JACK Cleveland Casino

The first-ever MSPT stop in Ohio kicked off Thursday with the first of three starting flights in the $1,100 buy-in, $200K GTD Cleveland Poker Open. Day 1A attracted 111 entries to JACK Cleveland Casino, but after 16 levels of play only 15 remained with Canton, Ohio’s Frank Lagodich and his stack of 364,500 leading the way. Lagodich is seeking his first MSPT cash.

Others to bag healthy stacks were Lance Oliveri (300,000), Jerad Klick (235,500), and Brian Fyffe (211,500). They were joined by players like Joseph Michael (155,500), Mike Ross (103,500), Anthony Carbone (86,000), and Karen Dinunzio (85,500).

The field was a healthy mix of local players and MSPT regulars. Among those to try and fall on 1A were 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Champ Brett Blackwood, 2016 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Champ Andy Rubinberg, Milwaukee’s Michael Miller, and Michigan’s Alex Barill. Likewise, Ohio pro Nick Guagenti and local satellite winner Mike Kennedy failed to find a bag.

The good news is those players still have opportunities to jump back in 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 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 of the JACK Cleveland Casino.

Clayton Weber raised to 9,000 from UTG+1, and Brian Fyffe three-bet to 14,000. Weber confirmed the amount, then jammed for 104,500. Fyffe, who had Weber covered by just 2,000, made the call.

Fyffe:
Weber:

Fyffe had Weber pipped, and the flop didn’t give Weber any help. The fell on the turn, filling Fyffe up and making the on the river inconsequential. After the stacks were counted, Weber saw he was just barely covered, and made his leave just shy of a Day 2 bag here at the Cleveland Poker Open.

Weber came by the media desk to let us know he’d be firing another bullet on Saturday, so this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the affable Weber.

Brian Fyffe - 216,000 (54 bb)
Clayton Weber - Busted

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play five more hands before bagging and tagging on Day 1A. Stay tuned for a list of chip counts as well as a recap of the day’s action.

Steve Anderson raised to 6,500 from the cutoff and received three callers.

The dealer put out a flop and it checked around to Anderson, who continued for 8,000.

“Steve, I’m sorry. Do you have a lot behind you?” East Coast Rossy asked.

“About eighty-thousand,” came the reply.

Ross thought it over for another ten seconds before calling and the other two opponents folded.

Ross checked the on the turn and Anderson moved all in. Ross went into the tank for a minute before finally announcing, “you win” and folding.

Steve Anderson 130,000 (44 bb)

Clayton Weber raised to 6,500 from the lojack, and Richard Pitt Sr. three-bet to 17,500 from the button. Weber called.

Weber checked the flop over to Pitt, who simply jammed his last 70,000 in the middle. Weber quickly folded.

The very next hand, Jeff Weil raised to 7,500 from the hijack, and Pitt was waiting with another three-bet, this time for 15,000. Weir made the call.

The duo checked a board down, and Weil tabled for a pair of nines. Pitt had that beat, however, showing a flush with his .

“Bluff catcher,” he said with a smile as he raked in the pot.

Richard Pitt Sr. - 130,000 (43 bb)

A short-stacked Wayne Nowak moved all in for 6,000 from early position and Jerad Klick tried to isolate with a three-bet to 20,000 from middle position. When action reached Bruce “The Hammer” Swart in the small blind, he moved in over the top for roughly 70,000. Klick called.

Klick:
Swart:
Nowak:

Swart was on the better end of the cooler, but not after the flop delivered Klick a set. Neither the turn nor river changed a thing, and both Swart and Nowak hit the rail.

“Ace cracked,” lamented Swart. “Sometimes I really hate poker.”

Jerad Klick - 275,000 (92 bb)
Bruce Swart - Busted
Wayne Nowak - Busted

Players are off to their final ten-minute break of the night.