$

Awarded to date

FireKeepers Casino

May 12 - 20, 2018

 
  • Level: 16
  • Blinds: 2000 / 4000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
Justin Lee Leads as 66 of 473 Bag Day 1B of the MSPT FireKeepers
Created (5/18/2018 11:33:17 PM by Admin System)

Day 1B of the MSPT FireKeepers Casino – the 11th venue stop in tour history – in Battle Creek, Michigan attracted a massive 473 runners. Along with 1A’s 285, it brought the total field up to 758 entries with the third and final start still to go.

The big turnout essentially ensures the field will once again eclipse a seven-figure prize pool and break our own record for the largest-ever poker tournament in Michigan state history (current record is 1,067 entries).

After 16 levels of play, just 66 players remained with Justin Lee and his stack of 447,000 leading the way. That is a little ahead of Steven Williams, who bagged the Day 1A lead with 426,000.

Others to bag big stacks are two-time MSPT champ Jason Zarlenga, Bob Buyce (411,000), Aaron Soulliere (335,000), and Lewis Gardner (317,000), who round out the top five.

Others to advance were two-time MSPT champ Greg Himmelbrand (280,000), MSPT Season 2 Canterbury Park champ Kou Vang (200,500), MSPT Season 7 FireKeepers champ Aaron Massey (158,000), current Kimo Sabe Mezcal Season 9 POY points leader Aaron Johnson (119,000), MSPT Season 7 Meskwaki champ Keith Heine (116,500), and two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch (105,500).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to hit the rail were former Detroit Lions TE Eric Stocz, MSPT Season 5 Player of the Year Mike Deis, Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 8 POY Chris Meyers, and former champs Nathan Trenkamp, Carter Myers, Satish Thakur, Ahmed Taleb, Tom Midena, Rodger Johnson, Ryan Dykhouse, and Mike Shanahan.

Thus far 100 players (34 from 1A, 66 from 1B) have punched their ticket to Sunday’s Day 2. Registration is now open for Day 1C, which will begin at Noon local time on Saturday. It’s going to be busy, so we encourage players to register early.

  • Level: 16
  • Blinds: 2000 / 4000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts
Created (5/18/2018 11:27:55 PM by Admin System)
Justin Lee 447,000
Jason Zarlenga 420,000
Robert Buyce 411,000
Aaron Soulliere 335,000
Lewis Gardner 317,000
Mark Oushanna 286,000
Greg Himmelbrand 280,000
David Lindquist 267,500
Nicholas Davidson 260,500
Ryan Awwad 256,000
Lelond Arnold 239,500
Frank Lucarelli 229,000
Michael Reardon 217,000
Kou Vang 200,500
Bruce Watkins 191,000
Joseph Taylor 190,000
Richard Tapper 182,500
Timothy Herek 173,500
Scott Hammett 172,500
Roger Isaac 169,500
Mark Brazis 161,500
Aaron Massey 158,000
Michael Ermie 158,000
Ian Morton 154,000
Millard Hale 151,000
Sandra Morse 136,500
Horatio Hu 132,000
Mark Cherrette 130,500
Steven Clark 130,000
Paul Newhouse 126,500
Devin Looney 122,000
Bryan Gwin 120,500
Aaron Johnson 119,000
Corey Hutchinson 117,000
Keith Heine 116,500
Bruce Nosanchuk 115,000
Joshua Szczur 114,000
Michael Welsh 107,500
Carmino Argiero 106,500
Jeremy Dresch 105,500
Marshall Smaltz 104,000
Donald Dukate 97,500
DJ Buckley 94,000
Carl McCullough 92,000
James Gerardot 91,500
Michael Meyers 89,000
Anthony Restaino 84,500
Rick Wang 83,000
Thomas Richardi 80,500
Andrew Vanblair 79,500
Nishant Yadav 78,500
Xiaofei Wen 75,500
Ryan Gallagher 73,500
Sean Roy 66,500
Justin Rice 66,000
Cade Rugg 64,000
Jack Middlebrook 63,000
John Tobias 58,500
Shawn Rings 52,000
Terry Moore 51,000
Brandon Poe 46,500
Daniel Kusnerak 41,000
Don Saylor 40,500
John Mcdevitt 39,500
Gregory Tackett 39,000
Srikanth Alajangi 36,500
  • Level: 16
  • Blinds: 2000 / 4000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
Five More Hands
Created (5/18/2018 10:51:00 PM by Admin System)

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play five more hands before bagging and tagging on Day 1B. Stay tuned for a list of chip counts as well as a recap of the day’s action.

