The MSPT returned to the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri, and hosted a nine-trophy event series which was headlined by its $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event.
A total of 631 entries were tallied through three starting flights, generating a $612,070 prize pool and on Sunday, 67 players returned for Day 2 action in hopes of claiming the title.
After a long 11 hours of action, only one was able to claim the top spot and that was local hero Chris Audrain who walked away the victor to win the $125,626 top prize, along with his first MSPT title!
“It feels great”, Audrain said ecstatically after his victory, “The field was unbelievably tough this time I feel like and especially on Day 2, there were tons of crushers left which didn’t leave any weak spots, so it feels great to take this one down”.
Audrain came into the final day just under the chip average, and had to make a big fold early in the day with a made hand of tens which would have flopped a set to crack a pair of aces, but he was able to keep his composure after the hand which ultimately led to him making the precise decisions at the right time leading him to his first MSPT title.
The victory comes after a fifth place finish he took here at the beginning of the season, and he has now positioned himself in second place in the Player of the Year standings with nine events remaining on the schedule.
Day 2 Action
The final day came back with 67 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with MSPT champ Frank Covich getting off to a hot start after he dropped Micah Logan for the first elimination of the day.
After Logan’s elimination, players started catching doubles like they were outfielders for the Cardinals, as Season 15 top casher Brad Sailor found his first with a pair of aces, while inaugural Hollywood Casino winner Umut Ozturk cracked a pair of kings for his first double as well.
Unfortunately for the pair, both of their days ended shorter than the deep runs they were hoping as Ozturk made an exit in 58th place ($2,293) for his 12th cash of the season, while Sailor fell in 43rd place ($2,538) to bring his Season 15 earnings to $244,258.
The fast-paced action kept rolling, and players like MSPT Hall of Famer’s Aaron Johnson (34th Place - $2,844) & Rob WazWaz (31st Place - $2,488), Cedrric Trevino (24th Place - $4,558), Gabe Neighbors (21st Place - $5,415), two-time MSPT champ Bobby Noel (17th Place - $6,272), and three-time MSPT champ Carl Carodenuto (10th Place - $9,332) all fell by the wayside setting up the stacked final table.
Final Table action
Once the final table was set, Trey Bartlett sat at the bottom of the counts and got it in good holding the two best cards in poker only to have Paul Fehlig flop the case king to make a set of cowboys, making him the first final table elimination.
After that action hand, another occurred after MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard’s pair of kings were set up by Joe DeRousse’s pocket kings, sending him to the bottom of the chip counts.
With Reichard sitting at the bottom of the chip counts, MSPT champ Keith Heine wasn’t too far ahead of him and got in a race against Mark Lafata for his tournament life.
Unfortunately for Heine, he wasn’t able to take the lead and made his departure in seventh place, but it wasn’t all grim for the former champ as it marked 23rd Main Event cash as he only needs two more to make it into the coveted MSPT Hall of Fame.
After Heine’s race was over, Reichard was able to find a double before getting set-up by soon to be champ Audrain’s made hand of queens as he took a sixth place finish for $18,513.
The exit marked Reichard’s 47th Main Event cash bringing his total MSPT earnings to $480,859 and now has a sizable 975-point lead in the Icon standings.
Following Reichard to the payout desk was the last lady standing, Janelle Jacobson, who’s roller coaster of a day came to an end after she called the wrong side of a flip against DeRousse’s pair of deuces,
Play would then slow down for a few levels before Paul Fehlig’s pair of snowmen were melted in the heat by Audrain’s Big Slick as was able to top his eighth place finish from last year with a fifth place exit for $31,979.
With four players remining, the chips were shuffling around the table and Lafata was able to pick-up a few raised pots by shipping his short stack in the middle, which basically accounted for a double-up without ever showing a card.
After a level went by, Lafata got his remaining stack in the middle in a three-way pot after flopping a middle pair of tens and was snap-called by DeRousse which sent Audrian deep into the tank.
After some careful thought, Audrain said, “I think I’m ahead, but I’m going to fold”, and tossed away the winning hand as DeRousse rolled over an inferior top pair and kicker to send Lafata home in fourth place for $42,384.
Two-time MSPT champ Chris Meyers sat atop the final table chip counts for majority of the night but couldn’t get much going after three-handed action began.
Meyers then fell to the bottom of the counts and got it in good holding a dominating ace only to have DeRousse pull away after flopping a three-outer to go with his nut flush draw.
Meyers was unable to pull ahead on the turn and river, taking a third place finish for $57,074 which catapulted him into the top spot of the POY standings.
The heads-up battle started with DeRousse holding a slight chip advantage, but Audrian was able to take the top spot after a few short hands.
Once in the lead, Audrain brought up an ICM chop, but DeRousse quickly shot it down as he was ready to play for the title.
“I was a little surprised he turned down the offer so quick”, Audrian stated in his interview, “I did a little research on him and knew he wasn’t really a tournament player so I thought he would go for it but I’m glad he didn’t do it now”.
After DeRousse declined the deal, Audrian chipped away until he picked-up a pair of rockets in back-to-back hands to send DeRousse home with runner-up finish for $76,660 while Audrain secured his first MSPT trophy and career payday good for $125,626!
This wraps up our coverage of this event but Season 15 of the MSPT continues as we head to Grand Falls next (April 9th - 11th) and our reporting team will be on hand providing updates for the $200K GTD $1,110 Main Event so make sure to come back!