Schmall Takes Day 1a Lead at MSPT Riverside $1,100 Main Event
The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to Riverside, Iowa for its second-ever $1,100 Main Event Friday and the turnout did not disappoint: in total, 408 entries showed up for Day 1a, a 15% increase over the inaugural event in March that drew 354 in its first starting flight.
Fifteen full levels were played to their conclusion before play ended for the night with 57 players still in contention when that mark was reached. Of those 57, Peter Schmall (584,000) found himself with the chip lead by a wide margin, more than 200K clear of any remaining competitor. March's 18th-place finisher Jared Ditmarson (366,000) and Chicago's Gary Herstein (354,000) rounded out the top three, with half a dozen players behind bunched together between 300K and 323K.
Other notables to advance included DJ Buckley (260,000), Eric Eelkema (221,000), MSPT Hall of Famer Mark Hodge (190,000), Jeff Grimes (171,000), and Keith Heine (134,000).
Plenty more did not make it through the full day of play, such as MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson, reigning MSPT Riverside Champion Daniel Sepiol, Ryan Phan, Jeff Fielder, and Rob Wazwaz. All who did not find a bag will have up to two more chances at Saturday's Day 1b, the second and final starting flight of the tournament, which begins once again at 3 p.m. local time.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be back at it then. See you soon.