Riverside Casino

A lengthy day has wrapped up during Day 1b of the MSPT Season 17 $1,110 Main Event at Riverside Casino, as the second of three flights drew 225 entries to bring the two-day total thus far to 339, surpassing the $300K GTD with tomorrow’s final flight still to go.

Of those 225 entries, only 25 players remained when chips went into bags, and it was Brett Slezak (609,000), who outdistanced himself from the rest to bag this flight’s chip lead, which is also good enough for the Day 2 top stack thus far as well.

Following behind Slezak was three-time MSPT Champ Nick Barksdale, who secured the final elimination of the night to put 533,000 into his bag, while Joe Byriel (524,000), Abbas Pasha (484,000), and Jon Hanner (464,000) rounded out the top five stacks.

Much like Day 1a, the final levels of the night saw an onslaught of casualties, with players such as Season 16 Player of the Year Jacob Long, MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz, and fellow Hall of Famer Rich Alsup among those to be eliminated before play concluded for the night with chips flying all across the remaining tables.

Several other familiar players will also be joining the aforementioned five. As MSPT Hall of of Famer Kou Vang (430,000), Brett “Pops” Reichard (348,000), Season 16 Iowa Poker State Champion Mike Estes (169,000), 2022 Riverside Champ Craig Trost (121,000), and fellow MSPT Champ Joe Matheson (98,000) are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster, along with the 10 to have already advanced from Day 1a.

The final starting flight will get underway tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Late registration and re-entries will remain open through Level 12 (approximately 10:40 p.m.).

MSPT Season 17 Riverside Festival Remaining Schedule

Make sure to come back and tune in to see who makes it through the final flight to Day 2!

Photo: Nick Barksdale

Three-time MSPT Champ Nick Barksdale raised to 12,000 from the button, and the big blind defended to see a flop.

Action was checked to Barksdale, who put his opponent all-in for 21,000, and they called off their remaining stack.

Opponent:
Nick Barksdale:

Both players connected with the flop, with Barksdale holding bottom pair, but the dealer turned the , improving him to trips.

Barksdale then took the lead and the river secured him the elimination, ending play for the evening.

Nick Barksdale - 533,000

Photo: Cody Brinn

The hijack opened for 12,000, and Cody Brinn fired out a 33,000 three-bet from the cutoff.

Action folded to the small blind, who tossed out their 43,000 stack, and the initial raiser five-bet jammed over the top for 140,000.

Brinn then made the call to put both of his opponents at risk, and all three hands were tabled.

Small Blind:
Hijack:
Cody Brinn:

Brinn woke up with aces at the perfect time, but the flop came with a sweat as it gave the hijack a Broadway draw.

The dealer kept things sweaty after they turned the , but they followed with the on the river, securing Brinn the double elimination.

Cody Brinn - 330,000

So far, just 13 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and another group of 25 hopefuls will look to add their names to that list tonight.

The surviving players from the three starting flights will then return for Day 2 at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 22^nd, and will play until a winner is crowned.

Photo: Jeff Kenny

Three-time MSPT Champ Nick Barksdale opened for 10,000 from middle position and then called Jeff Kenny’s 54,000 three-bet jam from the cutoff.

Jeff Kenny:
Nick Barksdale:

Kenny found himself in a race, and the flop kept him in the lead.

The turn was a safe card for Kenny, and just as he was looking good to score a double, the dealer dropped the on the river, ending his night.

Nick Barksdale - 225,000
Jeff Kenny - 0

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Photo: Charlie Reichard

Action on the table folded to the small blind, who raised all-in, and Charlie Reichard called off his shorter 24,000 stack from the big blind.

Charlie Reichard:
Opponent:

Reichard was behind holding two live cards, and saw a pretty lady in the window on the flop to take the lead.

The dealer then turned the , keeping Reichard in the lead, and then dropped the on the river to secure his double-up.

Charlie Reichard - 54,000