Playground

Photo: Kevin Javier

The biggest day yet of the MSPT Canadian Poker Championship has come to a close as 272 hopefuls entered throughout the course of the day. Just 30 lucky players were able to put chips in a bag and secure themselves a piece of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. All of today’s other contestants will have to wait until tomorrow’s start before they have another chance to bag.

Leading the way is Kevin Javier, who ended his day with 1,208,000. The only player between the two flights to put seven figures into the bag, Javier saw himself ascending high towards the end of the night as he eliminated Lily Lofty in a huge pot. After that, the Canadian poker player continued to pad his count and eventually secured his first ever MSPT cash. Sitting with the largest stack so far, he looks to set up a deep run and add to his $619,467 of live earnings.

Sitting behind him is Lyndon Webster who ended with 848,000. Initially from the other side of the pond, the Englishman now resides in Canada and has quite the start to his year poker-wise. After a career best score at the beginning of the year for $83,921, he now secures his first MSPT cash in a hunt to make a career-best year even better.

Others that found their way to bags included Adam Cader (738,000), Ghassan Menachi (441,000), and Christine Do (212,000). MSPT Champion John “Farmboy” Kurfman (176,000) made it through today and will be celebrating his day off as he looks to add a second main event title to his resume.

Fortune did not smile on everyone today. Players like Anne Bui, Jikai Zhang, Stuart Taylor, Eun Park, and Bradley Smith were unable to put chips in a bag and will leave their hopes resting on tomorrow’s flight.

Around the tenth level of play, current MSPT POY leader and two-time defending POY champion Umut Ozturk came into Montreal along with all-time MSPT cashing leader DJ Buckley, who also has a shot at the Season 16 POY. Despite their efforts, neither of them were able to put chips in a bag and will be off to play tomorrow’s day. Some heavy implications with tomorrow’s flight as both Josh Reichard and Jacob Long have bagged this already and will be looking to narrow the gap between themselves and Ozturk on the leaderboard.

Play ended in Level 17, meaning that players will return to the end point of Wednesday on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Wednesday ended with 39:35 in Level 15 with blinds at 3,000/6,000, with a 6,000 big blind ante and is the point in the tournaments that the clock will reset to unless either of the following two flights end earlier.

That will conclude today’s coverage of Day 1C of the Canadian Poker Championship, stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all of the exciting updates on the ground!

Photo: Alexandru Baron

Alexandru Baron moved all in for 51,000 in the cutoff and on the button, Kyle Zechner called.

Alexandru Baron:
Kyle Zechner:

The board ran out j and the rivered set was good for the pot to go to Zechner while the surrounding tables erupted into cheers.

Baron became the 31st place finisher while the remaining 30 all secured themselves pathway into Day 2.

Stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for a full recap and chip counts later to come.

• Kyle Zechner - 605,000 (60 bb)
• Alexandru Baron - Eliminated

Photo: Adam Cader

A player raised to 20,000 in the hijack which saw Adam Cader in the cutoff and another player call in the big blind.

Everyone checked through on the flop of to the turn where action checked around to Cader who bet 35,000. The big blind raised to 80,000 and only Cader called.

On the river , the big blind bet 45,000 and Cader responded by moving all in for 195,000 effective. The big blind went into the tank until for over a minute before deciding to call.

Big blind:
Adam Cader:

The river brought a straight to Cader who took one player out while the hand for hand reached the stone bubble.

• Adam Cader - 612,000 (61 bb)

The players have gone to the hand-for-hand two away from the money.

Only two players stand between the bags at the end of the night.

Photo: Kyle Zechner

Kyle Zechner raised to 20,000 on the button and in the small blind, another player moved all in for 75,000 which saw Zechner call.

Small Blind:
Kyle Zechner:

A in the window was followed by a runout of to leave Zechner with the best hand and another player fell in the tournament’s quest to reach the money.

• Kyle Zechner - 390,000 (48 bb)

The players have gone on a 15-minute break.

Photo: Ryan Teixeira

Action was picked up with cards on their backs with a player all in and at risk for 75,000 up against Ryan Teixeira.

Opponent:
Ryan Teixeira:

The board ran out and the set of sevens was good for Teixeira to take down the pot.

• Ryan Teixeira - 235,000 (39 bb)

Photo: Zizhu Zhao

Zizhu Zhao moved all in for 73,000 in late position and a player in the hijack called.

Zizhu Zhao:
Hijack:

The board ran out and the jacks up were good for Zhao to survive as the Day nears its end.

• Zizhu Zhao - 161,000 (26 bb)