Bally's Black Hawk Casino

Day 1a of the MSPT Season 17 Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event at Bally's Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, has come to a close after seeing 102 entrants kick things off.

A hefty day of 14 levels was needed to hit the hard stop of 12 players being reached with 1:25 remaining in the final level at 3,000/5,000/5,000.

When chips finally went into bags, it was Vinny Moscati who led the pack by a wide margin after securing a double elimination of Nicholas Reznichek and Kent Biel to take a whopping lead with 1,068,000 into Day 2.

Chris Quackenbush’s pocket kings dropped Aaron Thomas’s snowmen to bag second in chips with 430,000, while Barb Visher eliminated Kelly Mahana on the bubble to end the night with 279,000.

Rounding out the top five stacks were Rosie Paules (272,000), and Jim Casement (212,000), while Thor Hansen (174,000), Roger Low (136,000), Craig Dubberstein (130,000), Hunter Cichy (110,000), Maziar Keshavarzi, (109,000), Stephen Driggers (86,000), Ryan Manning (51,000), all found a Day 2 birth.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a included last January’s Main Event runner-up Zach Gutierrez, Sam McMaster, Regional Champ Danny Gonzales, WSOP bracelet winner Kevin Eyster, and Mike Wheeler, just to name a few.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have two more starting flights to jump back into action.

Day 1b will kick off at Noon local time on Friday, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at the same time on Saturday.

The surviving players from each flight will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor at Bally's Casino!

MSPT Season 17 Bally’s Black Hawk Showdown Remaining Schedule

Kelly Mahana was all in for 62,000 after a flop from middle position, and Barb Visher looked him up from the big blind.

Kelly Mahana:
Barb Visher:

Mahana was at risk, needing help, but didn’t find it as the turn and river ended his night on the bubble.

Barb Visher - 279,000
Kelly Mahana - 0

Event #8 winner Aaron Thomas’ pocket eights failed to crack Chris Quackenbush’s pocket kings, leaving 13 players remaining, meaning the hand-for-hand process has begun, as only 12 of them will be making Day 2.

Chris Quackenbush - 460,000
Aaron Thomas - 0

Photo: Ralph Bozeman

Action on the table folded to Thor Hansen, who raised all-in from the button, and Event #3 winner Ralph Bozeman called off his shorter stack from the small blind.

Ralph Bozeman:
Thor Hansen:

Bozeman was ahead, holding an ace, until the flop fell, pairing Hansen’s lady.

The turn then left Bozeman needing an ace on the river to stay alive, but the followed to complete the board and ended his night.

Thor Hansen - 170,000
Ralph Bozeman - 0

Photo: Vinny Moscati

Vinny Moscati opened for 9,000 from late position and was called by Kent Biel from the hijack, along with Nicholas Reznichek from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Moscati, who fired out a 9,000 continuation bet, and Biel called only to have Reznichek fire out a 40,000 check-raise.

Both Moscati and Biel called, bringing the turn.

Action was then checked once again to Moscati, who fired out a 25,000 bet, and Biel raised to 50,000 while Reznichek check-jammed for 200,000.

Moscati then called to put Reznichek at risk, and Biel called off his slightly shorter stack, revealing all three hands.

Kent Biel:
Nicholas Reznichek: xx
Vinny Moscati:

It was a money turn for Moscati, as he turned the full house to eliminate both players after the completed the board, securing the largest pot of the night.

Vinny Moscati - 910,000
Nicholas Reznichek - 0
Kent Biel - 0

Photo: Kelly Mahana

Roger Low raised to 10,000 from middle position only to have Regional Champ Danny Gonzales three-bet jam for 97,000 from the button.

Action then folded to Kelly Mahana, who called off his 14,000 stack from the big blind, prompting a fold from Low, and the two hands were tabled.

Kelly Mahana:
Danny Gonzales:

Mahana woke up with a premium hand of kings in the big blind, and faded the runout to collect the pot.

Danny Gonzales - 83,000
Kelly Mahana - 44,000

Level 13 has started, meaning registration for Day 1a of the MSPT Season 17 Showdown Series at Bally’s Casino is officially closed with 102 entrants tallied for the first flight.

The plan is to play until 11% of the field, rounded up (12 players), is reached, with the tournament clock reading 22 players remaining.