The first of three starting flights in the $1,100 MSPT Denver Poker Open saw 88 players take to the felt at The Golden Gates Casino. After 14 levels of play, just 20 remained with Terry Wheeler, who is seeking his first MSPT cash, and his stack of 230,000 leading the way.

The only other player to come even close to bagging that much was William Mietz with 222,500. Only four other players managed to bag six-figure stacks in Svetlana Martie (140,000), Andrew Geffen (121,500), Danny Gonzalez (112,500), and Greg Eckler (103,500).

They were joined by Norecia Austin (85,000), Bryan Andrews (62,500), Ryan Dodson (52,500), and MSPT Season 6 Golden Gates Regional Champ Bobby Sanoubane (47,500).

Among those to fire and miss on Day 1A were recent WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe Main Event winner Max Young, Las Vegas poker pro Tim West, MSPT Season 6 Golden Gates champ Phanora Prom, and Black Hawk regulars Greg Geller, Jamal Sawaqdeh, Travis Northrope, and Jason Vanstrom.

All of those players will have a chance to try again in the coming days if they so choose. Likewise, we can confirm that poker pro Jessica Dawley will be playing her first-ever MSPT outside of Las Vegas tomorrow.

Two more flights remain in the 2017 MSPT Denver Poker Open. Day 1B will kick off at Noon local time on Friday, followed by 1C at the same time on Saturday.