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.