MSPT Running Aces Prelims Kick Off; $200K GTD $1,100 Buy-In Main Event One Week Away
The latest stop of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 6 kicked off today at Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minnesota. A week of qualifiers and bonus events are in store before the stop culminates with an $1,100 buy-in $200,000 guaranteed Main Event that will run from Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20.
The MSPT last visited the property back in February, which is when Ervin Bjerga topped a field of 354 entrants to capture a $91,941 first-place prize. What’s more, he did it after finishing third in the MSPT Running Aces the visit prior, which took place in September of last year.
"The MSPT and Running Aces Casino have a long history, and each visit just seems to get bigger and better," said MSPT owner and operator Bryan Mileski. "Come on out for a great weekend of poker. Hopefully you find yourself competing for huge prize on Day 2, but if not you can always watch the Minnesota Vikings take on the Detroit Lions either at the casino or nearby TCF Bank Stadium."
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to capture action from the Main Event, and we're happy to announce that players will have the opportunity to use the My Stack app to update their hands and chip counts straight into the live blog.
To download the My Stack app absolutely free on either Apple or Android, click here.
"Working with Bryan and the MSPT brand has been something great to watch grow," Marketing Director at Running Aces, Aaron Bedessem, previously told PokerNews. "We have worked well with the brand to help build it from only a few stops in Minnesota to a Midwest brand that has a great following. The growth MSPT has been able to accomplish has been great in drawing in more regional players to our poker room."
Here's a look at the MSPT Running Aces schedule:
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Sept. 11 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 12 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Event | $80 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 12 | Multi-Table Super Satellite (20% advance) | $65 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 12 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 13 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Bounty Event | $30 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 13 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 13 | Multi-Table Super Satellite (20% advance) | $65 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Monday, Sept. 14 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Bounty Event | $60 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Monday, Sept. 14 | Running Aces Bonus FREEROLL (T1o MSPT Main Event Seats Added | - | 6:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Sept. 15 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Event | $30 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Tuesday, Sept. 15 | Multi-Table Super Satellite (20% advance) | $65 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Sept. 16 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Event | $50 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, Sept. 16 | Multi-Table Super Satellite (20% advance) | $65 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Sept. 16 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, Sept. 17 | Running Aces Bonus NLHE Event | $30 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Thursday, Sept. 17 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 12:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, Sept. 17 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 10:30 a.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | MSPT Main Event Day 1a | $1,100 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 18 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | MSPT Main Event Qualifier (20% advance) | $250 | 10:30 a.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | MSPT Main Event Day 1b | $1,100 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | MSPT Main Event Day 1 | - | 10:30 a.m. |
The Main Event will be held over three days beginning Friday with Day 1a at 4 p.m. Day 1a will play 14 levels. Saturday's Day 1b will also start at 4 p.m. and also play 14 levels. Players who advance from Day 1a are not eligible to play in Day 1b. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned.
"We have a 25-table poker room and adequate space for an additional 30 tables when we run larger tournaments," Bedessem added. "We typically spread limit games (2/4, 3/6 Kill , 4/8 Half-Kill) as well as spread limit. The 2-100 spread limit is our most popular game and they sometimes play variations with a $2 ante and/or a mandatory $4 straddle."
Here's a look at those who've capture titles in Season 6 thus far:
| Dates | Event | Entrants | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15-25, 2015 | MSPT bestbet Jacksonville | 421 | Brian Arbaugh | $102,806 |
| Jan. 30 – Feb. 8, 2015 | MSPT Running Aces | 354 | Erv Bjerga | $91,941 |
| Feb. 14-22, 2015 | MSPT Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells | 463 | Ben Wiora | $114,512 |
| March 5-15 | MSPT Golden Gates | 409 | Kane Lai | $101,365 |
| March 21-29 | MSPT Meskwaki | 371 | Chad Willett | $96,760 |
| April 4-12 | MSPT Potawatomi | 635 | Jason Mirza | $147,529 |
| April 6-19 | MSPT Maryland Live! Casino | 270 | Greg Himmelbrand | $72,910 |
| April 17-26 | MSPT Canterbury Park | 430 | Dan Hendrickson | $106,182 |
| May 9-17 | MSPT FireKeepers Casino | 614 | Harry Tisdale | $142,637 |
| June 1-5 | MSPT Venetian | 1,964 | Angelina Rich | $215,815 |
| July 24-26 | MSPT Meskwaki | 410 | Blake Bohn | $101,229 |
| August 14-16 | MSPT Grand Falls | 238 | Alan Curl | $64,941 |
| August 21-23 | MSPT Tropicana Evansville | 251 | Michael O'Neill | $67,746 |
| September 4-6 | MSPT Potawatomi Casino | 462 | Dan Goepel | $114,117 |
For more information, head on over to msptpoker.com or follow them on Twitter @msptpoker.
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