Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$410,000
Entries
410
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000
Yousri "Chicago" Ali Bags Day 1a Lead at MSPT Meskwaki
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour Meskwaki attracted 179 entrants, nearly breaking the previous record. After 14 levels of play, 33 players remained, and it was Yousri "Chicago" Ali who bagged the chip lead with 309,500. If Ali reaches the money on Day 2, this will be his first-ever MSPT cash.
Ali not only played exceptionally well, he also ran hot nearly all day — a killer combination in poker. He became the chip leader early on when he was the first player to amass more than 200,000, and he maintained that lead throughout the second half of play. A testament to how Ali's day was going, he got Tom Hanson to lay down the 
to essentially a min-raise preflop. After his opponent folded, Ali showed the 
. Hanson justified his big preflop laydown by saying, "The guy is just running too hot. No one can win!"
John Joachim also went on a streak at the end of the night. After eliminating a player with the 
, he continued the upward climb and ended up bagging the third largest stack with 266,500.
Other players bagging at night's end included Rex Clinkscales (286,000), Robbie WazWaz (162,000), "DQ" Dan Hendrickson (135,500), Aaron Johnson (104,000), lone female Patricia Bott (41,000), and Dan Hamm (39,000).
Some of those that were not so lucky and will need to enter again tomorrow on Day 1b if they hope to get a chunk of the prize pool included former MSPT Meskwaki champ Jonathan Olson, Terry Ring, Kou Vang, Josh Reichard, Phil Mader, and MSPT team pros Matt Kirby, Nick Pupillo, and Matt Alexander.
Day 1b kicks off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and PokerNews will be back on hand for more live updates. Stay tuned.
End of Day 1a Counts (full)
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
309,500 | -25,500 |
|
286,000 | 121,800 |
|
266,500 | 176,500 |
|
230,500 | |
|
168,000 | 168,000 |
|
162,000 | 162,000 |
|
|
157,500 | 157,500 |
|
141,500 | 37,500 |
|
|
140,500 | 140,500 |
|
136,500 | 136,500 |
|
135,500 | -12,500 |
|
119,000 | 119,000 |
|
104,000 | 24,000 |
|
|
103,500 | 23,500 |
|
95,000 | 95,000 |
|
94,500 | 94,500 |
|
91,500 | 91,500 |
|
83,000 | 83,000 |
|
|
81,000 | 81,000 |
|
|
73,000 | 73,000 |
|
69,500 | -20,500 |
|
|
63,000 | 63,000 |
|
61,500 | 61,500 |
|
56,000 | 56,000 |
|
|
50,500 | -34,500 |
Two More Hands
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
With ten minutes left on the clock, the players will now play two final hands before bagging and tagging for the night.
Tom Hanson Makes Huge Lay Down
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Yousri Ali raised to 10,000 in middle position. Action folded to Tom Hanson in the big blind who went into the tank.
After a minute Ali called the clock on Hanson, assuming that Hanson was tanking since we are so close to the end of play for the day.
After thirty seconds, Hanson slides his cards forward and says, "That was a good hand there."
Ali flashes . The table was shocked. But they were even more shocked when Hanson reached forward and showed his mucked cards: .
Aaron Johnson said, "I quit life. I can't even play my big blind after that."
While the table congratulated Hanson on the excellent laydown he said, "The guy is just running too hot. No one can win."
Hanson can be happy that he still has 30,000 instead of potentially being eliminated if he had made the call.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
335,000 | 40,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
"Best Hand I've Seen in Three Hours"
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
John Joachim raised it up to 6,200. Action folded to a player in the big blind who shoved all-in for 43,400. Joachim thought for over a minute about his decision before saying, "This is the best hand I've seen in three hours." After another minute, Joachim threw in the chips to make the call.
John Joachim:
Big Blind: 
The board ran out 
, giving Joachim the higher flush and eliminating his opponent from play in the last level of the evening.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
90,000 |
Yousri Ali Eliminates Another Player
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
A player in middle position shoved all-in and Yousri Ali quickly called.
Middle Position: 
Yousri Ali: 
The board ran out 
, eliminating the player in middle position.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
295,000 | 25,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400
Aaron Johnson's Upward Climb
Level 13
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Aaron Johnson raised to 4,500 in middle position and the big blind called. The flop came 
, and both players checked.
The turn was the 
. The big blind lead for 8,000, and Johnson called.
The river was the . The big blind lead for 14,000, and Johnson quickly called.
Big Blind: 
Aaron Johnson: 
The big blind was left with less than 20,000, and Johnson chipped up to just about 80,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
80,000 | 20,000 |
Terry Ring Eliminated By Chip Leader Yousri Ali
Level 13
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
A player under the gun raised to 5,500. Terry Ring called in middle position. Action folded to Yousri Ali, who set out a stack of pink chips, totaling 100,000 and putting all other players at risk for their tournament lives.
Jim Fowler looked down at his cards and thought for a moment before he hesitantly folded his hand. The original under the gun raiser also folded. Ring quickly called.
Terry Ring:
Yousri Ali:
The board ran out 
, eliminating Ring from the tournament and giving Ali an even more commanding chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
270,000 | 50,000 |
|
Busted |