Some Shots from the Day 1a Field
2019 MSPT Meskwaki Casino
$1,100 Main Event
Day: 1a
Matheson Sent Packing By MSPT Season 7 POY
Level 2
: 100/100, 100 ante
MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year Rich Alsup raised to 500 and Joe Matheson called to see a 
flop. Alsup continued for 2,000 and Matheson called to see the 
turn.
Alsup bet again, this time 3,200, and Matheson raised all in for 8,200 total. Alsup called and the hands were turned on their back.
Rich Alsup: 
Joe Matheson: 
Matheson had turned a pair but it was no good as Alsup had the ladies. The river was a brick and Matheson hit the rail early.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Reigning MSPT Meskwaki Champ Josh Meyer in the House
Level 2
: 100/100, 100 ante
Back in July, Josh Meyer bested a 401-entry field to win the 2019 MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship here at Meskwaki Casino. The victory was good for $85,241.
"This is just amazing. I feel like I’m dreaming," Meyer said after the win. "I’ve been playing for a decade and I know how rare it is to get to a final table let alone win one so twenty years from now I’ll be able to say I’m an MSPT champ!”
When asked what he was going to do with the big payday he said: “I’m pretty sure I’m going to be paying off my wife’s student loans and I just got a new car so some of it will be going there, the rest will probably go into a savings account. I’m an actuary by trade so I’m pretty boring.”
Meyer has returned to Tama, Iowa and is looking to go back-to-back here in MSPT Main Events at Meskwaki.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
Most MSPT Main Event Cashes in Single Season
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 10 years on they have one of the best player databases in the industry.
On their "Leaderboards" page, the MSPT tracks such things as Career Earnings, Main Event Cashes, Main Event Final Tables, Main Event Titles, Total Cashes, Most Cashes/Final Tables in a Season, Most Final Tables All-Time, and much more.
Here's a look at the top ten MSPT Main Event cashes in a single season:
| Player | Hometown | Season | Final Tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Steele | Chelsea, Michigan | 4 | 4 |
| Brett Kuznia | Stephen, Minnesota | 4 | 4 |
| Dan Sun | Cedar Rapids. Iowa | 3 | 3 |
| Christian Pham | St. Paul, Minnesota | 4 | 3 |
| Everett Carlton | St. Paul, Minnesota | 1 | 3 |
| Kou Vang | Maplewood, Minnesota | 5 | 3 |
| Michael Deis | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 5 | 3 |
| Nick Pupillo | Addison, Illinois | 5 | 3 |
| Mark Hodge | Fernandina Beach, Florida | 6 | 3 |
| DJ Buckley | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | 6 | 3 |
One for Reigning MSPT POY
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
In one of the last hands in Level 2, reigning MSPT Player of the Year Aaron Johnson raised to 500 from late position and a middle-position player had limped. The player in the big blind came along, as did the limper, and the flop fell 
.
Two checks saw Johnson continue for 800 and both his opponents called to see the 
turn. Again both players checked and Johnson kept the pressure on by betting 1,000. The big blind folded but the middle-position player called. Action then went check-check on the 
river.
Johnson tabled the 
and it was good as his opponent folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
22,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
Smile for the Camera
Check Out Issues of MSPT Magazine
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Did you know the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) publishes its own monthly magazine?
Print copies are distributed to host venues across the country, while anyone from around the world can read it online for free. Click here to check out the MSPT’s full library, including the most recent issue featuring Eric Baldwin's win in the MSPT Venetian.
Other stories in the latest issue include Mark Hodge winning his way into the MSPT Hall of Fame, a preview of the upcoming MSPT Denver Poker Open, and a look at the MSPT Season 10 finale to take place at Minnesota's Canterbury Park.
Click here to view the November issue digital copy for free.
Before Break Chip Counts
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
45,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
|
37,000
37,000
|
37,000 |
|
27,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
|
23,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
21,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
19,000
19,000
|
19,000 |
|
14,000
-6,000
|
-6,000 |
|
10,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
8,500
8,500
|
8,500 |
Break Time
Level 3
: 100/200, 200 ante
Players are on their first 10-minute break of the day