  • Level: 16
  • Blinds: 2000 / 4000
  • Ante: 400
 
 
Lewis Gardner Makes Big Call to Eliminate Two Opponents
Created (5/18/2018 10:49:32 PM by Admin System)

We picked up the action with around 25,000 in the pot and a flop of .

Joe Niskar (pictured middle) moved all in for 21,500 from the small blind and Lewis Gardner (right) called from the big. Schuyler Thornton (left) then jammed for 104,500 from the button and Lewis, who had the big stack, shot out of his chair.

“Wow, I don’t think I can fold,” he said. Indeed, he made the call.

Gardner:
Thornton:
Niskar:

The river was of no consequence and Gardner held to score the double elimination.

Lewis Gardner - 320,000 (80 bb)
Joe Niskar - Busted
Schuyler Thornton - Busted

  • Level: 16
  • Blinds: 2000 / 4000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
A Late Night Double for Aaron Johnson
Created (5/18/2018 10:31:59 PM by Admin System)

Steve Alexander (pictured left) raised to 8,000 on the button only to have current Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 9 Player of the Year points leader Aaron Johnson (right) three-bet all in for 40,000 from the small blind.

“My gut’s telling me to call,” Alexander said before doing so.

Alexander:
Johnson:

Johnson was best but Alexander held two live cards. The flop gave both players a flush draw, but of course Johnson was best in that department. Neither the turn nor river helped Alexander and he sent some chips over to a dangerous opponent.

Aaron Johnson - 90,000 (23 bb)
Steve Alexander - 155,000 (39 bb)

  • Level: 15
  • Blinds: 1500 / 3000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
Anthony Restaino Sends Casey Carroll to the Rail
Created (5/18/2018 10:02:34 PM by Admin System)
Anthony Restaino

Casey Carroll raised all in for 56,500 from the button and Anthony Restaino called out of the big blind.

Carroll:
Restaino:

It was a flip and Carroll was just looking to hold to stay alive. The flop was safe enough, but then disaster struck when the dealer burned and turned the . The river was no help to Carroll and he took his leave in the penultimate level of Day 1B.

Anthony Restaino - 160,000 (53 bb)
Casey Carroll - Busted

  • Level: 15
  • Blinds: 1500 / 3000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
Chip Counts From The Other Half
Created (5/18/2018 9:53:46 PM by Admin System)

Player NameChip CountPreviousProgress
Jason Zarlenga270000275000
Kou Vang15500034000
Aaron Massey140000115000
DJ Buckley130000120000
James Gerardot125000128000
Thomas Midena120000105000
Schuyler Thornton120000110000
Casey Carroll6000056000
Devin Looney5800060000

  • Level: 15
  • Blinds: 1500 / 3000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
Chip Counts From Half The Room
Created (5/18/2018 9:52:25 PM by Admin System)

Player NameChip CountPreviousProgress
Aaron Soulliere31000086000
Lelond Arnold220000154000
Nicholas Davidson21000098000
Bruce Nosanchuk200000206000
Scott Hammett185000150000
Greg Himmelbrand180000165000
Jeremy Dresch150000100000
Keith Heine6800064000
Aaron Johnson5000060000
Sandra Morse4050023800

  • Level: 15
  • Blinds: 1500 / 3000
  • Ante: 500
 
 
The Chip Leader Coaching Squad Continues Momentum with Big Scores in April
Created (5/18/2018 9:41:00 PM by Admin System)

Chip Leader Coaching (CLC), founded in 2016 by WSOP bracelet winners Chance Kornuth and John “KasinoKrime” Beauprez, is a training program geared toward multi-table tournaments (MTTs). The business model is unique in that students don’t pay unless they make money.

