Berlowski Edges Former Champ Bronk for Day 1b Lead
Benjamin Berlowski bagged 240,000 to end Day 1b of Mid-States Poker Tour Ho-Chunk Gaming, enough to notch the chip lead by a nose over Drake Bronk, who finished with 239,500. Bronk won the biggest event in tour history when he topped a field of 854 to take home $163,870 at the MSPT Mid-Season Championship at the Venetian in June.
Today's field numbered an impressive 202 entrants, boosting the total to 359, and 37 of the day's runners made it through. Tour pro Matt Alexander (223,500), Ken Payne (213,000), last week's champion Ken Pates (192,500), MSPT Player of the Year leader Mike Deis (172,000), Matt Kirby (149,000), Jason Sell (134,000), Tony Lazar (79,000), and Jason Zarlenga (53,000) were among those punching Day 2 tickets. Sell won this event in March.
Berlowski's most crucial hand came late in the night, during Level 13 (1,000/2,000/300). After a 
flop, he got all in for his last 48,800 with monster stack Kevin Fiedler.
Berlowski: 
Fiedler: 
Fiedler looked poised to add to his already-hefty stack, but running 
ended those hopes by giving Berlowski aces up.
Bronk seemed to steadily climb throughout the 14 levels of play, not owing his stack to any one pot.
Sell, meanwhile, spent almost the whole day far below average. His chances of a successful title defense looked rather bleak as he toted a stack of 10,700 as late as Level 12 (800/1,600/200). Then, he shoved over a 3,600 open from Lazar, who made a reluctant call. Lazar was unable to hit with 
against Sell's 
as the community ran out 
. The double up started a late climb for Sell that culminated in bagging an above-average stack.
A number of notables failed to match Sell's survival skills. They included Steve Belland, Chad Holloway, Terry Ring, Mike "Schneids" Schneider, Tom Midena, Kou Vang, Larry Ormson, John Hayes, Mark Kroon, Jonathan Olson, and Patrick Steele.
Vang got coolered in brutal fashion early in the day when he bet 900 on a 
flop from middle position, but Jason Meyer bumped it to 2,200 on the button. Vang made the call, and the two checked the turn. A 
completed the board, and Vang checked. Meyer bet 3,000, and Vang raised to what looked like about 11,800. Meyer shoved all in, and Vang snapped.
Meyer showed 
for jacks full. Vang disgustedly flicked 
into the middle, showing a lower full house.
Vang reentered, but the second bullet went no better than the first, ending with a lost race to Peter Ruszkiewicz. The Minnesotan will likely have more work to do to catch Deis atop the player of the year counts, with Deis looking likely to add to his lead on Sunday.
Day 2 play commences at 10:30 a.m. local time, so be sure to come back and see a champion crowned.