Sycuan Casino Resort

Jason Mendoza Wins First MSPT of 2023 for $102,823

The MSPT 2023 season kicked off strong with the $1,110 MSPT Sycuan Main Event holding its second biggest event ever run in this location. A total of 613 entrants gave their best shot at the MSPT glory, but by the time Day 2 started, the field had been whittled down to 73.

When the dust settled at the end of the day, it was Jason Mendoza who took down the event for his first MSPT victory and biggest lifetime score of $102,823. “It feels great to get this monkey off my back,” said after his win, “for so long, chasing that six-figure score, all that run bad for all these years finally paid off.” Mendoza has been playing poker seriously for 15 years, and his prior Hendon Mob cashes totaled up to just over $100,000. With this new score, he has nearly doubled his lifetime earnings as well as taken the lead in the MSPT 2023 season.

“It’s the folds that make the tournament,” he said, recalling a hand where he folded second set on a ten high board when an opponent four-bet all in for his entire tournament life. “If I make that call, I don’t win,” he said as his opponent later confirmed he had a set of tens. He and his wife left the tournament area shortly afterwards, with a brand new trophy to his name.

Final Table Results

Recap Of The Day

It did not take long for the bubble to burst. Terry Favish became the unfortunate last player to not receive a payout when his queens could not hold up against the king-two of Rich Alsup. The remaining 63 players all guaranteed themselves $2,254. Play then continued in a fast and furious way, with many notable names falling by the wayside.

With 16 players remaining, there were three MSPT champions still remaining and looking for their second title. It was Rich Alsup (15th- $7,117) who fell first when his set of fives was rivered by Thomas Kornecook’s set of kings. After that Adam Friedman(12th-$8,897) found himself all in and at risk with ace-queen against the ace-ten of Alexei Racila. A ten on the flop spelled the end for Friedman, leaving only one MSPT champion left. Kyna England (10th-$8,897) lost the majority of her chips in a race with ace-king against the jacks of Alexei Racila, with the final blow coming when she moved in her remaining chips with jack-six suited against Kornecook’s ace-jack. With her elimination, the final table was reached.

Final Table Action

The Final table started off with a bang, with Racila doubling up three players almost immediately and falling down the counts. It was short stack Rigoberto Rodriguez found himself all in with ace-king against Jonathan Frisch’s king-queen and a queen on the flop and turn spelled the end for Rodriguez and his run. He and his Baymax card protector exited the tournament in ninth place for $11,269.

Scott Storrt was the next one to get it in ahead, when he called Thomas Kornecook’s all in with the shorter stack. Kornecook held queen-jack, and Storrt held ace-jack. A queen on the turn spelled the end for Storrt and his impressive finish in eighth place was rewarded with $14,325.

Finishing in seventh place for $18,386, was Haiqing Li who called off his tournament life with jacks against the king-seven of Jason Mendoza. All seemed well until the river which gave Mendoza three sevens. Li wished the table good luck and his impressive spin from start of day short stack ended at the final table.

Thomas Carlin began the final table with the second shortest stack, but through careful navigation, he managed to ladder up a few spots. He too would fall to Mendoza when his straight draw and flush draw did not come home against Mendoza’s top pair, and he took hom $23,724 for his efforts in sixth place.

On a ten, nine, five board, Jonathan Frisch check-raised all in with a pair of sixes and despite thinking about it for some time, called with king-nine, having flopped a pair of nines. No backdoors or sets were able to hit the board and Frisch’s run ended in fifth place for $31,435.

Corey Peeples also fell to Kornecook shortly afterwards when he moved all in with ace-high and two overcards on the turn and Kornecook called with top two pair. No counterfeiting two pair came home on the river and Peebles finished his impressive run in fourth place for $41,518.

Three-handed play began with the final three players striking a deal which secured each of them $77,000, meaning first place would be worth $102,823. All three started off even in chips, but Thomas Kornecook got in all of his chips with ace-nine suited against the ace-jack of Mendoza. Not enough improvement was found for Kornecook and he finished the tournament in third place of $77,000.

Heads up play started with Mendoza holding a 2:1 chip lead over Racila, but that quickly vanished when double up put them basically neck in neck. The match continued, both sides suffering rough blows. In the end it was Mendoza getting in his final chips with a flopped pair of queens against Racila’s flopped pair of nines. No help was found for Racila and his next hand he had only enough to pay the blind and ante. He could not win that blind flip and Alexei Racila, took home his best lifetime score of $77,000 for his runner-up finish.

Congratulations to Jason Mendoza on his incredible victory. Thank you for all who joined us on the kickoff of the 2023 MSPT season, and make sure to join us next time in Black Hawk Colorado. All of this and more, only on MSPT.com.

Alexei Racila Eliminated In 2nd Place ($77,000)

Alexei Racila called on the button which saw Jason Mendoza raise to 650,000 in the big blind, which Racila called.

Mendoza checked on the flop to Racila who bet 1,000,000. Mendoza moved all in for 6,800,000 and Racila called for 98% of the chips in play to be put in the middle.

Jason Mendoza:

Alexei Racila:

Mendoza turned away from the table as the turn . “Hold,” he said looking up at the ceiling. The river peeled off a and Mendoza’s top pair held up as the best hand, while Racila was down to just 300,000 in chips.

Being all in the next hand, both players waited until the board of ran out to turn their hands over.

Alexei Racila:

Jason Mendoza:

Mendoza’s king-high was good and Racila and Mendoza shook hands as Racila finished runner up, while Mendoza won his first MSPT to become the first 2023 champion.

Jason Mendoza - 15,325,000

Alexei Racila - 0 (Eliminated In 2nd Place for $77,000)

The Match Evens Out

Jason Mendoza called on the button and Alexei Racila checked his option in the big blind.

The flop of saw Racila check to Mendoza who bet 200,000, getting a quick call.

The turn of saw both players check and Racila checked the river to Mendoza who bet 400,000. Racila raised to 1,000,000 and Mendoza folded.

Alexei Racila - 8,100,000

Jason Medoza - 7,100,000

Update Heads Up Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Jason Mendoza	8,400,000	10,400,000
Alexei Racila	6,900,000	5,000,000

Thomas Kornecook Eliminated In 3rd Place ($77,000)

Jason Mendoza raised to 500,000 on the button and in the big blind, Thomas Kornecook three-bet to 1,300,000. Mendoza moved all in for 3,700,000 effective and Kornecook went into the tank. After about 30 seconds he called and the cards were tabled.

Thomas Kornecook:

Jason Mendoza:

Both players hit the flop, with Mendoza’s pair being the better of the two. The turn left Kornecook drawing to just one out, and the river did not improve him. Kornecook wished his tablemates well and took home $77,000 after a three-handed deal.

Jason Mendoza - 10,400,000

Alexei Racila - 5,000,000

Thomas Kornecook - 0 (Eliminated In 3rd Place for $77,000)

Mendoza Takes From Kornecook

Jason Mendoza raised to 250,000 from the button and in the big blind, Thomas Kornecook called.

The flop came out and Kornecook check-called a bet of 225,000 from Mendoza.

The turn of saw Kornecook check once more and Mendoza sized up to 1,150,000 and Kornecook called once again.

The river checked through and Mendoza turned over for a straight, which was good and he reclaimed the chip lead.

Jason Mendoza - 6,300,000

Thomas Kornecook -3,800,000

Three Handed Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Thomas Kornecook	5,550,000	3,750,000
Jason Mendoza	5,250,000	6,800,000
Alexei Pacila	4,650,000	3,050,000

Corey Peeples Eliminated In 4th Place ($41,518)

Corey Peeples raised to 275,000 from the cutoff and Thomas Kornecook called in the big blind.

The flop came out and both players checked to the turn where Kornecook bet 400,000. Peeples moved all in for 1,400,000 and Kornecook went into the tank. “That turn is the the worst card for me,” Kornecook lamented. After some more deliberation he called and the cards went on their backs.

Corey Peeples:

Thomas Kornecook:

The river did not improve Peeples and he exited the tournament in fourth place.

Thomas Kornecook - 5,550,000

Corey Peeples - 0 (Eliminated In 4th Place For $41,518)

Four Handed Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Jason Mendoza	6,800,000	4,300,000
Thomas Kornecook	3,750,000	975,000
Alexei Pacila	3,050,000	3,460,000
Corey Peeples	1,850,000	1,950,000

Jonathan Frisch Eliminated In 5th Place ($31,435)

Thomas Kornecook raised to 200,000 from the button and Jonathan Frisch called in the big blind.

The flop came out and Frisch checked to Kornecook who continue for 250,000. Frisch moved all in for 1,450,000 which sent Kornecook into the tank. He counted out his own stack and totaled it at 1,500,000. After some time he called and the hands were turned over.

Jonathan Frisch:

Thomas Kornecook:

The board ran out and Frisch; could not find one of the sixes to pull out ahead, and he ended his run in fifth place.

Thomas Kornecook - 3,400,000

Jonathan Frisch - 0 (Eliminated in 5th For $31,435)