Meskwaki Casino

Dale Berger Leads as 44 Players Advance from Day 1B of MSPT Meskwaki

The latest MSPT Meskwaki attracted 221 runners for Day 1B, which along with Friday’s 203 brought the total field up to 424 entries. That means 45 will get paid a minimum of $2,254, while the eventual winner will walk away with a $90,152 top prize.

The man best positioned to make a run at it from Day 1B is Dale Berger, who bagged the chip lead among 44 advancing players with 224,000. Berger’s stack is a little behind that of Day 1A chip leader Lee Douglas, who made it through with 242,500.

Others who bagged big stacks were Max Havlish (213,500), MSPT Season 5 Ho-Chunk champ Jason Sell (198,500), Josh Smith (197,500), and John “Farmboy” Kurfman (189,500), who round out the top five.

Likewise, Minnesota State Poker Champ Jon Hanner (169,500), Randy Perkins (115,000), former MSPT Running Aces champ Ken Pates (97,000), MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year Rich Alsup (80,000), and Katie Gebhart (39,000) all punched their ticket to Day 2.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1B were four-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Mark Fink, three-time HPT champ Shawn Roberts, and Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 8 Player of the Year contender Keith Block. Similarly, former MSPT champs Carter Myers, Joe Matheson, David Gonia, Moon Ahmed, Jason Seitz, Jason Ramos, Dan Sun, Mike Shanahan, Josh Reichard, John Sun, Erv Bjerga, Ken Komberec, and Potawatomi Regional champ Craig Trost hit the rail throughout the day.

The 83 survivors (39 from Day 1A, 44 from 1B) will return at 11 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner. Be sure to join us then as we bring you all the action leading up to the final table, which will be live streamed worldwide.

Until then, goodnight from Meskwaki Casino in Tama, Iowa.

End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts

Three More Hands

The remaining players will play three more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a list of survivors with chip counts, a recap of the Day 1B action, and the Day 2 seat draw.

Rich Alsup vs. Jon Hanner

Reigning MSPT champ Rich Alsup, who in Season 6 won the MSPT Meskwaki, raised to 6,400 under the gun and a player in middle position called. 2017 Minnesota State Poker champ Jon Hanner then called from the hijack and three players took a flop of .

Alsup continued for 8,500, the middle-position player called, and Hanner raised to 95,000, which had both his opponents covered.

Alsup tanked for several minutes before calling off for 65,000 total and the other player got out of the way.

Hanner:
Alsup:

Both players had the same hand, but Hanner was freerolling to running spades. The turn meant it was a chopped pot, and the chips were divided after the was run out on the river.

Jon Hanner - 135,000 (56 bb)
Rich Alsup - 75,000 (31 bb)

Better Luck Next Time

James Duda Doubles Through Jason Sell

MSPT Season 5 Ho-Chunk champ Jason Sell raised to 4,500 and James Duda responded by moving all in for 28,400 from the cutoff.

Action folded back to Sell and he thought for a bit before making the call, a decision he no doubt immediately regretted.

Sell:
Duda:

The flop gave Duda a set, and that left Sell drawing to running deuces. The turn took away any shot of that happening, and Duda shipped the double.

Jason Sell - 135,000 (68 bb)
James Duda - 60,000 (30 bb)

Late Night Glamor Shots

Six-Figure Warriors

John “Farmboy” Kurfman - 220,000
Dale Berger - 200,000
Max Havlish - 180,000
Jason Sell - 165,000
Dash Saenz - 155,000
Ron Macdiarmid - 140,000
Jon Hanner - 140,000
David Hamm - 140,000
Mikey Wangh - 130,000

Last Break of the Night

Players are now on their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return, they’ll play two more levels before bagging and tagging for the night.

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