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Onslow, Iowa's Vic Hoffman has emerged as the late levels chip leader here on over 170,000.
"I've just had some nice players playing with me today," he said with a smile when asked about how he accumulated the chips. "I've had one big suck out. The others were legit."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
172,000 |
Level: 13
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 300
The final 10-minute break of the night starts now with 60 players remaining.
They will return to play two more 40-minute levels before Day 1a is through.
Kalamazoo, Michigan's Kurtis Kaspar now sits among the leaders after outflopping James Wilson in a massive hand with a ton of preflop action.
It started with a Kip Smith raise to 3,500 and continued with Kaspar three-betting to 10,500. Wilson just called before Adam Friedman came in with a four-bet to 24,000. Smith let it go before Kaspar called.
Wilson then five-bet shoved for 157,100 total, sending Friedman deep into the tank. He emerged a few minutes later with a fold and Kaspar called all in for around 40,000 total.
Wilson: 
Kaspar: 
The flop came down 
, giving Kaspar the lead and the 
turn and 
river ensured the massive pot was pushed over to him.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
140,000 | 140,000 |
|
105,000 | -30,000 |
|
96,000 | -9,000 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 800/1,600
Ante: 200
Patience has once again paid off for the enigmatic Allen Kessler.
He waited until he was down to 14,000 before doubling with pocket sevens versus 
, then proceeded to win the next three hands with a series of pairs and clever plays.
Kessler is in his comfort zone now, sitting right around the average stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000 | 35,000 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota's James Wilson now finds himself among the leaders after flopping a huge hand moments ago.
He opened to 3,500 before one opponent three-bet to 11,000. A third player called and Wilson obliged. The flop fell 
and Wilson simply shipped it in.
One opponent called all in for some 40,000 with 
and after the other folded, Wilson showed 
. He faded the remaining queens and is now inching closer the the 140,000-chip mark.
MSPT Pro Matt Alexander has suddenly vaulted into the lead here in Tama thanks to two big hands.
He held pocket jacks in both, hit a set in both, and managed to get paid off big time in both.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
140,000 |
Level: 11
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 200
He comes from Walt Disney's hometown and currently carries a stack almost as big as his hat.
Marceline, Missouri's Rick McGown has emerged as one of the leaders heading into the late levels and he credits it all to consistent play.
Avoiding big confrontations and steadily chipping up has him now pushing close to 120,000 while the hat is at least 10 gallons.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
119,000 |
