MSPT Running Aces Day 1b: Issac Tucker Leads as 37 of 182 Survive the Night
Day 1b of the Mid-States Poker Tour Running Aces Harness Park attracted 182 entries, and after 14 levels of play just 37 remained with Isaac Tucker and his stack of 222,500 leading the way. Along with Day 1a’s 156 entries, the total field jumped to 338 entrants.
Tucker, who is a local player known as "Rungood," narrowly edged out Kenneth Johnson (213,000) and Blake Warner (210,500) to top the Day 1b chip, though that is still quite a bit behind Day 1a chip leader Andrew Null, who bagged up 309,500.
Top Ten Day 1b Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Issac Tucker | 222,500 |
| 2 | Kenneth Johnson | 213,000 |
| 3 | Blake Warner | 210,500 |
| 4 | William Vincent | 169,500 |
| 5 | Ben Marsh | 162,500 |
| 6 | Paul Skjerseth | 145,000 |
| 7 | Bill Perpich | 143,500 |
| 8 | Steve Vang | 135,000 |
| 9 | Jim Lawrence | 127,000 |
| 10 | Tony Hartmann | 123,500 |
Johnson vaulted to second place on the chip counts on the final hand of the night. It happened when three players saw fifth street with the board reading 2♥Q♥K♦J♣4♠. There was approximately 115,000 in the bloated pot, and a player shoved all in for 38,200. William Vincent folded after some thought, and Johnson cut out enough to call, seeming unsure of what to do. After about 30 seconds, he shoved the stack in.
"Two pair," the all-in player said.
Johnson waited for him to reveal, and the player put 4♣2♠ down. Johnson tossed down K♠4♦ for a better two pair with a loud clap, ending his night with a bang.
Vincent (169,500), Ben Marsh (162,500), Jim Lawrence (127,000), Tony Hartmann (123,500), Mike Wilmes (119,000), Adam Dahlin (97,500), Jeremy Dresch (85,500), John Morgan (76,500), Marc "Poker Joker" Powers (68,500), Matt Kirby (56,500), Jonathan Olson (49,000), and a short-stacked Larry Ormson (24,500) were also among the 37 players punching tickets to Sunday's Day 2.
Morgan, a famed Minnesota business magnate known for participating in some of the highest stakes tournaments on the planet, dragged an exciting pot late in the evening to secure his Day 2 berth. One player had moved all in for more than 40,000 on the J♦9♦Q♦ flop, and Morgan called off for about 25,000. A third player folded.
Morgan: K♣10♦
Opponent: Kx10x
"Same hand, except I've got this," Morgan said, pointing at his diamond.
An A♦ gave him the freeroll win on the turn, and someone called for the straight flush.
The dealer burned and turned the K♦, giving Morgan a royal flush.
"Just like playing the Russian," someone said, referencing the famous hand from the first Big One for One Drop in which Morgan got an opponent to fold quads on a board where a straight flush was possible.
"Oh, the Russian didn't know s***," Morgan said as he stacked his chips. "All he had was quad eights."
Many didn't share the good fortune of Morgan, though as Lance Harris, Matt Alexander, Tyler Caspers, Nick Pupillo, Jason Sell, Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler, Jason Zarlenga, Molly Mossey, David Gonia, Brett Kuznia, Brandon Meyers, Aaron Johnson, and Ryan Hartmann all fell short of the finish line.
In Hartmann's case, a successful trap with aces turned against him when he flatted a late-position open and then saw former MSPT champion Mike Wilmes three-bet in the big blind. When the opener mucked, Hartmann shoved his stack in only to have Wilmes flop a set with JxJx.
Day 2 is set to kick off at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be on hand to capture all the action. Be sure to visit our Live Reporting Section then for all the latest and greatest from the MSPT Running Aces Harness Park.
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