Tropicana Evansville

Kanat Ozturk Leads as 21 Players Bag on Day 1B of 2018 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship

Day 1B of the 2018 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship attracted 162 entries to Tropicana Evansville, which along with 1A’s 145 brought the total field up to 307 entrants. That means the top 36 players will get paid a minimum of $2,074 while the eventual winner will walk away with a $68,149 top prize.

The man best position is Minnesota’s Kanat Ozturk, who bagged 401,500 among the 21 survivors. That is well ahead of Day 1A chip leader Brian Powell, who made it through with 329,000.

Others to bag big on Day 1B were Leart Hasani (318,000), James Burn (292,000), Forrest Browning (258,500), and Donnie Phan (230,000), who round out the top five.

Joining them are nine-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Robert Hankins (194,000), Hyun Lee (99,000), Ricky Stinson (72,500), and Jeff Minnerly (41,000).

Among those to fall on Saturday were 2015 MSPT Indiana State Poker Champion Mike O’Niell, Jefferson Lasecki, Steven Pike, Alan Cutler, John Utley, and former MSPT champs Ahmed Taleb, Craig Trost, and Adam Thomas.

Day 2 will kick off at 11 a.m. on Sunday with 39 returning players (18 from Day 1A and 21 from 1B). Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you all the latest and greatest from the 2018 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship.

End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts

Five More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play five more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a recap of the Day 1B action, chip counts, and the Day 2 seat draw.

MSPT Heads to Seneca Niagara Casino for First Time September 15-23

If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to see Niagara Falls, you’ll have the opportunity come September. That’s because the MSPT has added a new stop in Season 9.

From September 15-23, the MSPT will visit New York for the first time. A series of satellites will feed into a $1,100 buy-in, $200K GTD Main Event at Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York, which isn’t far off from Buffalo.

The $1,100 Main Event, which requires players be 21 or older, will feature two starting flights beginning with Day 1A at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 21. Day 1B will take place at the same time on Saturday, September 22. Both days will play 16 levels. The surviving players from both flights will then return at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 23 to play down to a winner.

The entirety of the Main Event will be live reported in the MSPT's live blog.

Seneca Niagara Casino has a great poker history and has hosted events like the Western New York Poker Challenge, Summer Slam, and a Fall Poker Classic. It’s there that a number of players have risen to prominence including Andy Spears, Dan Wagner, and Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 8 Player of the Year Chris Meyers.

“I’m very excited the MSPT is coming to my home casino,” Meyers said of the announcement. “There are a lot of great players at Seneca Niagara Casino, and I can’t wait until they get to experience one of the country’s best poker tours.”

MSPT President Bryan Mileski echoed those sentiments: “I had the opportunity to visit Seneca Niagara Casino in December and was thoroughly impressed with the property, especially the recently-expanded poker room. Not only will this stop offer great poker action, there’s plenty to see and do with Niagara Falls minutes away. It’s a destination experience.”

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is a full-amenity resort featuring 604 rooms and suites. With ten restaurants, seven shops, more than 3,000 slots and over 80 table games, live poker, keno, a full-service spa, flexible meeting facilities, rewarding promotions, superstar entertainment and exciting nightlife, Seneca Niagara is consistently rated as a must-see Niagara Falls casino.

Every year, the prestigious gaming magazine, Casino Player, recognizes the top performers in the gaming industry based on player feedback. Among the awards Seneca Niagara has won are Best Hotel Rooms, Best Spa, Favorite Casino Resort to Vacation at, and Best Dealers.

For more information, visit senecaniagaracasino.com or follow them on Twitter @SNFPoker and @SenecaCasinos. Visit msptpoker.com for upcoming hotel rates.

Doubled up by way of a set

There was about 22,000 in the pot when Jim Umpress shoved all in after a flop.

His opponent tanked for a few minutes eventually calling with the and found himself drawing to runner runner when he saw Umpress’ for a set.

The hit the felt on the turn and Umpress locked up the double.

Jim Umpress 215,000 - (71 bb)

Donnie Phan Can't Get Kanat Ozturk To Bite

With 40,000 already in the middle, Kanat Ozturk checked a flop from the small blind, and Justin Calvert jammed for 30,500 from the big blind. Donnie Phan called from the cutoff, and Ozturk thought for a bit before saying, “I’m folding the best hand,” and mucking face-up.

Calvert:
Phan:

Ozturk was actually in third-place, as Calvert flopped a pair of kings, while Phan had aces and the nut flush draw. The turn locked the hand up for Phan, and after the river, Phan was stacking up the chips.

Donnie Phan - 200,000 (67 bb)
Justin Calvert - Busted

Matt Wilmes Doubles Through Brandon Broda

With roughly 30,000 in the pot and a flop of , Matthew Wilmes got his stack of 70,000 all in against Brandon Broda.

Broda:
Wilmes:

Wilmes had the granddaddy of all hands and scored the double after the was run out on the turn followed by the on the river.

Matthew Wilmes - 170,000 (57 bb)
Brandon Broda - 10,000 (3 bb)

Robert Hankins Busts a Shorty

Action folded to Robert Hankins who made a standard raise before his opponent shoved all in from the small blind.

Hankins made the call and flipped up and his opponent turned over the .

The board blanked out and Hankins got one player closer to the money.

Robert Hankins - 290,000 (97 bb)

Dave Hickey Versus Ryan Tepen

With 30,000 already in the middle and a flop out, Dave Hickey (pictured, left) bet 17,000 from lojack, and Ryan Tepen (pictured, right) made the call from the hijack.

The hit the turn, and Hickey repeated the 17,000 bet. Tepen spent a while in the tank before electing to call the bet.

The completed the board on the river, and Hickey checked. Tepen thought for a bit before firing 25,000, and Hickey folded.

Ryan Tepen - 130,000 (43 bb)
Dave Hickey - 87,500 (29 bb)

Brian Mckain Sent to the Rail

Action folded around Brian Mckain who barreled all in. He was called by Leart Hasani who immediately flipped up and Mckain showed the .

The flop came , which was good for Mckain.

However, the turn brought Hasani the lead with the and when the hit the river, Mckain was sent to the exit.

Brian Mckain - Eliminated