2022 MSPT Cleveland

Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour $1,100 Main Event in JACK Casino, Cleveland has come to an end with a hard stop being met with 22 players bagging up for the day. Due to the 186 entrants on the day, the floor declared a hard stop if 12% of the field was reached before the end of level 15 and it did happen.

The chip leader of the final 22 players in this flight is James Manderhall. The chip lead was being jockeyed around by four stacks all towards the top, but a late night surge for Mendenhall shot him up to the top of the counts. He now sits at 292,000, good for the current tournament ceiling.

Nipping at his heels are players William “Bill” Dopico with 389,000, Michael Pempin with 380,000 and Derek Hammonds with 368,000 chips. Each one of these individuals held the chip lead throughout some point of the day, with Hammonds holding it until the last two levels of the night. All are considerably healthy and are all looking to make a deep run on Day 2.

Other players that found their way to bagging included Scott Fitzhugh (261,000), Frank Lagodich (199,000), and Mark Lewandowski (193,000). Players that were not as fortunate included MSPT Riverside Champion Dan Sepiol, Bobby Noel, Michael Berk, and Nicholas Rigby. With unlimited re-entry permitted in this tournament, each one of them will have the opportunity to play again tomorrow the 6th in Day 1b and Saturday the 7th in Day 1c. The $500,000 guarantee on the prize pool still looms and the tournament is on pace to not only meet it, but exceed it.

12 PM on Friday the 6th is when the next day will begin with a 25,000 starting and 40-minute blind levels. Unlike this flight, there will be a 40-minute dinner break following level 9. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates on the tournament.

One player has been eliminated and play has stopped for the night. The remaining 22 players are bagging up and will return Sunday at 11 AM.

The clock currently reads 23 players left with 26:55 left on the level. If one more player is eliminated the day is over.

Matthew Zepp raised to 8,000 in early position and was called by Derek Hammonds in the hijack and Michael Pempin on the button.

The flop of saw action check over to Pempin who bet 25,000. After thinking for some time, Matthew Zepp moved all-in for 144,000. Hammonds folded and Pempin quickly called.

Matthew Zepp:
Michael Pempin:

The turn of had Zepp only drawing to a chop and the river did nothing to change the situation and Pempin's stack neared 400,000 chips.

Alan Wentz raised to 8,000 preflop from first position and was called by Mark Lewandowski from the big blind.

The flop came out and Lewandowski checked to Wentz who continued for 6,000. Lewandowski responded by raising to 21,000 which Wentz quickly called.

The turn of saw Lewandowski check and Wentz bet out 17,000 this time. Lewandowski called this street.

The river saw Lewandowski move all-in for 59,000 chips and Wentz quickly folded, giving Lewandowski a big late night pot.

Christopher Lee Simms raised in first position to 7,000 and Matthew Zepp from middle position three-bet to 21,000 which folded out every other player besides Simms who called.

The flop came out which saw Simms check-call a bet of 18,000.

The turn brought the which saw Simms fold this time to the 25,000 bet from Zepp as he flashed before tossing it into the muck.

Nick Barile raised under-the gun to 9,000 and action folded around to the big blind who moved all-in for 18,000 and Barile snap-called.

Opponent:
Nick Barile:

The flop came out giving the opponent top pair, but the turn left the ace-king drawing dead before the river.