Running Aces Casino

Day 1a of the MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) $1,110 Minnesota State Poker Championship at Running Aces Casino has come to a close after seeing 172 entrants kick things off.

Almost a full day of action was played to completion with the hard stop of 20 players being reached with 11:43 remaining in Level 15.

The final level was full of eliminations which saw two MSPT Hall of Famer’s, Blake Bohn and Kou Vang depart before chips were marked on slips which saw Matt Alexander (555,000), edge out John Pierce (544,000), and MSPT champ Jon Kim (520,000) for the top spot.

Jay Chaudhary (422,000), and Eric Seeliger (359,000) rounded out the top five stacks while WSOP bracelet winner Ian Matakis (338,000), MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup (266,000), Chuck Kersey (263,000), and fellow Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz (227,000), also finding a Day 2 berth.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a included MSPT Hall of Famer’s Jason Seitz & Matt Kirby, MSPT champ Derek McMaster and three-time MSPT champ Carl Carodenuto just to name a few.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have two more starting flights to jump back into action. Day 1b will kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time Friday, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at Noon on Saturday.

The surviving players from each flight will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor at Running Aces Casino!

Season 15 MSPT Minnesota Poker State Championship Remaining Schedule

The MSPT traveled back home to host the Season 15 Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #12: $250 No-Limit Monster Stack, 162 hunters took to the tables and created a $32,400 prize pool which was reserved for the top 18 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Bob Van Syckle (10th Place - $616), Jerry Fuhrer (11th Place - $616), Brandon Kelzenberg (14th Place - $518), and Rob Maier (17th Place - $545).

In the end, it was local grinder Erick Wright who tamed the Monster to take down the lion's share of the prize pool along with the Sapdey trophy!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

After losing a race with pocket in a previous hand, Dennis Stevermer got his remaining 75,000 stack in the middle from the button and Paul Loeffler looked him up from the small blind.

Dennis Stevermer:
Paul Loeffler:

Stevermer didn’t like seeing Loeffler roll over a dominating ace and stood from his chair just before the dealer dropped a flop.

Stevermer then knocked on the table, acting like it was all but over until the was peeled off on the turn putting him out on front.

Once the completed the board on the river, Stevermer took his seat and collected his chips.

Dennis Stevermer - 150,000
Paul Loeffler - 65,000

For the eighth stop of its 15th season, the MSPT traveled back home to host the Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #11: $200 No-Limit Hold'em Epic Stack, 150 epic players took to the felt and generated a $24,000 prize pool that was paid out to the top 15 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Tyler "TK" Kolness (10th Place - $492), Peter Greese (11th Place - $492), MSPT champ Max Havlish (12th Place - $492), Kyler McKnight (13th Place - $408), Richard Larson (14th Place - $408), and David Kramber (15th Place - $408).

When the dust settled, it was Alan Berlin of Shoreview, MN who came out on top with the lion's share of the prize pool, along with the Sapdey trophy!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

Mike Wilklow raised to 10,000 from late position and then called Christopher Strom’s 43,000 three-bet jam from the hijack.

Christopher Strom:
Mike Wilklow:

Strom was out in front holding the superior made hand but fell behind after the flop gave Wilklow a set of nines.

The turn paired the board leaving Strom needing a ten on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night.

Mike Wilklow - 218,000
Christopher Strom - 0

For the eighth stop of its 15th season, the MSPT traveled back home to host the Minnesota State Poker Championship and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Running Aces Casino for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #10: $300 No-Limit Hold'em Tag Team, 442 players took to the field and generated a $50,830 prize pool that was paid out to the top 24 teams.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Shawn Libersky & John Volgren (14th place - $762), James Reno & Kevin Hicks (17th place - $686), Thai Dinh & Yume Carr (20th place - $564), and Rory Linton & Kurtis Koenig (22nd place - $488).

Coming out the top team was David Ehlke & Brian Knoop who took home the top prize along with the MSPT Spadey trophies!

Final Table Results

* denotes chop

Ezequiel Gonzalez opened under the gun and was called by MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn from the small blind and Rob Maier from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Gonzalez who continued for 12,000 and only Maier check-called to see the turn.

This time, Maier check-raised to 38,000 after Gonzalez fired out a 15,000 bet and it was enough to push him off the pot.

Rob Maier - 238,000
Ezequiel Gonzalez - 58,000