Day 1B of the MSPT Running Aces Main Event drew 192 runners, which along with Day 1A’s 166 brought the total field up to 358, ahead of the Fall event’s 344 and Spring’s 347. In fact, it was the largest turnout for the MSPT Running Aces in four years!

After 14 levels of play, just 38 players advanced from Day 1B including Luke Bohnen, who bagged the chip lead with 267,000. That is behind the 379,000 Curtis Vierstraete’s bagged on Day 1A. Bohnen, who has $7,628 in lifetime earnings, is seeking his first career MSPT score.

Another player to bag a big stack with 232,000 was two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch. If you recall, Dresch is the reigning champ after topping a field of 344 entrants last September to win $83,045. Dresch, one of only five players to cash in every season of the MSPT, is seeking to become just the second player to win three MSPT titles, the other being Carl Carodenuto.

Others to bag stacks on Day 1B were Ron Olson (235,000), Rob Wazwaz (230,500), Rick Syverud (166,000), Nikki Nelson (150,000), MSPT Pro Blake Bohn (100,000), Erv Bjerga (82,500), MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge (64,000), and Alan Carty (46,500).

Among those to try and fall on Saturday were former MSPT champs James Gibson, Josh Reichard, Craig Trost, and Kou Vang; reigning Minnesota Poker Player of the Year Saad Ghanem; Iowa’s Jeff Fielder; and Wisconsin’s Michael Miller.

At 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the 26 Day 1a survivors and 38 from 1B will combine and play down to a winner. The top 36 will earn a minimum $2,178 payday, though each will have their eyes firmly affixed on the $86,440 first-place prize.

Be sure to join us then as we bring you all the latest and greatest straight from the tournament floor of the MSPT Running Aces Main Event.