$1,110 MSPT Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2022 MSPT Sycuan Showdown Series
$1,110 MSPT Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2022 MSPT Sycuan Showdown Series
Buy-in
$1,110
Prize Pool
$457,310
Entries
473
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
79
Players Left
9
Stephen Graner Leads Nine Survivors of MSPT Sycuan $1,100 Main Event Day 1a
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Action came at a blistering pace Thursday as play on Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Sycuan Main Event ended over a level early, with the designated hard stop of 12% of the field of 79 entries reached late in level 14.
The final hand saw Stephen Graner take the chip lead with 368,000 to send himself and eight other survivors home early as he busted Joshua Royal with a rivered straight versus Royal’s pocket aces.
Among those also advancing to Day 2 was Poker League of Nations (PLON) Founder Lena Evans, who finished the day with 245,000 in chips. Evans boosted her stack late in the day with her elimination of MSPT Hall of Famer and all-time tour money leader Rich Alsup.
Also surviving to return Sunday was Luke Nguyen, who was on the wrong end of a massive pot with just three tables remaining but managed to claw back to advance with 156,000 in chips.
Along with Alsup, other MSPT stalwarts that will have to try their luck on one of the two remaining opening flights were four-time WSOP bracelet winner Adam Friedman and Brad Sailor.
The first of those flights will be Friday at 3 pm local time, with a satellite to the Main Event also on the schedule for 11 am.
MSPT Showdown Series Remaining Schedule
| Date | Time (PDT) | Tournament | Late Reg | GTD Prize Pool | Starting Stack | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 29 | 11:00 am | $265 Satellite – 1 in 5 advance to MSPT Main | 2:00 pm | 5 seats | 15,000 | 20 |
| 3:00 pm | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 1b | 11:40 pm | $300,000 | 25,000 | 40 | |
| 4:00 pm | $200 Ladies NLH, Powered by PLON | 7:00 pm | $4,000 | 15,000 | 20 | |
| 7:00 pm | $265 Satellite – 1 in 5 advance to MSPT Main | 10:00 pm | 5 seats | 15,000 | 20 | |
| Saturday, April 30 | 10:00 am | $265 Satellite – 1 in 5 advance to MSPT Main | 2:00 pm | 5 seats | 15,000 | 20 |
| 3:00 pm | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 1c | 11:40 pm | $300,000 | 25,000 | 40 | |
| 8:00 pm | $135 Nightly NLH | 10:10 pm | $4,000 | 12,000 | 20 | |
| Sunday, May 1 | 11:00 am | $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 2 | - | |||
| Noon | Event #10: $250 Last Chance NLH | 3:00 pm | $10,000 | 15,000 | 20 | |
| 3:00 pm | $135 Last Dance NLH | 5:10 pm | $2,000 | 12,000 | 20 |
Stay here at PokerNews for all the action until a champion is crowned on Sunday, May 1st.
End of Day 1a Chip Counts (full)
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
368,000 | |
|
||
|
275,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
245,000
-32,000
|
-32,000 |
|
244,000
79,000
|
79,000 |
|
230,000
-25,000
|
-25,000 |
|
173,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
|
169,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
156,000 | |
|
127,000
-113,000
|
-113,000 |
Graner Rivers Royal To End Day 1a
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Play has concluded for the day as the hard stop of nine players has been reached following the elimination of Joshua Royal in ugly fashion.
On a flop of 
, Royal led for 12,000 and Graner called.
The turn brought the 
, and after Royal bet another 25,000, Graner moved all in and was called by Royal for less, putting his tournament life on the line on the Day 2 bubble.
Joshua Royal: 
Stephen Graner: 
Royal's aces were ahead going to the river, but the 
crushed Royal's night, giving Graner a straight and the chip lead, while sending himself and the other eight remaining players home happy as the first flight of the Main Event comes to an end.
Stay tuned for a full recap of all the Day 1a action.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
368,000
113,000
|
113,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Mesina Eliminates Wakita and Nguyen. Ten Players Remain
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
After Armando Mesina opened to 9,000 under the gun, Shun Wakita pushed his remaining 40,000 chips into the middle which got a snap call from Mesina.
Shun Wakita: 
Armando Mesina: 
Mesina's aces held to eliminate Wakita, and within minutes, he had the opportunity to eliminate Huy Nugyen, after Nguyen shoved for 80,000 on the button and was called by Mesina.
Huy Nguyen: 
Armando Mesina: 
Nguyen's move was ill-timed and the board of 
couldn't bail him out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
165,000
101,500
|
101,500 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
The Final 12
Tang Eliminated; 12 Players Remain
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Stephen Graner raised to 9,000 in late position, Robert Fortuno called, and Jason Tang moved all in from the small blind for approximately 60,000.
Graner then re-raised all in for over 200,000, which got a fold from Fortuno.
Jason Tang: 
Stehen Graner:
The board came 
, bringing no help to Tang and ending his night just shy of making it to Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
255,000
29,000
|
29,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
240,000
62,000
|
62,000 |
|
Busted | |
Luis Montano Wins 2nd MSPT Trophy of Series in Event #9: $250 Hump Day
Level 14
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
While PokerNews is here bringing you live updates for the $1,100 Main Event, we’re happy to tell you about some of the side events that have taken place over the past week during the Showdown Series here at Sycuan Casino.
Event #9: $250 Hump Day saw 72 entries build a prize pool of $14,400, with the top 8 players earning at least $576. When the dust settled, it was Luis Montano of Mexicali, MX collecting a second MSPT trophy from this series after winning the Tag Team Championship earlier in the week with Jose Parra. Montano added another $4,897 to his earnings for the series with the win.
Event #9 Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Montano | $4,897 |
| 2 | Kenneth Baime | $3,038 |
| 3 | Mark Cincotta | $1,987 |
| 4 | Michael Starek | $1,397 |
| 5 | Richard Furfafo | $1,037 |
| 6 | Noel Eicher | $806 |
| 7 | Brian Kilpatrick | $662 |
| 8 | Kevin Locke | $576 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Nguyen Doubles Through Pitesa
Level 13
: 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante
After being left on fumes less than an hour ago, Luke Nguyen is back and healthy, having recently earned a double-up with a cooler against Anthony PItesa.
Nugyen opened to 7,000 under the gun and was met with an all-in bet from Pitesa for a little over 70,000. Nugyen called for slightly less.
Luke Nguyen: 
Anthony Pitesa: 
The board came 
, bringing no help to PItesa who was left with fumes, and eliminated shortly after.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
152,000
114,000
|
114,000 |
|
Busted |