After 15 levels of play, the first day of The $1,110 United States Poker Championship presented by MSPT at Sycuan Casino and Resort has come to an end. A total of 186 players came out to this flight, leaving just 22 remaining at day's end. This brings the total number of entrants to 404 players, securing 45 players a minimum of $2,147, while first place will take home a prize worth $85,884.
Leading the way is television writer and World Poker Tour champion Matt Salsberg, who ended his day with 584,000. Salsberg has played poker for many years and his experience on the felt was an asset to him on the felt today as he raked in many significant pots throughout the day. With $2,861,713 in lifetime earnings, he looks to secure his first MSPT championship with a stack good for a top five stack.
Top Ten Day 1c Chip Counts
| Place |
Name |
Chip Count |
| 1 |
Matt Salsberg |
584,000 |
| 2 |
Dillon Najor |
485,000 |
| 3 |
Cefrino Fajardo |
483,000 |
| 4 |
Robert Fortuno |
459,000 |
| 5 |
Jared Griener |
386,000 |
| 6 |
Umut Ozturk |
341,000 |
| 7 |
Anthony Bland |
334,000 |
| 8 |
Ryan Ruttter |
297,000 |
| 9 |
Jason Griffith |
292,000 |
| 10 |
Massoud Eskandari |
285,000 |
|
MSPT champion and current player of the year front runner Umut Ozturk also bagged a significant stack at 341,000. Ozturk registered a little bit later into the day, but managed to find success to bag a top five stack in his flight. With Ozturk holding a slim lead over second place Rob Wazwaz, a good finish here will push him up higher in the Player of the Year standings. DJ Buckley from the prior flight is the only player also in the running for player of the year in this tournament, but a win in this event will not have him catch Ozturk. If Ozturk wins this event, he will significantly extend his point lead.
Robert Fortuno (459,000), Jared Griener (386,000), Anthony Bland (334,000), Ryan Rutter (297,000), and WSOP bracelet winner Massoud Eskandari (285,000) all found sizable bags to go to Day 2 with. Among the casualties today were Camille Brown, Rich Lanes, Aditya Prayseto, Matthew Blagg, and poker celebrity Robbi Jade Lew. They will have to look to another MSPT to claim a title.
Play ended with 13:25 left in play in Level 14 on the first day and no flight finished earlier than the after that. Players will return on Sunday at 11 am with blinds coming back to 3,000/5,000 and a 5,000 big blind ante.
Stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all updates on The United States Poker Championship