Riverside Casino

Another 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 151 entries, bringing the two-day total to 220.

Of those 151 entries, only 17 players remained when chips went into bags, and Brett “Pops” Reichard (984,000) outdistanced the rest to bag this flight’s chip lead, which is also good enough for the Day 2 top stack thus far.

Reichard bagged nearly double that of Steve Dill, who put a healthy 493,000 into his bag, while Tom Estes (424,000), Benjamin O’Brien (362,000), and MSPT Champ Mike ONeill (361,000) 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 MSPT Hall of Famers Gerald Cunniff and Aaron Johnson among those to be eliminated before play concluded for the night, with chips flying across the remaining tables.

Several other familiar players will also be joining the aforementioned five. As Season 16 Player of the Year Jake Long (300,000), 2022 Riverside Champ Craig Trost (285,000), WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow (195,000), MSPT Champ Jeff Copeland (120,000), and two-time MSPT Champ Mo Nuwwarah (95,000) are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster, along with the eight to have already advanced from Day 1a.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1b were Alan Baker, Joan Sandoval, Darin Utley, Loren Rice, and MSPT Champ Steve Federspiel, to name a few.

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.).

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.

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

MSPT Season 17 Riverside Festival Remaining Schedule

Steve Roussel raised all-in from the hijack, and MSPT Champ Mike O’Neill looked him up from the cutoff.

Steve Roussel:
Mike O’Neill:

Roussel was behind, needing help, but the flop didn’t provide any.

The turn then left Roussel needing an ace to fall on the river to stay alive, but the paired the board and ended his night on the bubble.

Mike O’Neill - 361,000
Steve Roussel - 0

With 18 players remaining, the hand-for-hand process has begun, as only 17 will make it to Sunday’s Day 2.

Playing Day 1b of the MSPT Season 17 $1,110 Main Event at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort?

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MSPT Champ Jeff Copeland raised the button, only to have the small blind move their 61,000 stack into the middle, and Brett “Pops” Reichard smooth call from the big blind, prompting a fold from Copeland.

Opponent:
Brett “Pops” Reichard:

Reichard woke-up wth a made hand of aces, and didn’t have to sweat the runout to eliminate his opponent.

Brett “Pops” Reichard - 285,000

Photo: Gerald Cunniff

Adam Tolander raised from middle position, only to have Benjamin O’Brien fire out a 20,000 three-bet from the button, and MSPT Hall of Famer Gerald Cunniff four-bet jam 130,000 from the small blind.

Action then quickly folded back to O’Brien, who snap-called, and the two players tabled their hands.

Gerald Cunniff:
Benjamin O’Brien:

It was a bad situation for Cunniff, as O’Brien rolled over the superior made hand, and the runout ended his night.

Benjamin O’Brien - 430,000
Gerald Cunniff - 0

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Photo: Jake Wilding

A series of preflop raises led to all-in action between Jake Wilding from the button and Event #2 winner Chad Chizek from the big blind, with Wilding holding 64,000 effective.

Jake Wilding:
Chad Chizek:

Wilding was ahead with a pair of aces, but a lady appeared in the window on the flop, keeping things spicy.

The turn was a safe card for Wilding, and he looked set to score a double until the came crashing down on the river, giving Chizek trip queens to win the pot.

Chad Chizek - 270,000
Jake Wilding - 0