CLC has grown to include coahes such as 2015 WSOP Main Event champ Joe McKeehen, Ryan Leng, Ryan Jones, and Ryan Laplante, who oversee more than 40 students. MSPT champ and WSOP bracelet winner Nick Jivkov is also involved in the business side of CLC.

The only way to gauge whether or not a training course works is by results, and in case you haven’t noticed, the CLC team has been putting up some big ones. In February alone, the CLC Squad notched more than $1.4 million in tournament earnings. Amazingly, they combined for $1.45 million in March!

They then kept the ball rolling with another solid performance in April, which you can read about by clicking here.

“Our coaches are really mentors who are personally vested in their student’s progression as a player and are willing to connect them with the resources and guidance that drives consistent, long-lasting success in tournament poker,” Beauprez said in an interview with our media partner CardsChat. “Our philosophy is simple. We’re held accountable for the quality of our coaching because instead of asking for a monthly subscription, we take a small percentage of winnings.”

For more information visit CLCpoker.com

  • Level: 14
  • Blinds: 1200 / 2400
  • Ante: 400
 
 
Last Break Of The Night
Created (5/18/2018 9:28:25 PM by Admin System)

Players are off on their last ten-minute break of the night. When they return, they’ll play two more levels before bagging and tagging.

 
 
Legend:  #  - Main event champ   #  - POY champ  H  - HOF champ
 
Player Name
Chips
Progress
 
City
State
Country
447,000  
447,000 
 
MI 
Jason Zarlenga
22x Main Event Champion
420,000  
420,000 
 
MI 
411,000  
411,000 
 
MI 
335,000  
335,000 
 
 
Canada 
317,000  
317,000 
 
MI 
286,000  
286,000 
 
Elgin 
IL 
Greg Himmelbrand
22x Main Event Champion
280,000  
280,000 
 
NY 
267,500  
267,500 
 
MI 
260,500  
260,500 
 
Troy 
MI 
256,000  
256,000 
 
MI 
239,500  
239,500 
 
MI 
229,000  
229,000 
 
MI 
217,000  
217,000 
 
MI 
Kou Vang
33x Main Event Champion
HMSPT Hall Of Fame
200,500  
200,500 
 
MN 
191,000  
191,000 
 
IL 
190,000  
190,000 
 
MI 
182,500  
182,500 
 
Romeo 
MI 
173,500  
173,500 
 
MI 
172,500  
172,500 
 
MI 
169,500  
169,500 
 
MI 
Mark Brazis
11x Main Event Champion
161,500  
161,500 
 
IN 
158,000  
158,000 
 
OH 
Aaron Massey
11x Main Event Champion
HMSPT Hall Of Fame
158,000  
158,000 
 
NV 
154,000  
154,000 
 
MI 
151,000  
151,000 
 
MI 
136,500  
136,500 
 
MI 
132,000  
132,000 
 
NY 
130,500  
130,500 
 
MI 
130,000  
130,000 
 
Warren 
MI 
126,500  
126,500 
 
MI 
122,000  
122,000 
 
CA 
120,500  
120,500 
 
MI 
Aaron Johnson
11x Main Event Champion
11x Player Of The Year
HMSPT Hall Of Fame
119,000  
119,000 
 
MN 
117,000  
117,000 
 
MI 
Keith Heine
11x Main Event Champion
116,500  
116,500 
 
MO 
115,000  
115,000 
 
MI 
114,000  
114,000 
 
Toledo 
OH 
107,500  
107,500 
 
MI 
106,500  
106,500 
 
MI 
Jeremy Dresch
22x Main Event Champion
105,500  
105,500 
 
MN 
104,000  
104,000 
 
MI 
97,500  
97,500 
 
IN 
94,000  
94,000 
 
MN 
92,000  
92,000 
 
Ida 
MI 
91,500  
91,500 
 
IN 
84,500  
84,500 
 
MI 
83,000  
83,000 
 
MI 
80,500  
80,500 
 
MI 
Andy Van Blair
11x Main Event Champion
79,500  
79,500 
 
IA 
78,500  
78,500 
 
MI 
75,500  
75,500 
 
Warren 
MI 
73,500  
73,500 
 
MI 
66,500  
66,500 
 
 
 
