The MSPT returned to Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego, California to host its second Showdown Series this season.
The 19-trophy event series was headlined the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event, and a total of 313 entries (65 from Day 1a; 112 from 1b; and 136 from Day 1c) were tallied, generating a $302,110 prize pool.
On Sunday, 37 players returned for Day 2 action, and after the dust settled, it was Noel Eicher who rose to the top securing his first MSPT title, along with his largest career score of $61,693!
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Eicher said after his win, “I’ve played a lot of these tournaments over the years, but this was my first final table, and it was a haul to make it to the finish line.”
Originally from Minnesota, Eicher took himself to the beautiful Westcoast but still makes a few trips back home each year to visit family and play some poker if possible.
“I love this tour,” Eicher stated after the win. “I typically only play when you guys come out here, but I sometimes try and plan my trips back home when there’re events at Running Aces so I can get some playing in as well.”
The win marks Eichers fourth Main Event cash and now has a career MSPT total of $83,869.
Day 2 Action
Players came into the final day on the money bubble as only 36 were slated to get paid.
Bottom stack Carl Smith was able to get off to a hot start, doubling with aces in one of the very first hands while Brad Miller became the unfortunate bubble boy after his pocket tens were set-up by Tim Acker’s pocket nines.
After the bubble burst, the march to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Alex Greenblatt (30th - $2,115), last lady standing Daria Ivantey (24th Place - $2,417), start of day chip leader Bret Eberhart (20th - $3,172), Carl Smith (14th Place - $4,078) and Jon “Cosmo” McGowan (10th Place - $5,106).
Final Table Action
The fast-paced action continued as only a few orbits had gone by before Nino Odisho became the first final table elimination, and Taylor Bell was quick to follow him to the payout desk in eight place.
Almost full level was needed before Brad Gafford was out flopped by Eicher, giving him a seventh place departure while Acker got a near back-to-back doubles before he was eliminated in sixth place for $13,293.
Arthur Boson was able to climb the payday ladder after starting the final table at the bottom of the counts he was outkicked by the lone MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk in fifth place for $17,220.
Four-handed action only lasted a few short hands after Lance Winsaft got his remining stack in the middle holding a made hand of nines and was called by Adrian Lopez holding a pair of sixes.
Unfortunately for Winsaft, Lopez turned a set, and he was unable to pull ahead as he was sent home in fourth place for $22,960.
With three players remaining, Lopez found himself at the bottom of the counts and was sent to the rail in a cooler after his rivered flush was second best to Eicher, taking home $31,117 for his third pace efforts.
The heads-up battle started with Eicher holding a commanding chip lead, but Ozturk was able to out-kick a double to take a slight chip lead. From that point, the two agreed upon a chop but would still duke it out for the coveted trophy.
With Ozturk holding the slight lead, he would continue to chip away at Eicher until everything got into the middle after both players flopped a ten.
Ozturk was ahead holding the superior kicker, but Eicher was saved on the river to take back a commanding chip advantage.
After the cooler, Ozturk got his remaining stack in the middle holding a suited ace but was unable to crack Eicher’s pair of tens as he finished runner-up for $50,693, bringing his career MSPT earnings to $389,134 while also putting him in second place in the Player of the Year Race as he looks to be the first player to earn a back-to-back title.
The MSPT will be making its way to JACK Cleveland Casino from May 7th - 12th to host another trophy series, and MSPT team will be on hand providing updates for the $500K GTD $1,110 Main Event so make sure to come back!