After a record breaking flight yesterday, the biggest poker tournament in Michigan, The Mid-States Poker Tour $1,100 Main Event, returns at 12 p.m. today at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek. Flight 1b sees a potentially bigger field sit down to play for their share of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. 631 entrants in the first flight was whittled down to 73 players, nearly ensuring that the prize pool guarantee will not only be met, but surpassed. With 32 minutes left on level 15 from the last flight, players will most likely return on Day 2 with that much left on the clock in level 15 unless one of these flights ends earlier than the first.
The players will sit down with 25,000 in starting chips with blinds at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante and levels going up every 40 minutes. After every three levels, there will be a 10-minute break. After Level 9 there will be a 40-minute dinner break, after which the players will come back, play an additional three levels until registration closes. After which, the players will play three more levels and then bag up for the day at the end of Level 15. Play may end early for some flights, if only 12% of the field remains, then the flight will end, and play on Day 2 will return to the level of the earliest ending flight. The players who do not bag the Day 1b flight will have opportunities to play the final flight on Saturday the 14th. This tournament is unlimited re-entry, so all players will have the option to fire as many bullets as necessary.
It was Iowa’s Matt Morfitt who bagged yesterday’s chip lead with 528,000. Morfitt is no stranger to big MSPT fields, after a career best finish in 2021’s MSPT Canterbury Park for $115,053. He looks to put his big stack to use and tee himself up for another deep run. Jason “Clozer” Kapoor finished right behind him with 516,000 after straightening out against two players in the last hand of the night. Others that found bags included Chris Moon(478,000), Craig Trost (456,000), Brekstyn Schutten (404,000), and Michael Berk (300,000)
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Name | Chip Count |
|---|
| 1 | Matt Morfitt | 528,000 |
| 2 | Jason Kapoor | 516,000 |
| 3 | De'andre Brown | 499,000 |
| 4 | Dominic Choma | 490,000 |
| 5 | Chris Moon | 478,000 |
| 6 | Craig Trost | 456,000 |
| 7 | Sumit Sapra | 406,000 |
| 8 | Brekstyn Schutten | 404,000 |
| 9 | Dionisios Bertson | 377,000 |
| 10 | Gary Stone | 374,000 |
Defending Champion Dan Bekavac will be looking to bag on this flight as yesterday’s flight did not go well for him. Last iteration’s runner-up CJ Peake found his way to a bag of 78,000 and can pass Bekavac on the player of the year points.
Other players who could potentially rise up the player of the year rankings include Josh Reichard, John Dennehey, and Miles Barnum. Each looking to add a deep run to each of their already impressive runs. Others who are likely to make appearances at this stop include MSPT champions Dan Goepel, Ken Baime, WSOP bracelet winners Chris Tryba, Joe Ebanks, DJ Alexander as well as Ralph Massey and Aaron Massey.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued updates on the flights, the second day, and the eventual winner of the tournament.
Tags:
Aaron MasseyBrekstyn SchuttenCJ PeakeChris MoonChris TrybaCraig TrostDJ AlexanderDan BekavacDan GoepelDominic ChomaGary StoneJason KapoorJoe EbanksJohn DenneheyJosh ReichardKen BaimeMatt MorfittMichael BerkMiles BarnumRalph MasseySumit Sapra
and action checked over to the button who bet 2,000 and Gaspard moved all in for 55,800, sending Magdan into the tank. After some time he tossed his hand into the muck as did all the other players. 
and Johnson checked to his opponent who bet 3,000, which Johnson called. 
that saw his opponent bet 3,000 once more. Johnson moved all in for 11,900 effective and his opponent went into the tank. After a bit she threw her hand into the muck and MSPT Hall of Famer took down a pot.
saw both players check to the 
turn where Alexander checked and Keathley bet 1,100. Alexander raised to 3,200 which Keathley called after some thought. 
saw Alexander bet 4,700 and Keathley called. Alexander turned over 
for queens full of tens and Keathley mucked her hand, flashing an 
. The bracelet winner took down an early tournament pot.
and both players checked to the 
turn that saw the big blind bet 1,200 and Alsup call. 