66,000  
66,000 
 
MI 
64,000  
64,000 
 
MI 
63,000  
63,000 
 
MI 
58,500  
58,500 
 
Dekalb 
IL 
52,000  
52,000 
 
MI 
51,000  
51,000 
 
Muncie 
IN 
46,500  
46,500 
 
MI 
41,000  
41,000 
 
Newton 
NC 
40,500  
40,500 
 
IN 
39,500  
39,500 
 
MI 
39,000  
39,000 
 
MI 
36,500  
36,500 
 
MI 
Thomas Midena
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
Rodger Johnson
11x Main Event Champion
HMSPT Hall Of Fame
0  
Busted 
 
ND 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
IL 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
Ryan Dykhouse
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
Chris Meyers (NY)
22x Main Event Champion
11x Player Of The Year
0  
Busted 
 
NY 
Ahmed Taleb
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
  
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
IL 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
Mike Shanahan
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
Avon 
IN 
0  
Busted 
 
IN 
Satish Thakur
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
IL 
Carter Myers
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
Nathan Trenkamp
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
IA 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
Gerald Cunniff
11x Main Event Champion
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
Umut Ozturk
11x Main Event Champion
22x Player Of The Year
HMSPT Hall Of Fame
0  
Busted 
 
MN 
0  
Busted 
 
WI 
Michael Deis
11x Player Of The Year
0  
Busted 
  
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
IL 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
NV 
0  
Busted 
 
MI 
0  
Busted 
 
IN 
Rank
Player Name
City
State
Country
Amount
Points
1
IN 
$221,323 
1,900 
2
OH 
$137,158 
1,700 
3
MI 
$99,751 
1,600 
4
MI 
$76,185 
1,500 
5
MN 
$57,357 
1,400 
6
MI 
$43,641 
1,300 
7
MI 
$33,666 
1,200 
8
MI 
$26,185 
1,100 
9
 
