some more points.
In one recent pot, Hodge bet 750 when an opponent in middle position checked to him on the button on a board of , and Hodge's opponent called. It went check-check on the river, and Hodge showed down , enough to best .
It hasn't taken long for some tensions to arise here at Mid-States Poker Tour Maryland Live! Apparently, two players were in a dispute about where a player on the button had checked or not on a board. The player on the button was adamant he hadn't checked and was just shuffling his chips, while his neighbor, who was out of the hand contended otherwise. The player on the button saw his bet called, and it went check-check on a river, with the player on the button opening for trips and taking the pot.
"You play your hands and I'll play my hands," the player said after taking the pot. "I don't do angles. You're a liar. I play here all the time and I don't like you."
The tournament director laid down the law and ordered the players to end things, and the discussion was over.
Day 1a is in the books, and the second of three flights at Mid-States Poker Tour Maryland Live! Casino kicks off in less than an hour here on the outskirts of Baltimore.
The first flight saw some notables bag up, including chip leader Mo Mostafa (238,900), MSPT team pro Blake Bohn (142,600), and Christian Harder (104,500). Some of the players failing to advance included Blake's fellow tour pro Matt Alexander, Adam Friedman, WSOPC ring winner Jeromy Bittan, and MSPT points leader Mark Hodge. We can expect all four of those and more to return for another crack at this growing prize pool.
The plan for the day is to play 14 levels, each lasting 40 minutes as part of the Allen Kessler-approved structure. There will be breaks every three levels, and with play kicking off at 11:15 a.m., things should wrap up just after 9 p.m. local time. Each player begins with 20,000 in their stack, and blinds start off at 50/100.
, and Hodge's opponent called. It went check-check on the 
river, and Hodge showed down 
, enough to best 
.
board. The player on the button was adamant he hadn't checked and was just shuffling his chips, while his neighbor, who was out of the hand contended otherwise. The player on the button saw his bet called, and it went check-check on a 
river, with the player on the button opening 
