Day 1a is in the books, and Day 1b is ready to rock at Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces in Columbus, Minn. The first flight drew a total of 161 runners, and a similar number or greater is expected for today, the last chance to qualify for championship Sunday, when a new MSPT champion will be crowned.
Everyone is looking way, way up in the counts at Mark Hodge, who bagged 415,000, a massive lead over second-place James Maxey at the conclusion of 14 levels on Day 1a. Others making it through included James Gibson, John Reading, Darren Ficek, Jeff Fielder, "DQ" Dan Hendrickson, Todd Melander, Mike Ross, Terry Ring, Tony Lazar and Jeremy Dresch. Some of the faces we might see today who busted out yesterday: Adam Friedman, Matt Kirby, Jason Zarlenga, Nick Pupillo, Lance Harris, and Kou Vang.
Another 14 level grind will spark up at 4 p.m. local time with Allen Kessler's "Chainsaw Approves" structure governing play. Everyone will start with 20,000 in chips and blinds begin at 50/100, bagging up after the 1,200/2,400/400 level. Each player is allowed one reentry, usable until the start of Level 10.
Jason Zarlenga bet 750 from the small blind into two players on a flop. The first one folded, but Ken Pates wanted to play for more and raised to 1,700 from middle position. Zarlenga called, and he check-called 2,500 more on the turn. The made a three-flush on board, and Zarlenga checked once more. Pates bet 2,750, and Zarlenga raised to 8,200.
"Call," Pates quickly announced, and Zarlenga flipped into the middle. Pates showed for a flopped straight, and the defending champ is off and running.
After a raise and a few calls, Jason Zarlenga put his last 5,000 or so in from the big blind and got a bunch of folds before the small blind called him.
Zarlenga:
Small blind:
Zarlenga won the race when the board ran out nine-high, keeping the two-time Mid-States Poker Tour champ in the game.
On a board that ran out with only a small turn bet going into the pot, Brian Ward bet 1,600 after Steve Vang checked to him. Jason Sell called, and Vang raised to 4,000. Ward reraised to about 10,000, folding out Sell, and Vang turned over thinking he had just been called. Informed it was a raise, Vang shoved all in with his boat only to be snap-called by Ward's .
Ben Marsh bet 6,500, about half of his stack, from middle position on a board of when an opponent checked to him out of the big blind. The player tanked for awhile before deciding to call, and the prompted her to quickly shove all in. Marsh double-checked his cards and called off for 6,750, and he showed for a winning flush.
Marsh is looking to repeat his final table run from last September's Mid-States Poker Tour here. There, Marsh ultimately finished sixth for $15,753. Back in 2011, Marsh also won an MSPT for just over $40,000.
Adam Friedman shoved all in for about 13,000 on an flop and was called by Mike Lang.
Lang:
Friedman:
Lang had a flush draw, and both players turned a pair of aces on the turn. Friedman hit top two pair on the river, but it was an unwelcome card as it gave Lang a winning flush.
In a three-bet pot, the player in the small blind bet 15,000 on an flop and got called by Marinela Selseth in the cutoff. The small blind fired another 25,000 on the turn, and Selseth announced all in. The small blind seemed distraught but called for about 120,000.
Selseth:
Small blind:
Only an ace would cost Selseth the massive pot, and the river brought the .
"Minnesota" Jon Hanner raised to 4,000 from the hijack and received calls from both blinds. Action checked to him on the flop, and Hanner bet 6,500. Only Tin Do, the small blind, came along. The turned, and Do checked again. Hanner bet 13,000, and Do raised to 33,000. Hanner pushed all in for about 15,000 more, and Do called, flipping up . Hanner had the two pair bested with , bottom set, and he was fading just four outs on the river. Unfortunately for Hanner, the peeled off, and he slapped the table in frustration.
flop. The first one folded, but Ken Pates wanted to play for more and raised to 1,700 from middle position. Zarlenga called, and he check-called 2,500 more on the 
turn. The 
made a three-flush on board, and Zarlenga checked once more. Pates bet 2,750, and Zarlenga raised to 8,200.
into the middle. Pates showed 
for a flopped straight, and the defending champ is off and running.
with only a small turn bet going into the pot, Brian Ward bet 1,600 after Steve Vang checked to him. Jason Sell called, and Vang raised to 4,000. Ward reraised to about 10,000, folding out Sell, and Vang turned over 
thinking he had just been called. Informed it was a raise, Vang shoved all in with his boat only to be snap-called by Ward's 
prompted her to quickly shove all in. Marsh double-checked his cards and called off for 6,750, and he showed 
for a winning flush.
.
for trips on the river.
flop and was called by Mike Lang.
turn. Friedman hit top two pair on the 
run out.
flop and got called by Marinela Selseth in the cutoff. The small blind fired another 25,000 on the 
. Hanner had the two pair bested with 
