Sycuan Casino Resort

Ari Rostenberg just collected an early double-up against James Bates.

The two were heads-up on a completed board.

Bates held a set of nines from under the gun, while Rostenberg held for a set of tens and collected a double from the cutoff.

Ari Rostenberg - 200,000
James Bates - 10,000

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Day 1b of the MSPT Season 17 100 GRAND STACK Series $1,110 Main Event at Sycuan Casino Resort is underway, with registration and unlimited re-entry remaining open through the break after Level 12 (approximately 10:40 p.m.).

The MSPT Season 17 100 GRAND STACK Series at Sycuan Casino & Resort continues today with Day 1b of the $1,110 Main Event set to get underway at 2:00 p.m. local time, the second of three starting flights.

A strong showing is expected today after Day 1a drew 46 total entries, with six players advancing to Sunday's Day 2.

Last night's fireworks saw Giovanni Bucciero bag the chip lead after the first flight, putting a healthy stack of 1,200,000 into his bag to end the night, edging out Brad Miller (1,045,000) for the top stack, and another group of players will try to challenge that mark today.

Others to advance to Sunday’s Day 2 included John Vallance (890,000), Shun Wakita (695,000), Zachary McDiarmid (685,000), and Alexander Amela (135,000)

Day 1B Schedule

The second starting flight will be identical to the first, as players will be sitting down with 100,000 chips with blinds starting at 300/500/500.

Cards are scheduled to go in the air at 2:00 p.m. local time, and the players are expected to buckle up for a long day of poker as action is scheduled to play until 11% (rounded up) of the field is reached.

Levels will increase every 40 minutes throughout the tournament, with players receiving 10-minute breaks after completing every three levels or two hours of play.

Late registration is open until the beginning of Level 13 at approximately 10:40 p.m. local time, with unlimited re-entry available per flight should players wish to use it.

Those unable to find a bag at the end of today will have one final opportunity tomorrow, Saturday, October 3^rd, for Day 1c starting at noon.

This is a best-stack forward event: If a player qualifies for Day 2 more than once, they may only play the higher chip stack; any lower stack(s) will be removed from play at the start of Day 2 and receive the lowest Day 2 payout.

Player of the Year points will only be awarded for the higher stack. Players will only receive credit for a single MSPT Main Event cash finish.

Once the final level is completed, all remaining players will bag up for the night and will combine with Day 1a players for Day 2 action on Sunday, October 4^th at 11:00 a.m. local time.

Race for Player of the Year

The final stretch of Season 17 is here, and the race for Player of the Year has seen another shake-up at the top. For the majority of the season, WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow sat at the top of the standings, and after last weekend’s incredible run, he has found his way back atop the leaderboard.

Wilklow got off to a strong start, posting two back-to-back final table appearances to open the season, and he topped that by making three last weekend at Potawatomi, while securing his first Gold Card in Event #7.

Sitting closely behind Wilklow is one of, if not the most decorated players on the tour, Josh Reichard, who is having arguably the best year of his poker career. Not only did he post three top-3 finishes and secure his maiden bracelet at this summer’s WSOP, but he also returned to the MSPT to win his third career title at Riverside during the 2026 Iowa Poker State Championship.

With the final stretch approaching, Reichard will look to continue his hot streak and finish off the season strong to become the second player ever to win the Player of the Year award twice.

Sitting behind Reichard is two-time MSPT Champ Mike Estes, who clipped the 6k point mark after securing his fourth Gold Card, with the bulk of his points came after claiming his second State Championship at the Ameristar St. Charles earlier this year, while reigning Player of the Year Jake Long shot up the leaderboard after he secured his first MSPT title last month at the Ameristar Poker Open.

MSPT Season 17 Sycuan 100 GRAND STACK Series Remaining Schedule

Stay tuned for all updates on this event only on MSPTPoker.com.