Canada 
$21,197 
1,000 
10
MI 
$17,456 
900 
11
IN 
$17,456 
900 
12
 
 
$17,456 
900 
13
OH 
$13,715 
800 
14
MI 
$13,715 
800 
15
MN 
$13,715 
800 
16
MI 
$11,721 
700 
17
IN 
$11,721 
700 
18
MI 
$11,721 
700 
19
MI 
$9,850 
650 
20
MI 
$9,850 
650 
21
MI 
$9,850 
650 
22
MI 
$8,229 
600 
23
Onslow 
IA 
$8,229 
600 
24
IN 
$8,229 
600 
25
Aurora 
IL 
$6,983 
550 
26
MI 
$6,983 
550 
27
MN 
$6,983 
550 
28
MI 
$5,237 
500 
29
Owosso 
MI 
$5,237 
500 
30
MI 
$5,237 
500 
31
MI 
$5,237 
500 
32
MI 
$5,237 
500 
33
MI 
$5,237 
500 
34
MI 
$5,237 
500 
35
Novi 
MI 
$5,237 
500 
36
OH 
$5,237 
500 
37
MI 
$4,115 
450 
38
MI 
$4,115 
450 
39
Ida 
MI 
$4,115 
450 
40
IL 
$4,115 
450 
41
MI 
$4,115 
450 
42
Vinh Ho  
MI 
$4,115 
450 
43
MI 
$4,115 
450 
44
Novi 
MI 
$4,115 
450 
45
Elgin 
IL 
$4,115 
450 
46
MI 
$3,616 
400 
48
MI 
$3,616 
400 
49
IN 
$3,616 
400 
50
IN 
$3,616 
400 
51
MI 
$3,616 
400 
52
MI 
$3,616 
400 
53
VA 
$3,616 
400 
54
IN 
$3,616 
400 
55
MI 
$3,242 
350 
56
MI 
$3,242 
350 
57
NV 
$3,242 
350 
58
MI 
$3,242 
350 
59
IN 
$3,242 
350 
60
MI 
$3,242 
350 
61
MI 
$3,242 
350 
62
MI 
$3,242 
350 
63
MI 
$3,242 
350 
64
MI 
$2,993 
300 
65
IL 
$2,993 
300 
66
Manton 
MI 
$2,993 
300 
67
Canton 
MI 
$2,993 
300 
68
NY 
$2,993 
300 
69
MI 
$2,993 
300 
70
MI 
$2,993 
300 
71
Newton 
NC 
$2,993 
300 
72
Novi 
MI 
$2,993 
300 
73
MI 
$2,868 
250 
74
MI 
$2,868 
250 
75
IL 
$2,868 
250 
76
MI 
$2,868 
250 
77
Romeo 
MI 
$2,868 
250 
78
IL 
$2,868 
250 
79
Troy 
MI 
$2,868 
250 
80
Dryden 
MI 
$2,868 
250 
81
MI 
$2,868 
250 
82
Holt 
MI 
$2,743 
200 
83
MI 
$2,743 
200 
84
NY 
$2,743 
200 
85
IL 
$2,743 
200 
86
MN 
$2,743 
200 
87
NV 
$2,743 
200 
88
MI 
$2,743 
200 
89
MI 
$2,743 
200 
90
Dexter 
MI 
$2,743 
200 
91
Warren 
MI 
$2,618 
150 
92
MI 
$2,618 
150 
93
IN 
$2,618 
150 
94
MI 
$2,618 
150 
95
MI 
$2,618 
150 
96
IL 
$2,618 
150 
97
Troy 
MI 
$2,618 
150 
98
MI 
$2,618 
150 
99
MI 
$2,618 
150 
100
MI 
$2,369 
100 
101
MI 
$2,369 
100 
102
MI 
$2,369 
100 
103
MI 
$2,369 
100 
104
MI 
$2,369 
100 
105
MN 
$2,369 
100 
106
Parma 
MI 
$2,369 
100 
107
Macomb 
MI 
$2,369 
100 
108
MI 
$2,369 
100 
109
OH 
$2,244 
75 
110
IL 
$2,244 
75 
111
Dewitt 
MI 
$2,244 
75 
112
MI 
$2,244 
75 
113
CA 
$2,244 
75 
114
MI 
$2,244 
75 
115
MI 
$2,244 
75 
116
Owosso 
MI 
$2,244 
75 
117
IL 
$2,244 
75 
119
MI 
$2,120 
50 
120
Okemos 
MI 
$2,120 
50 
121
IN 
$2,120 
50 
122
MI 
$2,120 
50 
123
MI 
$2,120 
50 
124
MN 
$2,120 
50 
125
MO 
$2,120 
50 
126
MI 
$2,120 
50 
127
IA 
$2,120 
50 
128
Toledo 
OH 
$2,120 
50 
129
MI 
$2,120 
50 
130
MI 
$2,120 
50 
131
MI 
$2,120 
50 
132
MI 
$2,120 
50 
133
MI 
$2,120 
50 
134
Muncie 
IN 
$2,120 
50 
135
IL 
$2,120 
50 
LEVEL & TOURNAMENT INFO
Level
16
Blinds
2000 / 4000
Ante
500
Entries
473
Players Remaining
66
Average Chip Stack
143,333
Total Chips
9,460,000
LEVEL INFO
Level
16
Blinds
2000 / 4000
Ante
500
TOURNAMENT INFO
Entries
473
Players Remaining
66
Average Chip Stack
143,333
Total Chips
9,460,000
TOP 10 CHIP COUNT
RANK
PLAYER
CHIPS
447,000
420,000
411,000
335,000
317,000
286,000
280,000
267,500
260,500
10 
256,000
SEASON TOP 10 POY POINTS
RANK
PLAYER
POINTS
6,825
5,425
4,950
4,800
4,683
3,850
3,725
3,533
10 
3,450