Sycuan Casino Resort

The MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) kicked off its 15th season with a 19-trophy event Showdown Series at the Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego, California.

The series was headlined the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event, and a total of 451 entries (113 from Day 1a; 136 from 1b; and 201 from Day 1c) were tallied, generating a $435,970 prize pool.

On Sunday, 53 players returned for Day 2 action, and after the dust settled, it was Savo Mandrapa who rose to the top securing his first MSPT title, along with his largest career score of $93,771.

MSPT Season 15 Sycuan Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 53 players already in the money so action kicked right into gear with Steve Westberg receiving a much-needed double to start the day while Josh Lachman wasn't as fortunate being the first elimination of the final day.

Action across the final tables continued with players dropping like wildfire as the march to the final table was on.

Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Abbas Alikhani (10th - $6,577), Jared Greiner (16th - $4,397), start of day chip leader Jesus Bastardo (24th Place - $3,394), and MSPT champ Derrick Yamada (25th Place - $2,958).

Final Table Action

Once players returned from their dinner break, they seemed to be in a food coma, as a full level of raises and folds occurred before 2021 Sycuan Regional champ Chris Smith became the first final table elimination.

Another full level was needed before Jessica Vierling hit the rail, but action sped up when Raad Nasouri followed her to the payout desk shortly after in seventh place.

Robby Mier would follow soon after his pocket ace failed to hold against Matt Salsberg’s ace-ten off suit.

With five players remaining, action would once again hit a wall before Salsberg’s stack eventually dwindled down to the shortest and he departed in fifth place for $23,579.

Four-handed action saw Randy Shamo sitting at the bottom of the chip counts and after flopping a pair of sevens, decided to risk his stack after Peter Cross jammed for more.

Unfortunately for Shamo, his flopped pair of sevens was second best to Cross’ flopped a top pair of aces. Shamo was unable to pull ahead as he was sent home in fourth place for $31,427.

Three-handed action started with Mandrapa and Cross holding majority of the chips in play while MSPT champ Gianluca Pace was waiting patiently to make his move.

When the time finally arrived, he was called by both his opponent which ended with Mandrapa sending both players home in one swoop as Pace took third for $57,623 while Cross finished runner-up for second place $57,623.

This finishes up our coverage of this event but Season 15 of the MSPT continues with its second stop in the beautiful Black Hawk, Colorado at Bally's Casino for its Showdown Series January 17th - 28th with live coverage of the $1,110 Main Event beginning on January 25th so make sure to came back and tune in!

Season 15 Player of the Year Race Standings

Gianluca Pace open-jammed 1,775,000 from the button and was called by both Peter Cross from the small blind and Savo Mandrapa from the big blind.

Once the flop hit the felt, Cross moved his 3,150,000 stack in the middle and was called by Mandrapa.

Gianluca Pace:
Peter Cross:
Savo Mandrapa:

Mandrapa was ahead holding an over pair and the turn followed by the river secured him the double elimination to win his first MSPT title.

Savo Mandrapa - 13,530,000
Peter Cross - Eliminated
Gianluca Pace - Eliminated

Over the past week, players have been inside the Sycuan Casino & Resort duking it out for the MSPT Showdown Series in San Diego, CA.

In Event #19: $135 No-Limit Hold'em Last Chance, Julie Peavey took down the final event of the series for the top prize and trophy!

Event #19 Results

For the first time this season, the Mid States Poker Tour is headed to JACK Cleveland Casino, January 31st - February 4th!

A series of $70 and $265 satellites will feed into the $1,110 buy-in MSPT246 Main Event which requires players to be 21+ to play.

The Main Event, which will offer a $500K GTD, will offer three starting flights with Day 1A beginning at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 1st.

Day 1B will follow at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, February 2nd, with the final starting flight beginning at the same time on Saturday, February 3rd.

The surviving players from all starting flights will return at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 4th, and play down until a winner is crowned.

Also, held that Sunday will be a $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 tournament beginning at 3:15 p.m.

In addition, the entire Main Event will be live reported in the MSPT blog.

Peter Cross open-jammed 3,575,000 from the small blind and Savo Mandrapa snap-called from the big blind.

Peter Cross:
Savo Mandrapa:

Cross was behind holding two live cards and nothing changed after the flop hit the felt.

The dealer the paired the board with the on the turn and things were looking good for Mandrapa until the came crashing down on the river securing Cross his double-up.

Peter Cross - 7,150,000
Savo Mandrapa - 3,200,000

The MSPT kicked off its 15th season in San Deigo, California and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Sycuan Casino for its Showdown Series!

In Event #18: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Black Chip Bounty, 101 bounty hunters took to the felt, and in the end, it was Charles Daniels who out dueled MSPT champ Steve Wilkie to collect every chip in play to secure the top prize, along with the trophy!

Event #18 Results

Peter Cross opened with a raise and Randy Shamo defended his big blind to see a flop.

Shamo checked to Cross only to call off his stack after Cross jammed for more.

Randy Shamo:
Peter Cross:

Both players connected with the flop, but Shamo was still trailing and neither the turn not the river improved his hand as he took a fourth-place exit for $31,427.

Peter Cross - 5,500,000
Randy Shamo - Eliminated

Matt Salsberg raised all in for 910,000 from the button and Savo Mandrapa looked him up from the big blind.

Matt Salsberg:
Savo Mandrapa:

Mandrapa was ahead and saw a ten in the window on the flop which gave Salsberg a gut shot straight draw.

Unfortunately for Salsberg, the board completed with running on the turn and river ending his Main Event in fifth place for $23,597.

Savo Mandrapa - 6,250,000
Matt Salsberg - Eliminated