Canterbury Park

The latest MSPT Canterbury Park kicked off on Friday with the first of two starting flights, and Day 1A proved to be a record. The 236 entries were the largest 1A flight (previous record was 222 runner) in MSPT Canterbury Park Main Event history, which encompassed 15 events.

That puts the tournament well on pace to eclipse the $300K guarantee with Day 1B still to go at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

After 14 levels of play on Friday night, just 52 players survived the night with Gerald Cunniff and his stack of 271,000 leading the way. That barely edged out reigning MSPT Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Player of the Year Chris Meyers, who advanced with 254,000.

Last season, Cunniff made the final table of the MSPT Denver Poker Open at Golden Gates Casino where he finished in fourth place for $29,245. He’s already off to a hot start in Season 9 having finished 32^nd for $3,548 in the Venetian’s MSPT Poker Bowl II earlier this month.

Others to bag big stacks were Peter Bigelow (186,500), Jeromie Songetay (182,500), and Jon Stueve (168,500), who round out the top five.

They were joined by the likes of Aaron Johnson (145,000), John Morgan (113,000), MSPT Season 8 Canterbury Park Regional champ Paul Cross (102,000), MSPT champs Kou Vang (87,000) and Dan “DQ” Hendrickson (81,000), and Minnesota Poker Hall of Famers Tony Hartmann (81,000) and Mike Schneider (76,000).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to try and fall on 1A were former champs Ahmed Taleb, Jon Kim, David Gonia, Jason Seitz, Jeff Birt, and Keith Heine. Likewise, Matt Alexander, Brian Berthiaume, Jon Hanner, Jay Philips, and World Series of Poker bracelet winner John Reading all hit the rail.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, will have the opportunity to fire in the second starting flight at 4 p.m. on Saturday. There will also be a last-chance $250 satellite at 10:30 a.m. for those looking to get in on the cheap.

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you all the latest and greatest straight from the tournament floor of the MSPT Canterbury Park!

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play four more hands before bagging and tagging on Day 1A. Stay tuned for a list of chip counts as well as a recap of the day’s action.

Michael Stoll raised to 7,000 from middle position and the short-stacked Erik Behling, who was next to act, moved all in for 16,000. Francis Steffl flatted from the hijack, and action folded back to Stoll, who opted to call.

Behling mistakenly went to table his hand, but before he did the table stopped him. However, Steffl admitted he caught a glimpse. The floor was called over and ruled that since Behling was all in and there was side action, he would table his live hand so both Steffl and Stoll had equal information.

Behling then showed the for all to see.

The dealer then put out the flop, which gave Behling two pair.

His two opponents checked and then did the same on both the turn and river.

Stoll showed the and Steffl mucked. The dealer, who should have tabled all hands, scooped them into the muck and Behling was pushed the triple.

Erik Behling - 50,000 (21 bb)

The preflop action escaped us but we do know that Umut Ozturk got his stack all in preflop and was in dire straits against Jeff Kenny.

Ozturk:
Kenny:

Ozturk’s best shot at survival was to find some clubs, but the flop only contained one. The turn left him drawing dead and he headed for the exit after the bricked on the river.

Jeff Kenny - 120,000 (60 bb)
Umut Ozturk - Busted

Umut Ozturk raised to 4,500 from UTG+1, and was called by Kou Vang next to act and Grant Evans in the big blind.

Evans checked the flop over to Ozturk, who continued for 6,000. Vang called and Evans folded.

Ozturk fired a second barrel for 13,000 when the fell on the turn. Vang called.

Ozturk emptied the clip on a river, this time for 22,000. Vang didn’t take much time to call.

Ozturk simply mucked his hand, and Vang said, “I’ll show,” before tabling the second nuts, , and taking down the pot.

Kou Vang - 140,000 (70 bb)
Umut Ozturk - 50,200 (25 bb)

MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge moved all in under the gun for 14,000 and Mario Hudson called a few spots over.

Hodge:
Hudson:

Hodge was looking for a four, but it never came as the board instead ran out dry.

Mario Hudson - 95,000 (48 bb)
Mark Hodge - Busted

The remaining field, of which there are roughly 70 players, have been sent on their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return, they’ll play two more 40-minute levels before bagging and tagging on Day 1A.