Stephen Graner Leads Nine Survivors of MSPT Sycuan $1,100 Main Event Day 1a
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.
, Royal led for 12,000 and Graner called.
, 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.
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.
, bringing no help to Tang and ending his night just shy of making it to Day 2.
.
, and Alsup led out for 15,000. Mesina gave it some brief thought them called.
for trip nines, while Mesina showed 
for a rivered two pair.
to put four to a straight on the board and after Alsup checked, Vu jammed for 28,000, which was called by Alsup.
for a stone bluff, while Alsup had 
runout to boost his stack to among the chip leaders.