Main Event | 2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces

02-08-2015 11:20 UTC-5

Welcome to Day 2 of Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces

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After two Day 1 flights, 71 players have survived and advanced to play Day 2 of Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces. Mark Hodge will be holding the chip lead with 413,000 at Level 15 (1,500/3,000/500), but plenty of solid players will be chasing him, such as Joe Ford, Mike Schneider, John Reading, Nick Pupillo, Jeff Fielder, and Mike Ross. Even a short-stacked Kou Vang with just 23,000 will likely have something to say about who emerges as champion today.

Indeed, the plan is to play down to a winner, with a dinner break scheduled whenever the final 10 players have emerged from the field. The latest MSPT champ will take home more than $90,000 in prize money, so stay tuned to see who that will be.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Hodge	413,000
Joe Ford	296,000
Marinela Selseth	275,500
Kevin Clyde	269,000
Whitney Bell	246,500
James Maxey	228,500
James Gibson	204,000
Mike Schneider	185,000
Pat Nelson	182,500
John Reading	181,500

Nick Pupillo	164,500

Ervin Bjerga	151,500
Matt Sztamburski	149,500
Jason Spaeth	141,500
Bill Romer	140,500
Chad Kelsch	135,500
Darren Ficek	125,000
Troy Graphenteen	121,500
Jason Bender	116,000
Alex Klatte	114,000
Ken Heathcote	114,000
Justyn Huebener	112,500
Rich Edinger	111,000
Paul Sullivan	109,500
Ernest Garrett	105,500

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Tags: Mark Hodge

02-08-2015 12:16 UTC-5

Liu Doubles With Straight Flush

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Level 16 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

Peixin Liu just doubled up when he hit a straight flush with after flopping a flush draw and getting in against the set of fives held by Tyler Caspers.

"Still can't beat you Liu," Caspers mused.

The two have a bit of history, as both made the final table of this event almost exactly one year ago. There, Liu got fourth for $22,297, while Caspers finished third for $32,932.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peixin Liu	150,000 91,500	91,500
Tyler Caspers	80,000 -10,000	-10,000

Tags: Peixin Liu Tyler Caspers

02-08-2015 13:22 UTC-5

Pupillo Loses a Race

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Level 17 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Nick Pupillo shoved his last 65,500 from the button over an under-the-gun limp from Paul Sullivan, who called.

Pupillo:
Sullivan:

Pupillo's overs sniffed nothing on the community.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Sullivan	300,000 190,500	190,500
Nick Pupillo	Busted

Tags: Nick Pupillo Paul Sullivan

02-08-2015 14:29 UTC-5

Crooks Doubles Up, Bursts Bubble

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Level 19 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

A player shoved under the gun with just two big blinds and was called by Mark Hodge. Derek Crooks jammed from Hodge's left with what looked like about 50,000, and Hodge called, saying he knew he was behind.

Crooks:
Hodge:
Under the gun:

The flop kept Crooks way in front as he added the nut flush draw. A turn gave the all-in player some hope, as well as pairing Hodge, but the river was a .

With that elimination, the money bubble is done and payouts can begin.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Hodge	142,000 -158,000	-158,000
Derek Crooks	134,000 66,000	66,000

Tags: Mark Hodge Derek Crooks

02-08-2015 15:20 UTC-5

Ross Loses Another Race to Bust

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Level 20 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

John Reading opened for 25,000 in the cutoff and then called the shove of Mike Ross, who had 95,000 in the big blind.

Ross:
Reading:

Ross seemed defeated after a flop closed off some of his outs, but he found the on the turn.

"Black one!" he urged the dealer.

The dealer complied, but it was the , giving Reading a winning set.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Reading	450,000 185,000	185,000

Mike Ross	Busted

Tags: John Reading Mike Ross

02-08-2015 15:47 UTC-5

Another Vicious Beat for Ford

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Level 20 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Joe Ford limped under the gun, Marinela Selseth raised to 25,000 on the button, and Ken Heathcote made it about 60,000 in the big blind. Ford jammed, folding out Selseth. Ford started the hand with a little more than 400,000, covering Heathcote's 300,000 or so. Heathcote decided to call it off with , but Ford had him crushed with . The flop was safe enough for Ford, but the left him shaking his head. A river was close but not what he needed.

The former chip leader, who was described as "walking on water" on Day 1b by a tablemate, has found naught but awful luck today.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ken Heathcote	670,000 470,000	470,000
Joe Ford	110,000 -210,000	-210,000

Tags: Joe Ford Ken Heathcote Marinela Selseth

02-08-2015 18:14 UTC-5

Bjerga Doubles Through Liu

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Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante

Ervin Bjerga opened for 162,000 in the small blind, and Peixin Liu went all in. Bjerga thought for a couple of minutes and called off for 379,000.

Bjerga:
Liu:

"Good call," the former champ said.

Liu got nothing on the flop but a turn gave him a flush draw. The board harmlessly paired with the on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ervin Bjerga	786,000 346,000	346,000
Peixin Liu	175,000 -291,000	-291,000

Tags: Peixin Liu Ervin Bjerga

02-08-2015 18:30 UTC-5

Liu Bubbles Out

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Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante

Peixin Liu jammed for about 300,000 and was called by big blind Terry Ring, who woke up with . Liu was dominated with , and an ace-high flop and a brick turn signaled the end for Liu.

Players are redrawing for the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Peixin Liu	Busted

Tags: Peixin Liu Terry Ring

02-08-2015 19:49 UTC-5

James Gibson Eliminated in 10th Place ($4,427)

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Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante

Terry Ring limped in from early position, and Mark Hodge made it 75,000 to go. Action moved to James Gibson in the small blind.

"This is a hand I did really well in the World Series with," he said to himself as he counted out his stack. "All in."

Ring folded, and Hodge called for about 100,000 more.

Hodge:
Gibson:

The former Mid-States Poker Tour champion had a dominating lead, but a flop tilted things in Hodge's direction. He called for a heart but instead got the on the turn. Only the would save Gibson, but it was a river card.