Main Event
Day 1a Started
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$328,000
Entries
328
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000
Welcome to Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces Harness Park
![[user269803]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
It's been nearly two weeks since the last Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event was held at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and starting today at 4 p.m local time, the tour will once again kick off at one of its most popular stops, Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus, Minnesota.
In February of this year, Ervin Bjerga bested a field of 354 players at Running Aces to take home the top prize of $91,941 and the coveted MSPT trophy. Prior to that event, Bjerga had also made the final table of the MSPT Running Aces event in 2014, taking third for cash prize of $30,305. He'll be expected to be in action this time around, plus hundreds of other poker players from the area.
Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler's approved blind structure will be used as players start the day with 20,000 in chips at 50/100 blinds, with new levels beginning every 40 minutes. Each player is allowed one reentry per starting flight up to the end of the break following Level 9.
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all of the action-packed live updates as the MSPT at Running Aces kicks off shortly!
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The only question left is — who wants to get wired?
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Cards In the Air
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Cards are now in the air, and there are eight tables of players that have entered in the first level. There are sure to be many more, as all players have until level nine to buy in, and/or reenter one time per flight.
Early Notables
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
On an initial pass through of the tournament floor, we spotted several familiar faces seated among the early runners. Terry Ring, former Meskwaki Champion has just taken his seat. Peixin Liu, previous winner of an Mid-States Poker Tour event held at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN has also joined the field.
MSPT Pro Matt Kirby has also taken his seat in the early part of level 1.
Other familiar faces spotted on an initial pass through of the tournament floor include MSPT regulars Mark Hodge, Tom Tracy, and Paul Skjerseth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
Paul Skjerseth Takes a Hit, Boat Over Boat
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
A player in early position has checked a board reading 
, and action is on Paul Skjerseth on the button. Skjerseth bet 1,100. His opponent in early position raised to 3,350, and Skjerseth called.
The river came the 
. The player in early position led out for 6,000, and Skjerseth opted to call after a moment of thinking about it.
Skjerseth had flopped a set of fives holding 
, but he was way behind his opponent who had flopped a set of aces holding 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,300 | -10,700 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
More Recognizable Players
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |