Tropicana Evansville

Kevin Leek Leads as 40 Players Survive Day 1B of the 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship at Tropicana Evansville

Day 1B of the 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship at Tropicana Evansville drew 173 runners, which along with 1A’s brought the total field up to 320 entrants. After 14 levels of play, local player Kevin Leek, who is seeking his first MSPT cash, bagged the big stack out of the 40 survivors with 261,500.

That is quite a bit behind that of the 1A chip leader, five-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Kurt Jewell, who will begin Day 2 with the overall lead with 350,500 in chips. Others who bagged big on 1B were Kyle Brantley (209,000), Statish Thakur (207,000), Terrence Esparza (181,500), and Kevin Brenner (158,000), who round out the top five.

Also advancing from the flight were MSPT Season 6 Tropicana Evansville champ Mike O’Neill (124,000), MSPT champ and WSOP bracelet winner Nick Jivkov (108,500), MSPT Season 7 Tropicana Evansville Regional champ Adam Thomas (62,000), and the short-stacked Mike Rieck (16,000).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to fall on Day 1B were Kimo Sabe MSPT Mezcal Season 8 Player of the Year contender Keith Block, 2016 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Champ Andy Rubinberg, MSPT Season 4 POY Pat Steele, WSOP bracelet winner Adam Friedman, and eight-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Robert Hankins.

Day 2 will get underway at 11 a.m. CDT on Sunday morning with 65 players remaining. As always, we’ll bring you updates straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to join us then.

End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts

Two More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play two more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a list of survivors with chips counts, a short recap, and the Day 2 seat draw.

Donnie Smotherman's Day Comes to an End

After a player raised to 8,000 and Richard Bolden called from the hijack, Donnie Smotherman three-bet all in for 38,600 from the small blind. The original raiser folded and Bolden quickly called.

Bolden:
Smotherman:

Smotherman needed some big time help, but the flop didn’t give him much. The turn actually left him drawing dead, and he headed for the exit after the dealer put out the on the river.

Donnie Smotherman - Busted

One for Terrence Esparza

Everett Lawrence raised to 4,000 under the gun and Terrence Esparza called from middle position. Robert Hankins came along from the big blind and three players saw a flop of .

Hankins checked, Lawrence continued for 4,000, and Esparza raised to 11,000. Both his opponents called and then all three players checked the turn.

When the completed the board on the river, both Hankins and Lawrence checked to Esparza, who bet 17,000. Only Hankins called but he mucked as soon as Esparza tabled the for two pair.

Terrence Esparza - 165,000 (83 bb)
Robert Hankins - 31,000 (16 bb)

Kyle Brantley Wins A Massive Flip Against Jeffery Armstrong

Jeffery Armstrong got his stack of 73,500 in preflop against Kyle Brantley, who had him covered by just 16,500.

Brantley:
Armstrong:

Brantley needed some help, and he got a fair bit of it on the flop.

Armstrong now also needed to dodge a club, but the shut the door on his chances and the ended his tournament, securing Brantley a huge double near the end of Day 1B.

Kyle Brantley - 175,000 (88 bb)
Jeffery Armstrong - Busted

Kevin Leek Eliminates Hyun Lee

A player raised UTG+1 to 4,500 and Kevin Leek three-bet to 20,000. Hyun Lee called from the big blind, and the original raiser folded.

The flop led Lee to check. Leek then jammed for Lee’s last 45,000. Lee went into the tank for a few minutes, then decided on a call.

Leek:
Lee:

Leek had the best of it with his kings, and neither the nor brought any help for Lee, and he was eliminated.

Kevin Leek – 152,000 (76 bb)
Hyun Lee - Busted

Some Late Night Shots

Some Late Night Counts

Bradley Johnson - 200,000
Matthew Lawrence - 145,000
Ross Bryant - 120,000
Adam Thomas - 110,000
Statish Thakur -110,000
Peter John - 90,000
Robert Hankins - 72,000
George Russell - 65,000
Nick Jivkov - 62,000
Harold Anderson - 56,000
Aaron Garrison - 45,000
John “Farmboy” Kurfman - Busted

Last Break of the Night

Players are now on their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return, they’ll play two more levels before bagging and tagging on Day 1B.