$360 MSPT
Day 2 Completed
2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship Sycuan Casino
$360 MSPT
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship Sycuan Casino
Buy-in
$360
Prize Pool
$155,700
Entries
519
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
66
Players Left
1
Chris Smith Wins the MSPT Sycuan Casino $360 Regional for $33,149
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chris Smith doesn't play a full schedule of poker tournaments, as the lifelong San Diego resident works full-time in IT and enjoys poker as a hobby.
When Smith does register for a poker event, he seems to have a knack for winning. Smith added another accomplishment to his poker resume on Sunday night, taking down the $360 Regional NLHE at the 2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship at Sycuan Casino.
Smith topped a field of 519 entries, going away with a $33,149 payday. He outdueled Dana Katzenmeier (2nd - $20,370) in heads-up play to secure the victory.
The first-place finish marks Smith's second win in 2021, and third since 2019. Smith also finished second in the 2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Jamul Casino Main Event in 2019.
MSPT Sycuan Casino $360 Regional Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Smith | $33,149 |
| 2 | Dana Katzenmeier | $20,370 |
| 3 | Ricardo Mendoza | $14,680 |
| 4 | Luis Pedro | $11,102 |
| 5 | Matt Bradford | $8,347 |
| 6 | Jake Liebeskind | $6,322 |
| 7 | Tim Tang | $4,934 |
| 8 | Tai Reyes Purpero | $3,855 |
| 9 | Ewart Boyd | $2,930 |
Smith went into final table play relatively short-stacked, with 17 big blinds. That stack was eighth out of the nine final table combatants, but Smith ended up first in chips by night's end.
"I came into the final table short," Smith said. "I had that crazy triple-up right away, but even then it was still far to go."
The hand Smith was referring to happened during eight-handed play, and resulted in a 35 big-blind stack for Smith.
Another pivotal moment for Smith occurred during three-handed play. Ricardo Mendoza (3rd - $14,680) got all of the chips in preflop against Smith, who found a favorable runout with king-jack against Mendoza's ace-king.
That hand set up heads-up play between Smith and Katzenmeier. A two-pair versus two-pair setup turned into a rivered flush for Smith, clinching the win.
"I was not looking forward to playing Dana heads-up," Smith said. "He had my number all day. He still had my number at the end; I just binked a flush."
Other top finishers included Luis Pedro (4th - $11,102) and Matt Bradford (5th - $8,347).
Day 2 Action
The final day of the tournament began with 66 player vying for 54 payout spots. The bubble bursted early on in Day 2, and it took about eight-and-a-half hours for the field to narrow down to a champion.
Notable finishers included Tai Reyes Purpero (8th - $3,855), Adrianne Hall (10th -$2,313), Dantram Huynh (20th - $1,403), all-time MSPT money leader Richard Alsup (35th - $833) and Chris Carney (38th - $756).
The $100,000 guaranteed tournament ended up with a $155,700 prize pool, and played as the opening event on the 2021 United States Poker Championship schedule.
PokerNews will be on hand at Sycuan Casino for live reporting coverage of the MSPT Sycuan Casino $1,110 Main Event, set for Sept. 23-26.
Dana Katzenmeier Eliminated in 2nd Place ($20,370)
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
On a board of 
Chris Smith bet 200,000 and Dana Katzenmeier raised to 600,000. Smith made it 1,600,000, Katzenmeier moved all-in and Smith called.
Dana Katzenmeier: 
Chris Smith: 
The river came the 
to give Smith the flush and the victory.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Ricardo Mendoza Eliminated in 3rd Place ($14,680)
Level 30
: 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Ricardo Mendoza opened to 425,000 from the button, Chris Smith three-bet to 1,100,000 from the small blind, Mendoza four-bet jammed for 3,300,000, and Smith called.
Ricardo Mendoza: 
Chris Smith: 
Board: 
Top pair came in for Smith on the flop, and Mendoza couldn't improve on the turn or river.
Smith is now heads-up with Dana Katzenmeier for the $360 Regional Championship.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,950,000 | 2,050,000 |
|
|
5,025,000 | 275,000 |
|
Busted |
Smith Gets Value From Mendoza
Level 30
: 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Ricardo Mendoza limped in the small blind and Chris Smith checked his option.
The flop came 
, both players checked to the turn 
. Action checked through again and the river came the 
. Mendoza bet 150,000 and Smith raised to 550,000.
Mendoza called and Smith tabled 
for two pair and Mendoza mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,900,000 | 1,300,000 |
|
|
2,100,000 | -1,100,000 |
Smith Gains Ground
Level 30
: 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Dana Katzenmeier opened to 450,000 on the button, and Chris Smith called in the big blind.
Smith check-called a 450,000 from Katzenmeier on the 
flop.
Smith checked again on the turn, Katzenmeier bet 750,000, Smith check-raised all-in for 2,055,000, and Katzenmeier tanked for a bit before folding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,750,000 | -1,650,000 |
|
|
4,600,000 | 800,000 |
|
|
3,200,000 | 1,200,000 |
Level: 30
Blinds: 100,000/150,000
Ante: 150,000
Katzenmeier Continues to Stack Chips
Level 29
: 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Dana Katzenmeier called in the small blind and Ricardo Mendoza made it 250,000 more to go.
Katzenmeier called and the flop came 
. Katzenmeier checked, Mendoza bet 175,000 and Katzenmeier called. Both players checked the 
turn and saw a river of the 
.
Katzenmeier bet 500,000 and Mendoza folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,400,000 | 1,200,000 |
|
|
2,000,000 | -1,900,000 |
Luis Pedro Eliminated in 4th Place ($11,102)
Level 29
: 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Luis Pedro jammed from the cutoff for 1,300,000, and Ricardo Mendoza re-shoved from the button for 2,200,000.
Luis Pedro: 
Ricardo Mendoza: 
Board: 
Mendoza found top pair on the flop, and Pedro couldn't improve on the runout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,200,000 | 550,000 |
|
|
3,900,000 | 2,100,000 |
|
|
3,800,000 | -500,000 |
|
Busted |