2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

$1,100 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j2
Prize
$262,145
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$1,565,066
Entries
1,615
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
50,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
322
Players Left
36

Level: 9

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

Shanahan Wins Without Showdown

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante
Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan

Mike Shanahan raised to 2,000 and got called by the button. The big blind put in a three-bet to 8,300. Shanahan and the button both called.

The flop came {j-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{2-Spades} and the preflop aggressor put out a continuation bet of 7,000. Shanahan called and the button folded.

Action was checked to Shanahan on the {5-Hearts} turn card and he fired 11,000 and got called.

The {7-Hearts} river was also checked to Shanahan and he tossed out a bet of 7,000 which put his opponent all in. With over 60,000 already in the middle Shanahan's opponent decided it would be better to save his last 6,000 and folded. Shanahan took down the pot without a showdown and now sits near the top of the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Shanahan us
Mike Shanahan
120,000 80,000

Tags: Mike Shanahan

Big Slick Does the Trick for Thill

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante
Gary Thill
Gary Thill

Gary Thill opened for 2,100 from early position and the next two players to act flatted before the third player in line three-bet big to 10,000.

Action folded back to Thill and he four-bet all in, the two flatters folded, and the three-bettor called off the 15,000 or so he had behind.

Gary Thill: {a-Hearts}{k-Spades}
Opponent: {k-Hearts}{k-Clubs}

Thill's best shot at winning the pot was to catch an ace, and he did just that as the {j-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}{j-Spades} flop delivered him two pair. Neither the {4-Hearts} turn nor {5-Clubs} river changed a thing and Thill scored the knock out.

Player Chips Progress
Gary Thill us
Gary Thill
85,000

Tags: Gary Thill

Most MSPT Main Event Cashes in History

Level 8 : 400/800, 800 ante

Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 10 years on they have one of the best player databases in the industry.

On their "Leaderboards" page, the MSPT tracks such things as Career Earnings, Main Event Cashes, Main Event Final Tables, Main Event Titles, Total Cashes, Most Cashes/Final Tables in a Season, Most Final Tables All-Time, and much more.

Two players in today's field, Aaron Johnson and Kou Vang, currently sit atop the list for most Main Event cashes in tour history. The MSPT FireKeepers is the 159th Main Event for the MSPT, and incredibly Johnson has cashed in 35 of them while Vang isn't far behind with 32.

Here's a look at the top ten MSPT Main Event cashers:

PlacePlayerHometownMain Event Cashes
1Aaron JohnsonRed Wing, Minnesota35
2Kou VangMaplewood, Minnesota32
3Richard AlsupNew Hope, Minnesota27
4Mark HodgeFernandina Beach, Florida25
5Patrick SteeleChelsea, Michigan24
6DJ BuckleyEden Prairie, Minnesota24
7Blake BohnEden Prairie, Minnesota23
8Jason SeitzShakopee, Minnesota21
9Rob WazWazMinneapolis, Minnesota20
10Matt KirbyBemidji, Minnesota19

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

Ojeda Gets Value on the River

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Lou Ojeda
Lou Ojeda

Lou Ojeda raised to 1,800 in middle position and got called by the cutoff, button, and the big blind.

Action was checked around when flop came {3-Diamonds}{a-Hearts}{8-Clubs}. The player in the big blind led out for 1,800 on the {a-Diamonds} turn card which got called by Ojeda and the player on the button.

Ojeda bet 5,100 when the action was checked to him on the {8-Diamonds} river. The button folded and the player in the big blind made the call.

Lou Ojeda: {a-Spades}{10-Clubs}

Aces full was good enough for Ojeda to take down the pot and add to his stack.

Player Chips Progress
Lou Ojeda us
Lou Ojeda
63,000 63,000

Tags: Lou Ojeda

Lots of Hearts for Looney

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Devin Looney
Devin Looney

After the under-the-gun player limped and the next player called, Devin Looney raised to 3,500 from the hijack. Action folded back to the UTG player, who called, and the other player came along to make it three-way action to the all-heart {6-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{8-Hearts} flop.

Action checked around and the dealer burned and turned the {6-Spades}.

The UTG player checked and his opponent to his direct left bet 3,000. Only Looney called and the {4-Hearts} put four hearts on the board.

The turn bettor checked and Looney bet 4,000. That did the trick as his opponent wasted little time in laying down his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Devin Looney us
Devin Looney
46,000

Tags: Devin Looney

Queens Put Deis Among The Chip Leaders

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

Action folded to Mike Deis on the button who raised to 1,600. The player in the big blind three-bet to 7,000 and Deis moved all in. His opponent called off for his last 22,000 and they both turned their cards over.

Mike Deis: {q-Diamonds}{q-Spades}
Opponent: {a-Spades}{10-Spades}

The {7-Spades}{k-Hearts}{j-Hearts} flop left Deis needing to fade an additional two outs, and he was able to do just that as the board completed {6-Clubs} and {j-Clubs}. Deis sent his opponent to the rail and now sits near the top of the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Deis us
Mike Deis
120,000 70,000

Tags: Mike Deis

WSOP Bracelet Winner Busts HPT Champ

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Courtney Kennedy
Courtney Kennedy

Courtney Kennedy, who won the 2016 World Series of Poker Ladies Event for $149,108, raised to 2,000 from the hijack and the player in the cutoff called. HPT East Chicago champ Jake Baumgartner came along from the big blind and the trio saw the flop come down {9-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}.

Baumgartner was first to act and opted to move all in for 11,000 even and Kennedy called. The cutoff got out of the way and the hands were turned up.

Jake Baumgartner: {8-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}
Courtney Kennedy: {4-Spades}{4-Hearts}

Baumgartner went with his open-ended straight draw, but little did he know his overs were drawing live as well. Unfortunatley for him, neither the {k-Hearts} turn nor {a-Hearts} river helped him and Kennedy scored the knockout.

Kennedy lost about 10,000 shortly after losing a flip with Big Slick against pocket nines.

Player Chips Progress
Courtney Kennedy us
Courtney Kennedy
24,000
Jacob Baumgartner us
Jacob Baumgartner
Busted

Tags: Courtney KennedyJake Baumgartner

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