Canterbury Park

It’s all over here in Canterbury Park.

Matt Kirby put his 1,635,000 chips at risk after Michael Esquivel put him all-in. Kirby turned over and Esquivel showed . It looked like Kirby was going to extend the heads-up battle after the flop came out to take the lead. But fate was on the side of Esquivel as the came on the turn for him to re-take the lead in the decisive hand. The came on the river and Esquivel burst into tears with his face buried in his hands after being overcome with emotion from the victory.

Esquivel takes home the title and $98,113. Matt Kirby comes up just short of claiming a fourth MSPT title settling for second and taking home $60,283.

Congratulations to our MSPT 157 Main Event at Canterbury Park Champion - Michael Esquivel!

Michael Esquivel is not backing down tonight from the the three-time MSPT champ.

Esquivel has once again managed gradually chip down Matt Kirby and actually opened up his biggest lead of heads-up play. He now leads 7,680,000 to 1,760,000 as he tries to lock up the championship here at Canterbury Park.

The first big blow of heads-up goes to Matt Kirby.

Kirby moved all-in preflop for his remaining 2,185,000 chips and Michael Esquivel made the call. It turned into a race with Kirby showing against the of Esquivel. Kirby caught up on the flop and the board ran out doubling up Kirby. Kirby now trails Esquivel by the slightest of margins with Esquivel at 5,000,000 and Kirby at 4,440,000.

Michael Esquivel is trying to hold off Matt Kirby’s quest to become a four-time MSPT champion and he’s off to a good start.

Esquivel picked up 1,150,000 on the first two hands of heads-up play and now leads 7,090,000 to 2,350,000 as the duo head into Level 29.

Joe Maas battled all day long to get this far but he finally ran out of steam.

Maas bet out 200,000 chips and Matt Kirby raised to 590,000. Maas moved all-in for his remaining 710,000 and Kirby made the call. Maas turned over and was in a race with Kirby’s . Kirby caught up on the flop and the board ran out to finish off Maas.

Joe Maas finishes in 3rd place winning $43,444.

We now move into heads-up play with Michael Esquivel holding 5,415,000 chips against Matt Kirby’s 3,995,000.

Joe Maas has survived another all in, and then proceeded to thrive bolstered by his newfound confidence.

On the button and under-the-gun 3-handed, Maas moved all in for 510,000. Matt Kirby in the small blind called.

Maas:
Kirby:

The board came and did not bring a suck out, running . Maas doubled to 1,140,000, while Kirby took a hit to fall to 2,410,000.

Maas is still in third, but has chipped up a tad. In the three hands immediately after the double up, Maas moved all in preflop three times and won uncontested all three times to get to 1,600,000.

The poker gods giveth and the poker gods taketh away.

Sam Chase bet 170,000 chips and Michael Esquivel went all-in with his 4,250,000 chip stack. Chase called with his 1,300,000 stack putting his tournament on the line. Chase saw he was in the lead when he turned over his taking on the of Esquivel. Chase was in good shape after the flop but the came on the turn giving a Esquivel a gutshot straight draw along with his deuce. Then the river brought the giving him a pair and knocking Chase out. Esquivel moved to 5,600,000 and now holds over half the chips in play with three players remaining.

Sam Chase finishes in 4th place winning $32,856.

Four players left, and we just had one of the biggest hands of the night from a payout perspective.

Joe Maas raised to 160,000 from under-the-gun, which is also the cut-off this short handed. After Matt Kirby folded, Sam Chase moved all in for about 700,000. After Michael Esquivel folded, Maas snap-called.

Chase:
Maas:

Things looked dire for Chase, but brought hope, a wish, and a prayer for Chase. The turn did not bring the diamond, instead bringing . But the river gods smiled down upon Chase favorably this day, bringing on the river to complete the diamond flush.

With the suck out the players essentially flip chip stacks. Sam Chase now holds 1,460,000, while Joe Maas falls to 665,000.

Michael Esquivel is starting to carve a path to a championship.

Esquivel raised to 135,000 and Andy Tran moved all-in for 1,200,000. Esquivel quickly called setting up the showdown. Tran turned over and Esquivel led with . Tran would get no help on the runout and he was knocked out of the tournament. Esquivel, on the other hand, has now opened up a substantial lead on the field holding 4,600,000 chips going into four-handed play.

Andy Tran finishes in 5th place winning $24,642.

On the final hand of Level 25, Xong Lee is out of today’s Main Event.

Lee’s final stand came going all in for 410,000 under-the-gun. Joe Maas went all in right behind, but since no one else called it was just Lee all in. And as it turns out, he was ahead going to the flop.

Maas:
Lee:

Unfortunately for Lee, the flop came . The turn brought more bad news with . And the river filled out Maas, thanks to . Lee collects $18,710 and a smooth 1,000 Player of the Year points. Maas now has about 1,300,000 in chips.