$1,110 USPC Main Event Day 1b | 2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship Sycuan Casino

09-24-2021 12:18 UTC-7

Day 1b of the MSPT Sycuan Casino $1,110 USPC Main Event Begins at 3 p.m. Today

GeoffFisk

The MSPT's latest Southern California stop sees the biggest tournament in the series begin today. The United States Poker Championship $1,110 Main Event features three opening-day flights, the second of which kicks off this afternoon at the Sycuan Casino Event Center in San Diego, CA.

Day 1b begins at 3 p.m., with Day 1c (3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25) rounding out the trio of starting flights. The starting stack is 25,000, and all Day 1 flights are scheduled to play through the end of Level 15 (40-minute levels).

A $300,000 guaranteed prize pool is on the line, as the 2021 USPC reaches its pinnacle tournament. All surviving players from the trio of Day 1 flights return to Sycuan Casino for Day 2 on Sunday, Sept. 26.

Day 2 begins at 11 a.m., and the tournament will play on until a champion is crowned.

The USPC marks the second time the MSPT has run a series at Sycuan Casino this year. In May, the $1,100 Showdown Series Main Event drew 676 entries, with the prize pool ending up at $654,220.

Alejandro Jauregui took down that tournament, coming away with a $140,665 first-place prize.

The USPC $1,110 Main Event will likely draw some of San Diego's most formidable tournament regulars, as well as plenty of big names. Players like MSPT all-time money leader Rich Alsup already made it through Day 1a, while names like Ben Moon, and former GPI No. 1 Nick Pupillo were all seen in the field at last weekend's $360 Regional at Sycuan.

The eventual winner of the tournament projects to go home with a sizable piece of at least $300,000 in prize money. The PokerNews live reporting team is on hand throughout the Main Event, so stay tuned!

Tags: Alejandro Jauregui Nick Pupillo Rich Alsup

09-24-2021 15:13 UTC-7

Download the PokerNews MyStack App and Update Your Chip Count

GeoffFisk

Level 1 : 100/100, 100 ante

PokerNews has activated the My Stack App for this event, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting blog using your iPhone or Android phone.

You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live-action that you're involved in.

Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.

09-24-2021 15:26 UTC-7

Pupillo Puts Opponent to the Test

GeoffFisk

Level 1 : 100/100, 100 ante

Just 15 minutes into Level 1, former GPI No. 1-ranked player Nick Pupillo is already making big moves.

Pupillo was under the gun and facing an opponent in the small blind, with the board reading . With around 10,000 in the pot, the small blind checked, and Pupillo overbet shoved for 20,000.

The small blind player went deep into the tank, but eventually decided on a fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Pupillo	30,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Nick Pupillo

09-24-2021 15:44 UTC-7

Richard Lanes Wins Event #5: $360 Seniors Event

GeoffFisk

Level 2 : 100/100, 200 ante

The MSPT United States Poker Championship hits the home stretch this weekend, with the $1,110 Main Event taking center stage. The series schedule includes 11 events, however, with the bulk of the schedule playing out earlier this week at Sycuan Casino.

Event #5: $360 Seniors Event, played out on Monday, Sept. 20. San Diego tournament regular Richard Lanes topped the field and took down the event, marking the first of two final table appearances for Lanes during the series so far.

Tags: Sycuan Casino Richard Lanes MSPT

09-24-2021 16:19 UTC-7

Brady Busts Danger

GeoffFisk

Level 2 : 100/100, 200 ante

Mike Brady just knocked Rodney Danger out of Day 1b contention, with Brady's flopped set of fives besting two pair aces and tens for Danger.

Brady is up to around 42,000 after the big pot, with Level 3 approaching.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Brady	42,000 42,000	42,000
Rodney Danger	Busted

Tags: Mike Brady Rodney Danger

09-24-2021 16:54 UTC-7

Knapp Knocks Out Smith

GeoffFisk

Level 3 : 200/300, 300 ante

Aaron Knapp told PokerNews the details of a hand that saw Knapp eliminate former MSPT Main Event champion Nicholas Smith.

The hand began with an under-the-gun limp, a raise to 1,200 from early position, and a three-bet to 4,200 from Knapp in middle position. Smith, in the small blind, cold-called, and the other two payers folded.

The flop came , Smith checked, Knapp bet 6,000, and Smith check-raised all-in for 18,000. Knapp made the call.

Nicholas Smith:
Aaron Knapp:

The turn and river brought no help for Smith, who exited Day 1b on his first bullet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aaron Knapp	59,000 59,000	59,000
Nicholas Smith	Busted

Tags: Aaron Knapp MSPT Nicholas Smith

09-24-2021 17:25 UTC-7

Two Moreno Brothers in the Field

GeoffFisk

Level 4 : 200/400, 400 ante

Andrew Moreno appeared in the Day 1a field, and he's back for another shot at a Main Event cash on Day 1b.

Andrew's brother, Johnnie "Vibes" Moreno, has also entered the Sycuan Casino Event Center to play on Day 1b. Stay tuned to the PokerNews live blog to see how the Moreno brothers fare in the $1,110 Main Event.

Player	Chips	Progress
Johnnie Moreno	35,000 13,000	13,000
Andrew Moreno	24,000 -1,000	-1,000

Tags: Andrew Moreno Johnnie Moreno Sycuan Casino

09-24-2021 18:25 UTC-7

Fritzer's Flush Good for a Double

GeoffFisk

Level 5 : 300/500, 500 ante

The hijack opened to 1,600, Rip Fritzer called on the button, and the big blind three-bet to 4,100. Both opponents called.

Action checked to Fritzer on the flop. Fritzer bet 3,500, and only the big blind called.

The turn fell , the big blind checked, Fritzer bet 5,000, and the big blind check-raised all-in. Fritzer called off for 13,900 total.

Rip Fritzer:
Big Blind:

Frizer's flush had the opponent drawing dead, and the on the river ended the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Rip Fritzer	52,000 29,000	29,000

09-24-2021 19:06 UTC-7

Garcia Looking to Score a Few KOs

GeoffFisk

Level 6 : 300/600, 600 ante

Former lightweight boxing champion Ryan Garcia is in the field at the MSPT Sycuan Casino Main Event on Day 1b, and he's sitting on 52,000 chips as Level 6 winds down.

Garcia is undefeated as a professional boxer, with an 18-0 record in the ring. PokerNews will keep an eye on Garcia to see if he can fight off the Day 1b field and bag at the end of the night.