Majestic Star Casino

The MSPT’s Return to Chicagoland kicked off Thursday with the first of two starting flights in the $1,100 buy-in, $200K GTD MSPT Majestic Star Casino. Day 1A brought 135 entries to Majestic Star, well on the way to crushing the guarantee, and after 15 levels of play only 18 remained with Fargo, North Dakota native Barry Schmiess and his stack of 343,000 in command. Schmiess boasts over $150,000 in career tournament earnings according to Hendon Mob, and a career-best cash of $53,247 in the 2017 WSOP Main Event. Schmiess will be looking for his third career MSPT cash.

More big stacks include Jason Mangold (303,000), Matt Weller (295,000), Chad Wiedenhoeft (256,000), and PokerNews Reporter Mo Nuwwarah (214,500). Some other players to find a bag include Bryan Skreens (179,000), former WPT Five Diamond champ Ravi Raghavan (129,500), Mike Shin (68,000), and Michael VanderWoude (50,000).

Some of those unfortunate enough to fall short of bagging include former MSPT Michigan State Poker champ Mike Shanahan, former MSPT Meskwaki champ Taylor Howard, ten-time WSOP Circuit Ring winner Josh Reichard, Season 10 MSPT Cleveland Poker Open final tablist John Mingus, two-time MSPT champ Andy Rubinberg, former MSPT Iowa State Poker champ Carter Myers, Gary Herstein, and Michigan’s Steve Anderson, who fell in one of the last hands of the night to Weller.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have one more chance to jump back in action. Day 1B will kick off at 3pm local time on Saturday, and the surviving players from each flight will then return at 11 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner. Some of those expected to try their luck at taking down an MSPT title include Colorado’s Ryan Dodson, former MSPT Majestic Star champ Ken Baime, and local legend Howard Hankin.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor of Majestic Star Casino!

The remaining field will play five more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a full recap.

Mo Nuwwarah raised to 7,000 from middle position, and Josh Hergott called in the lojack.

Nuwwarah bet 6,000 on a flop, and Hergott made the call.

On the turn, Nuwwarah checked, then quickly folded to a bet of 12,500 from Hergott.

Mo Nuwwarah - 180,000 (60 bb)
Josh Hergott - 120,000 (40 bb)

Barry Schmeiss opened from the hijack for 8,000. Action folded to the big blind, who shoved all-in for 58,000. Schmeiss who was already one of the top few chip leaders, went ahead and made the call.

Schmeiss:
Opponent:

When the flop fell, Schmeiss was looking to fade the king.

The did give Schmeiss’ opponent four more outs to make a straight.

The river wasn’t it and Schmeiss took the chip lead in the tournament.

Barry Schmeiss - 300,000 (100 bb)

A player raised to 8,000 from the lojack, and Harry Brockus called in the big blind.

Brockus checked dark before the flop fell, and the lojack checked behind.

On the turn, Brockus bet 10,000, and his opponent didn’t take long to make the call.

The completed the board on the river, and Brockus fired 20,000. His opponent frowned, then mucked, and Brockus took down the pot.

Harry Brockus - 150,000 (50 bb)

Matt Weller from UTG+1, open shoved all-in for his remaining 43,900. Action folded to the big blind who made the call.

Weller:
Opponent:

Weller, who desperately needed an ace to keep his tournament hopes alive, got just that and some more on the , and since he had the jack kicker that was actually a check mark for Weller. To add salt to the wound of Weller’s opponent, the dealer found the case on the river filling both players up, but giving Weller Aces full of Jacks for the double up.

Matt Weller - 91,600 (38 bb)

Mo Nuwwarah (pictured, left) limped in from the small blind, and Josh Hergott (pictured, right) checked his option in the big blind.

Nuwwarah checked a flop over to Hergott, who bet 2,500. Nuwwarah stuck in a call.

On the turn, Nuwwarah check-raised a bet of 3,500 from Hergott to 13,000 total. Hergott called.

Nuwwarah checked the river to Hergott, who tanked for a minute before checking behind. Nuwwarah showed for a pair of queens, and Hergott mucked.

Mo Nuwwarah - 140,000 (58 bb)
Josh Hergott - 85,000 (35 bb)

Michael VanderWoude raised to 5,400 from the hijack, and found a lone caller in Mike Shin in the big blind.

Both players checked a flop, and Shin checked the as well. VanderWoude tossed in a bet of 5,500, and Shin called after some thought.

Shin checked again after the fell on the river, and VanderWoude bet 12,000. Shin didn’t take long to toss his hand away, and VanderWoude took the pot.

Mike Shin - 100,000 (42 bb)
Michael VanderWoude - 90,000 (37.5 bb)

Mark Brazis open shoved all-in for around 32,000 from UTG+1, and only got a call from the small blind.

Brazis:
Opponent:

The gave Brazis the lead, but his opponent was still live with a Broadway draw and an overcard.

Brazis never looked back with the turn, and the river, and he doubled up.

Mark Brazis - 68,000 (28 bb)