Playground

Photo: Kevin MacDonald

The first flight of the inaugural MSPT Canadian Poker Championship has come to its conclusion at Playground Casino in Montreal. A grand total of 119 entrants came out to play, chasing a piece of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, with only 14 players at the conclusion of the day finding their way to Day 2.

Leading the flight is poker tournament regular Kevin MacDonald, who sat with 996,000 after all was said and done. Locking up his first MSPT cash here at Playground, MacDonald found himself in some turbulent waters early in the day but battled back from his short stack to top the EOD chip counts. With 15 years of recorded live cashes totaling up to $1,143,523, the tournament regular looks to add a first MSPT title to his already decorated resume.

One pot saw Ryan Lelinowski (835,000) ascend near the top of the as the night winded down. He had turned jacks up against Alain Guay’s overpair of kings, and both players built the pot up to over 130 big blinds. After they held on the river, the Canadian poker player sat with the second biggest stack. Also locking up his first MSPT cash, Lelinowski is looking to add to his burgeoning resume and a potential best live cash.

Those sweating the MSPT Player of The Year Race will have eyes on 2-time MSPT champion Josh Reichard (406,000). The Wisconsin poker-pro came in late and spun up his starting stack into one of the biggest in the room by night’s end. Sitting in third place for the POY race currently, he looks to utilize the chips in the bag to narrow the gap in that race on Sunday.

It wasn’t rosy for everyone today as players like Jacob Long, John “Farmboy” Kurfman, and Stuart Taylor were all among those unable to bag. Each will look to exercise the re-entry option for the remaining three flights to play in the following days.

Play ended with 39:35 left in Level 15 with blinds at 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big blind ante. All 14 of the remaining players will be joining the other players at 11:00 AM on Sunday to play down to a winner.

That will conclude today’s coverage of the Canadian Poker Championship out here at Playground. Be sure to stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all of the updates up here in Canada.

Photo: Francis Collins

Francis Collins moved all in for 75,000 in early position and Vadym Sienichkin jammed from the small blind while everyone else folded.

Francis Collins:
Vadym Sienichkin:

The board ran out and the tens held up for Sienichkin while Collins became the last player eliminated from the tournament.

All of the final 14 players have secured a bag and advancement into Sunday, so be sure to stay tuned for a full recap and chip counts later to come.

• Vadym Sienichkin - 202,000 (33 bb)
• Francis Collins - Eliminated

Photo: Ryan Lelinowski

Action was picked up on the turn in a pot between Ryan Lelinowski in the big blind and Alain Guay in first position.

With a sizable having been built and a board reading , Lelinowski checked over to Guay who bet 50,000. Lelinowski raised to 150,000, prompting Guay to move all in for 336,000. Lelinowski asked for the count and he called to put his opponent at risk.

Alain Guay:
Ryan Lelinowski:

The river changed nothing and Lelinowski’s top two was good for the pot to scoop.

Players have now advanced to the hand for hand portion of the tournament, being just one player away from the bag.

• Ryan Lelinowski - 741,000 (148 bb)
• Alain Guay - Eliminated

Photo: Josh Reichard

Josh Reichard raised to 8,000 from early position and a player called in the big blind.

The flop rolled out and the big blind checked over to Reichard who bet 12,000. It was met with a raise to 41,000 and Reichard jammed for 75,000 effective which his opponent called.

Big Blind:
Josh Reichard:

No improvement was found for the combo draw on the runout of and the 2-time MSPT champion raked in the pot.

• Josh Reichard - 251,000 (62 bb)

The registration period of Day 1A of the MSPT Playground Main Event has come to a close.

A total of 119 entrants came out to play this flight, with at most 14 players advancing onto Day 2.

Stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all of the updates on the ground.

The players have gone on another 15-minute break.

Photo: Robert Pambianchi

Robert Collins raised to 7,000 from the cutoff and Jamie Thomson called on the button. In the small blind, Robert Pambianchi moved all in for 26,000 which prompted Jianxing Kuang to move all in for 102,000 and only Collins called.

Robert Pambianchi:
Jianxing Kuang:
Robert Collins:

The board ran out and the aces up was good for Pambianchi to take down the pot while Kuang was eliminated in the side pot by Collins.

• Robert Collins - 185,000 (61 bb)
• Robert Pambianchi - 81,000 (27 bb)
• Jianxing Kuang - Eliminated

Photo: Jamie Thomson

Adam Cader raised to 5,000 from under the gun and in late position, Bryan Robitaille-Fequet three-bet all in to the tune of 15,000. Both Francis Collins on the button and Jamie Thomson in the big blind called. Cader moved all in for 42,500 total and both Collins and Thomson called.

The flop rolled out and Thomson moved all in for 26,000 and Collins called.

Bryan Robitaille-Fequet:
Adam Cader:
Jamie Thomson:
Francis Collins:

Thomson held up for the side pots on the runout of to eliminate Cader while Robitaille-Fequet quadrupled up in the main pot.

• Jamie Thomson - 134,500 (53 bb)
• Bryan Robitaille-Fequet - 64,000 (26 bb)
• Francis Collins - 43,000 (17 bb)
• Adam Cader - Eliminated