Canterbury Park

The first of four MSPT Canterbury Park Main Events this season kicked off on Friday with the first of two starting flights, and Day 1A saw 207 entrants hit the felt, putting the tournament on pace to best the $300k guarantee with Day 1B still to come at 3 pm on Saturday.

After nearly 15 levels of play on Friday night, just 25 players survived with Amir Tavanae and his 364,000 chips out in front. Tavanae, a local cash game grinder, has a single Main Event cash on his MSPT resume, finishing in 23rd place at Running Aces all the way back in Season 1.

Others to bag big include two-time MSPT champ Matt Kirby (297,000), Paul Eidem (284,500), Jay Melancon (273,000), and Andy Redleaf (245,000).

Others able to find a bag include MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (221,000), “Minnesota” Jon Hanner (174,500), “DQ” Dan Hendrickson (163,500), Sherry Hammers (154,500), Loki Abboud (150,500), 2017 MNPokerMag POY Todd Melander (115,500), and Tom Hammers (113,000).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate to survive today’s flight; a who’s who of big names fell short, including reigning MSPT POY Aaron Johnson, three-time MSPT champs Carl Carodenuto and Blake Bohn, MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup, two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch, MSPT champs Jeffrey Birt, Mark Wadekamper, Erv Bjerga, Nathan Trenkamp, Jon Kim and Rob Wazwaz, and WSOP Bracelet winner John Reading.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, will have the opportunity to fire in the second starting flight at 3 pm on Saturday. There is also a final $250 satellite at 10 am tomorrow for anyone looking to try and get it on the cheap.

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you all the action straight from the tournament floor here at Canterbury Park!

“DQ” Dan Hendrickson jammed for 82,500 from middle position, and Peyton Smith tanked for a bit before calling off his last 78,000 in the hijack.

Hendrickson:
Smith:

Hendrickson’s nines held up on a board, and Smith fell just shy of bagging and tagging.

Dan Hendrickson - 170,500 (43 bb)
Peyton Smith - Busted

Andy Redleaf ripped his last 59,000 in from middle position and Barry Schmiess three-bet shoved on the button, shutting out the blinds.

Refleaf:
Schmiess:

Redleaf survived the board and doubled up.

Barry Schmiess - 200,000 (67 bb)
Andy Redleaf - 115,500 (38 bb)

Brad Jansen raised to 8,000 from UTG+1, and Matt Leshovsky three-bet jammed for 30,500 from the hijack. Jansen tanked for a bit before reluctantly making the call.

Jansen:
Leshovsky:

Jansen had a kicker problem that didn’t get resolved on a board, and Leshovsky doubled up.

Matt Leshovsky - 68,500 (23 bb)
Brad Jansen - 50,000 (17 bb)

Barry Schmiess raised to 7,000 from UTG+1, then called a three-bet to 20,000 from Peyton Smith in the cutoff.

Schmiess checked the flop over to Smith, who bet 14,000. Schmiess responded with a check-raise to 39,000, and Smith counted up his remaining stack, before eventually settling on a fold.

Barry Schmiess - 250,000 (83 bb)
Peyton Smith - 53,000 (18 bb)

50k at 1.5-2.5. Going to need a little help.

— Peyton Smith (@xpeytonsmithx) February 16, 2019

Last break got 30k... Going into 1.5k/2.5k/2.5k really need some help

— Alex F'N Winter (@ObesePuppy) February 16, 2019

Paul Eidem raised to 7,500 from UTG, and Vinodkumar Paddolkar called in the lojack. Freddie West three-bet jammed for 57,500 in the hijack, and after Eidem folded, Paddolkar made the call.

Paddolkar:
West:

“Good luck guys,” West said before the flop was even out.

The gave West a few extra outs, but they were quickly taken away when the fell on the turn. The river made West’s prediction ring true, and he hit the rail.

Vinodkumar Paddolkar - 210,000 (84 bb)
Freddie West - Busted

Action folded to the button who shoved all-in for his remaining 40,000 chips. Gerald Cunniff was in the small blind and shoved all-in over the top.

Cunniff:
Opponent:

Looking to fade a seven, Cunniff did just that with the board.

Gerald Cunniff - 207,000 (82 bb)