The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), which has awarded more than $110 million in prize money since its debut in December 2009, is in Southern California for the first time as Sycuan Casino Resort will play host to an 11-event series deemed the “MSPT Showdown Series.”
The series will be bookended by two premier events. Continuing today is the $360 buy-in, $100K GTD MSPT Regional Event, which will feature three starting flights. Today marks Day 1b, which will get underway at 5 p.m. local time.
The following weekend, the series will culminate with a $1,100 buy-in, $200K GTD MSPT Main Event, which will also feature three starting flights. PokerNews will be on hand to offer live updates from both events.
In between, there are nine other trophy events including a $200 MSPT Ladies Event powered by Poker League of Nations (PLON), a $360 Seniors (50+) tournament, and a $250 MSPT Tag Team Championship. There are also both pot-limit Omaha and pot-limit Omaha 8 or Better Championships.
Click here for a look at all tournament structures.
As for this Regional Event, players will start with 25,000 in chips and play 30-minute levels. Day 1b plays through the end of Level 15 or until approximately 12 percent of the field remains. Late registration closes at the start of Level 13 (approximately 11:30 p.m. local time).
On Friday's Day 1a, 305 runners turned out in force and set the stage for what’s sure to be a busy weekend. After 15 levels of play, the field was whittled down to 37 players with Happy Spaulding and his stack of 786,000 leading the pack. That was more than double his next closest competitor in Nathan Trimble, who advanced with 370,000.
Day 1b will begin at 5 p.m. local time on Friday, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday. PokerNews will be on-hand bringing you all the updates from start to finish, so be sure to join us then.
Sycuan Casino Resort, which requires players to be 21+, is situated just 30 minutes outside downtown San Diego. Sycuan Casino Resort proudly boasts world-class accommodations, including live world-class entertainment venues and gaming. Test your luck at casino gaming with over 2,500 slot machines, bingo, baccarat, blackjack, and in their poker room
| Date | Time (PST) | Event | GTD | Total Chips |
|---|
| Friday, April 30 | Noon | Event #2: $400 PLO Championship | - | 20,000 |
| Friday, April 30 | 1 p.m. | $80 Mega Satellite - 1/6 advance to $100K GTD | - | 10,000 |
| Friday, April 30 | 5 p.m. | Event #1: $360 Regional Event Day 1b | $100,000 | 25,000 |
| Saturday, May 1 | 10:00 a.m. | $80 Mega Satellite - 1/6 advance to $100K GTD | - | 10,000 |
| Saturday, May 1 | 2 p.m. | Event #1: $360 Regional Event Day 1c | $100,000 | 25,000 |
| Saturday, May 1 | 8 p.m. | $135 Nightly Deep Stack | - | 12,000 |
| Sunday, May 2 | 11 a.m. | Event #1: $360 Regional Event Day 2 | $100,000 | - |
| Sunday, May 2 | Noon | Event #3: $250 Sunday Feast NLHE | - | 15,000 |
| Sunday, May 2 | 4 p.m. | Event #4: $200 Ladies Event powered by PLON | - | 15,000 |
| Sunday, May 2 | 6 p.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Sunday, May 2 | 8 p.m. | $135 Nightly Deep Stack | - | 12,000 |
| Monday, May 3 | 10 a.m. | $80 Sunrise NLH | - | 10,000 |
| Monday, May 3 | Noon | Event #5: $360 Seniors (50+) NLHE | - | 10,000 |
| Monday May 3 | 4 p.m. | Event #6: $250 Turbo Super Stack NLHE | - | 25,000 |
| Monday, May 3 | 8 p.m. | $135 Nightly Deep Stack | - | 12,000 |
| Tuesday, May 4 | 10 a.m. | $80 Sunrise NLH | - | 10,000 |
| Tuesday, May 4 | Noon | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Tuesday, May 4 | 2 p.m. | Event #7: $360 PLO 8 of Better | - | 15,000 |
| Tuesday, May 4 | 5 p.m. | Event #8: $250 MSPT Tag Team Championship ($125/player) | - | $10,000 |
| Wednesday, May 5 | 10 a.m. | $80 Sunrise NLHE | - | 10,000 |
| Wednesday, May 5 | Noon | Event #9: $250 Hump Day Showdown NLHE | - | 15,000 |
| Wednesday, May 5 | 7 p.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Thursday, May 6 | 10 a.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Thursday, May 6 | 3 p.m. | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 1a | $200,000 | 25,000 |
| Thursday, May 6 | 8 p.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Friday, May 7 | 10 a.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Friday, May 7 | 3 p.m. | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 1b | $200,000 | 25,000 |
| Friday, May 7 | 8 p.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Sautrday, May 8 | 10 a.m. | $265 satellite - 1 in 5 advance to Main Event | - | 15,000 |
| Saturday, May 8 | 3 p.m. | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 1c | $200,000 | 25,000 |
| Saturday, May 8 | 8 p.m. | $135 Nightly Deep Stack | - | 12,000 |
| Sunday, May 9 | 11 a.m. | Event #10: $1,110 MSPT Main Event Day 2 | $200,000 | - |
| Sunday, May 9 | Noon | Event #11: $360 Last Chace Showdown NLHE | - | 15,000 |
| Sunday, May 9 | 4 p.m. | $135 Nightly Deep Stack | 12,000 | |
flop and 
turn. All she needed to do was dodge an ace on the river, but that proved easier said than done as the 
spiked to give Morgan the winner.
flop gave Butts a gutshot straight draw, but it was the 
turn that gave him the lead. The 
river was of no consequence and Butts shipped the double.
turn was of no consequence, but the 
when the player in the small blind moved all in for his last 10,000 or so.
bricked on the river to give Villanueva an early double.