On a completed board of 
, the big blind checked to Stephen Zipprich with about 4,000 in the pot. Zipprich bet 2,000, only to see his opponent come out raising with 7,500. Zipprich tanked for a bit then dropped in calling chips.
The big blind showed 
for a missed flush and Zipprich took the pot with 
for trips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
33,700 |
Three players checked to Warren Sheaves on a 
flop and he bet 1,200 into about 4,000. Everyone called, and the 
on the turn got checked through. The river was a 
and Phil Kiphardt led out for 2,000 in middle position. A player in the cutoff called and Sheaves instantly mucked 
face up.
Kiphardt showed 
for a full house.
"That's not fair," the cutoff protested, tossing 
into the middle for a queen with a better kicker on the flop.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
26,000 | |
|
6,500 | -6,600 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 100
Richard Monroe was down to about 16,000 but he won two pots in a row in inch back closer to the start stack. First, he came along from the big blind four ways with and called a 400 bet from a middle-position player on 
. Everyone checked the turn and 
river, and Monroe tabled his second pair for the pot.
Then, Monroe was in the small blind and checked a 
flop. His opponent in the cutoff checked back and quickly folded to a large bet of 1,200 on the 
turn.
Warren Sheaves has had less luck and sits just above 13,000. While it's a slow start for the former WSOP Global Casino Championship winner, he has plenty of time to turn it around, and he just got moved to a freshly created table as the field broke 30.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
19,000 | -1,000 |
|
|
13,100 | -6,900 |
Although just shy of 30 players are seated at the tables to kick things off at Golden Gates, we do recognize a few of the players who opted to show up early.
Matt Livingston, a local grinder from Windsor, is coming off a strong performance just a few months back when he shipped the $2,500 High Roller at the Colorado Poker Championship for about $40,000.
Another early entrant is Richard Monroe. A one-time HPT champ here, Monroe hopes to add another title to his trophy case by taking the MSPT crown.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 |
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 0
After more than a week of preliminary action, the Denver Poker Open heads towards its conclusion and its biggest event as the Mid-States Poker Tour $1,100 Main Event prepares to get underway at Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado.
A veteran presence in the market, the MSPT recently wrapped up its $360 regional event here as part of the same series, which saw Colorado native Aaron Frei top a four-way chop for $36,607. The most recent MSPT $1K here saw Michigan's Brian Hou best two of Colorado's more recognizable traveling pros, Ben Keeline and Krzysztof Stybaniewicz. Hou relegated them to third and second place, respectively, back in April.
The $1,100 Main Event, sporting a $200,000 guarantee, kicks off today with the first of three starting flights. Each will offer players 40-minute levels and 20,000 starting stacks, with blinds beginning at 100/100 and progressing through 2,000/4,000/4,000. Alternatively, the players may bag early if 12% of the field is reached, rounded down.
If busted, players may reenter as many times as they wish until the start of Level 13 (1,000/2,500/2,500).
Stick with PokerNews for updates throughout the day, with the first cards scheduled to come off the deck at noon local time here in the mountains.
$1,110 Main Event
Day 1a Started
