MSPT champ and three-time WSOP bracelet winner is the clear chip leader on Day 1a.
In a recent hand, a short-stacked player was all in preflop for 8,500 and looking to survive the one-man wrecking crew that is Friedman.
Adam Friedman: 
Opponent: 
The board ran out 
and Friedman sent another player to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
350,000 | 10,000 |
Andrew Moreno raised preflop and a short-stacked Brad Sailor, who was down to just 1,800 after losing with ace-king to a set of sevens on a 
flop, called off next to act. The rest of the players folded and the hands were turned up.
Andrew Moreno:
Brad Sailor: 
Sailor was in a bad spot but did find a five on the 
flop. Fortunately for him, the dealer did not leave him hanging and delivered a high five with the 
turn.
Sailor filled up and improved upon that boat on the 
river to double. Moreno was the victim of cracked aces, though the silver lining was that it was in a small pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
43,000 | -5,000 |
|
5,000 | 3,200 |
Level: 9
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
Action folded around to the player in the small blind and he simply moved all in to put the pressure on WSOP gold bracelet winner Ben Moon, who called off for 14,500 from the big blind.
Ben Moon:
Opponent: 
It was a flip but Moon needed to improve to stay alive. He managed to do just that on the 
flop, which delivered him a pair of kings. Neither the 
turn nor 
river hurt Moon and he shipped the double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,500 | 16,000 |
Two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Robert Keeling raised to 3,100 from the cutoff only to have Luke Nguyen three-bet to 8,400 from the button. Both blinds folded, Keeling snap-called, and the flop came down 
.
Keeling wasted little time in check-calling a bet of 5,000, which left him just 7,700 behind.
On the 
turn, Keeling checked for the second time and Nguyen bet another 5,000. This time it did the trick as Keeling flicked his cards to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
75,000 | |
|
7,700 | -15,300 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
80,000 | 55,000 |
|
|
50,000 | 27,000 |
|
|
48,000 | 11,000 |
|
42,000 | 13,000 |
|
40,000 | 16,500 |
|
|
23,000 | -12,000 |
|
|
21,000 | 14,700 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
|
13,000 | -23,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Level: 8
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
200,000 | 154,000 |
|
|
110,000 | 10,000 |
|
85,000 | 59,500 |
|
70,000 | 25,000 |
|
60,000 | -40,000 |
|
55,000 | |
|
55,000 | 30,000 |
|
25,000 | |
|
|
25,000 | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 11 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.
Here's a look at the top ten MSPT Main Event final table in a single season:
| Player | Hometown | Season | Final Tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Steele | Chelsea, Michigan | 4 | 4 |
| Brett Kuznia | Stephen, Minnesota | 4 | 4 |
| Dan Sun | Cedar Rapids. Iowa | 3 | 3 |
| Christian Pham | St. Paul, Minnesota | 4 | 3 |
| Everett Carlton | St. Paul, Minnesota | 1 | 3 |
| Kou Vang | Maplewood, Minnesota | 5 | 3 |
| Michael Deis | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 5 | 3 |
| Nick Pupillo | Addison, Illinois | 5 | 3 |
| Mark Hodge | Fernandina Beach, Florida | 6 | 3 |
| DJ Buckley | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | 6 | 3 |
There was already around 50,000 in the middle and a board reading 
when Richard "Coach" Furfaro got his last 14,400 in the pot. His opponent called and the hands were on their backs.
Richard "Coach" Furfaro: 
Opponent: 
It was easy to see why so many chips went in the pot as Furfaro had flopped two pair that turned into a rivered full house, which he needed to overcome the flopped Broadway straight of his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
85,000 |