Sycuan Casino Resort

Fliegelman Leads, Friedman and England Bag Piles

Play in the second flight of the Sycuan MSPT $1,110 main event came to a close with 38:45 left in level 14. The starting field of 193 entrants was whittled down to just 23, who all put their names on their bags and went off to rest up for one day. They will return on Sunday the 16th at 11 o'clock in the morning. The $300,000 guarantee has been met and surpassed, only to do so more on this final flight.

Leading the pack was Noam Fliegelman, who ended the day with 527,000. Later in the day, Fliegelman found himself on the right end of aces to kings to queens and held up for a pot worth over 250,000. After that, he remained atop of the leaderboard for the duration of the tournament. Fliegelman has one prior MSPT cash from 2021 where he finished in 20th. With his current stack sitting at second overall, he seems to have poised himself for a potentially deeper run.

Sitting behind him at 499,000 in chips is the heavily decorated Adam Friedman. Friedman also maintained a steady chip stack throughout the day and steadily climbed the leaderboard to always be jockeying for first spot. The mixed-game crusher is no stranger to MSPTs, having won a title of his own in 2019 for $121,405. His massive chip stack will set him on a path to chase his second title, much like another player from this flight.

MSPT champion Kyna England sat down in the field and immediately started amassing chips. She ended her day with 344,000, and has begun her 2023 MSPT season with a strong showing in the first main event. The 2021 MSPT player of the year is hoping to lock up some significant points in this first event of the season, to potentially run at being the first two time MSPT player of the year.

Other players' hopes for a second flight bag were dashed and those like Angela Jordison, Rich Alsup, Erick Lindgren, DJ Buckley, Camille Brown, Benjamin Moon, and defending champion Ken Baime, will have to look to tomorrow’s flight for a chance to win this tournament. The final flight of the event begins at 3 pm, with all eyes on the massive prize pool as the players make one final push to bag.

Be sure to check back in with us tomorrow at MSPT.com to see the final flight.

A player raised to 7,000 in middle position, which saw another player moved all in for 57,000 which saw Victor Kulish move all in while everyone else folded.

Opponent:

Victor Kulish:

The board ran out with no help to the ace-queen and Kulish won the hand. Play halted for the night with 38:45 left on the clock.

Action was picked up on the turn between Kyle Frey and Thomas Kornecook with a large pot brewing.

The board read and Frey had checked to Kornecook who had bet 45,000. Frey responded by moving all in for 160,000 which sent Kornecook into the tank. After some time he called and both players hands were turned up.

Kyle Frey:

Thomas Kornecook:

The river did not improve Frey’s flush draw and he exited the tournament just short of bagging while Kornecook took down a big pot.

Action was picked up on the flop in a hand between Justin Lynch in the cutoff and an opponent on the button.

With a board reading , Lynch bet 10,000, which saw his opponent raise to 35,000. Lynch responded by moving all in for 93,000 and his opponent called.

Justin Lynch:

Opponent:

The board ran out and the pocket nines held up as the best hand, fading the flush draw and overcard.

A player moved all in for his last 20,000 in early position and Adam Friedman isolated from the small blind with no other callers.

Opponent:

Adam Friedman:

The board ran out and Friedman continued to amass chips as he neared the 400,000 mark.

Massoud Eskandari raised to 5,000 from first position and action folded around to Louis Gabbara in the big blind who raised to 20,000. Eskandari called and both players took a flop heads up.

On the flop, Gabbara continued for 10,000 which Eskandari responded to by calling.

On the turn Gabbara continued for 20,000 and once more Eskandari called.

Gabbara checked the river where Eskandari moved all in for 98,500 which sent Gabbara into the tank. After about two minutes, Eskandari called the clock. As the time ticked down to the last few seconds Gabbara called and turned over for kings up, which was good against Eskandari’s for a missed gutshot. Eskandari exited the tournament area while Gabbara collected a massive pot.

Christian Mook raised to 5,000 on the button and in the small blind, Noam Fliegelman called with the big blind folding behind.

The flop rolled out which saw Fliegelman check to Mook who bet 6,000 and Fliegelman called.

The turn of saw action check to mook once more who bet 11,000. Fliegelman raised to 42,000 which Mook called after thinking about.

The river saw Fliegelman move all in for 103,000 which Mook called and the hands were turned over.

Christian Mook:

Noam Fliegelman:

Mook’s three jacks was no good against Fliegelman’s flopped set turned full house and Fliegelman took an overwhelming tournament chip lead.

Kyle Frey raised to 4,000 from the hijack and action folded to the small blind where Massoud Eskandari raised to 14,000. Action went back to Frey who moved all in for 52,000 and Eskandari called.

Kyle Frey:

Massoud Eskandari:

The board ran out and the river gave Frey two pair to beat Eskandari’s big slick and survive.

Action was picked up on the turn between a player in late position, and Adam Friedman on the button.

On a board reading , the late position player checked to Friedman who bet 13,500, which saw a quick call.

The river saw action check to Friedman once more who bet 28,000, sending his opponent into the tank. After some time he called and Friedman turned over for a king-high straight. His opponent mucked and Friedman crossed the 250,000 chip mark to take over the tournament lead.