Grand Falls Casino

Day 1B of the $1,100 MSPT Grand Falls Main Event attracted 145 entrants to the luxury venue and golf resort just south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Along with the 81 runners from 1A, that brought the total field up to 226 entries.

The top 24 players will get paid a minimum of $2,090 while the eventual winner will walk away with $54,427. The player from Day 1B best positioned to make a run at it is Pierce Acuff, who lead the surviving 18 players with 425,500. That is well ahead of 1A chip leader Luke Blindert, who bagged 332,000 on Friday night.

Acuff, who is seeking his first MSPT cash, won the largest pot of the tournament thus far late in the night when he eliminated World Series of Poker bracelet winner Eric Rodawig, who jammed with straight and flush draws. Acuff had a pair but went runner-runner to make a heart flush and claim a 400K+ pot.

Others to bag on 1B were Eric Eelkema (293,000), MSPT Season 9 Grand Falls Regional champ Aaron Johnson (274,000), Alex Winter (102,000), and 2018 MSPT Iowa State Poker Champion Brian Soja (87,000).

Among those to compete but fall on Saturday were defending champ Ahmed Taleb, four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Mark Fink, MSPT Season 8 Grand Falls Regional champ Travis Gant, PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah, and former MSPT Grand Falls champs Blake Bohn, Alan Curl and Ted Takasaki.

On Sunday, 27 players (nine from 1A + 18 from 1B) will return to action at 11 a.m. and play down to a winner. This stop does not feature a live stream, but we will be providing live updates throughout. Action will resume with 10:25 left in Level 15.

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you continued coverage of the MSPT Grand Falls!

Maurice Chaplin jammed for 30,000 from UTG, and Josh Skogen three-bet shoved for 64,000 in middle position, chasing out the field.

Chaplin:
Skogen:

“I have a draw,” Chaplin told Skogen with a smile.

That draw was rendered moot after the fell, giving Skogen an unbeatable full house. “It’s over!” Skogen said, and after the turn and river, Chaplin took his leave and play was halted for the night.

Maurice Chaplin - Busted

With around 17,000 in the pot and a flop of , WSOP bracelet winner Eric Rodawig bet 12,000 from the hijack and Pierce Acuff raised to 42,000 from the button.

Rodawig responded by moving all in for 175,000 and Acuff asked for a count before making the call to create the bigger pot of the tournament thus far.

Acuff:
Rodawig:

Acuff had middle pair with a gutshot while Rodawig flopped a double gutter with a flush draw. The turn was a brick, and Rodawig got out of his chair. However, he sat back down when the spiked on the river to give him a straight. It took him, and the rest of the table, a few seconds to realize it also gave Acuff a winning runner-runner flush.

Pierce Acuff - 420,000 (140 bb)
Eric Rodawig - Eliminated

Ryan Skluzak jammed for 43,500 from the small blind and was snapped off by Tucker Hummel in the big blind.

“I looked at one,” Skluzak said.

Skluzak:
Hummel:

Skluzak found a queen on the flop to extend his lead, but the turn gave Hummel an open-ended straight draw. Hummel bricked off on the river, however, and Skluzak doubled up.

“This table change is good!” Skluzak said with a grin as he raked in the pot.

Ryan Skluzak - 90,000 (30 bb)
Tucker Hummel - 60,000 (20 bb)

Action folded to Brian Soja in the small blind, and he simply jammed to put Pierce Acuff at risk for his last 130,500. Acuff looked pained at the situation, but finally shrugged and said, “I call.”

Soja:
Acuff:

The flop gave Acuff trips and left Soja looking for running hearts or sevens to earn the KO, but he was dead after the turn and Acuff picked the double up after the river.

“Easy come, easy go,” Soja said before shipping the chips to Acuff.

Pierce Acuff - 263,000 (110 bb)
Brian Soja - 84,000 (35 bb)