Main Event
Day 1a Completed
Main Event
Day 1a Completed
Aaron Johnson bagged 233,500 to lead the 30 surviving players out of 148 runners here on Day 1a of Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming. Johnson led a group of three Minnesotans in the top five stacks, including Gennady Shimelfarb (196,500) and Kou Vang (167,500). Also in the top five were Ernest Garrett (177,500) and Ken Payne (175,500).
Johnson's climb began when he bet 5,000 with the board reading , and Bill Romer put Johnson all in for about 26,000 total. Johnson thought for about a minute before calling it off.
Johnson:
Romer:
"Nice call, young man," Rob Wazwaz said.
It got even nicer when Johnson's queens up held on the river.
Later, a player raised to 4,200 from middle position, and Johnson three-bet to 9,900 in the hijack. Action folded back to the raiser, who shoved for about 65,000 total. Johnson made the call, immediately flipping . His opponent had , and Johnson flopped a set to widen his lead on the flop. An made it a sweat, as the queens would win if a heart came, but the board paired with the to give Johnson a boat.
It wasn't all big hands and dragged pots for Johnson, however. He also had to make some laydowns, including this hand, which prompted a colorful reaction from opponent David Gutfreund.
As for Shimelfarb, he made most of his bacon when he bet 6,400 from under the gun on an flop. Gutfreund raised to 14,200 in the cutoff, and Will Liebergen called on the button. Shimelfarb pushed all in for about 45,000 more, and Gutfreund folded after getting a count. Liebergen called.
Liebergen:
Shimelfarb:
Liebergen had sprung the trap by flatting with his set, and Shimelfarb needed a queen to survive. The turn was a brick, but the river was just the ticket for Shimelfarb.
Notables bagging stacks include David Gutfreund (143,500) and Mike Deis (62,500), who made the final table of MSPT Majestic Star.
The less fortunate include Matt Kirby, Blake Bohn, Eddie Blumenthal, Bill Romer, Bryan Moon, Terry Ring, Lance Harris, Larry Ormson, John Hayes, Leon Morford, Rob Wazwaz, Mario Hudson, Patrick Steele, and the champion of the last MSPT stop here, Josh Reichard.
Be sure to tune back in tomorrow at 4 p.m. for Day 1b coverage here on PokerNews.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Aaron Johnson |
233,500
-1,500
|
-1,500 |
Gennady Shimelfarb |
196,500
51,500
|
51,500 |
Ernest Gorich
|
177,500 | |
Ken Payne |
175,500
35,500
|
35,500 |
Kou Vang |
167,500
42,100
|
42,100 |
Mike Shin |
164,500
57,200
|
57,200 |
Jerry Gumila |
146,500
76,500
|
76,500 |
DJ Buckley |
146,500
51,500
|
51,500 |
David Gutfreund |
143,500
-12,500
|
-12,500 |
John Morstad | 126,500 | |
Brian Rudolph | 121,000 | |
Yao Yin | 114,500 | |
Lee Rzentkowski | 104,500 | |
Parminder Sinah
|
104,500 | |
Richard Walsh | 102,000 | |
Will Liebergen |
94,000
37,000
|
37,000 |
Dave Grandin |
84,000
-12,000
|
-12,000 |
Jim Boone | 78,000 | |
Mike Deis | 62,500 | |
Jim Brodenick
|
60,000 | |
Max Garland
|
58,500 | |
Brian Zupancich | 56,000 | |
Steve Lauson | 53,000 | |
Darren Ficek | 49,500 | |
Brian Wilke
|
40,500
-7,000
|
-7,000 |
According to players at the table, Josh Reichard three-bet a player who opened before getting it in after a four-bet, only to run his into . The former Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming champion busted out when he failed to catch up.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Josh Reichard
|
Busted |
Players will bag up after four hands are played.
Aaron Johnson checked out of the big blind before calling 4,600 from David Gutfreund on the flop. Both players checked the turn, and a came on the river. Johnson checked, and Gutfreund bet 19,600. Johnson thought for about a minute before laying it down.
"You're too good," Gutfreund said, tossing in for the nut straight. "You're too damn f****** good."
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Aaron Johnson |
235,000
-28,000
|
-28,000 |
David Gutfreund |
156,000
-13,500
|
-13,500 |
From the small blind, Kou Vang check-called 6,500 on a flop against Josh Reichard, and Vang then came out betting with 8,900 on the turn. Reichard called, and he called 26,200 more on the river.
Vang showed down for the nuts, and Reichard fortunes continue to take a downward turn.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Kou Vang |
125,400
58,400
|
58,400 |
Josh Reichard
|
56,000
-78,000
|
-78,000 |
Bryan Moon got it all with and lost to a Ken Payne holding , according to a bystander.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Ken Payne |
140,000
97,200
|
97,200 |
Bryan Moon | Busted |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400
A player shoved all in for 19,100, and Aaron Johnson was the only caller.
Johnson:
Opponent:
Johnson's ace-queen held when the board came .
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Aaron Johnson |
263,000
101,000
|
101,000 |