Tropicana Evansville

Kurt Jewell Leads 25 Survivors From Day 1A of 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship

Day 1A of the 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship at Tropicana Evansville drew 147 entrants, which was more than last year’s 142 runners for the opening flight. That means the field is on pace to surpass last’s year field of 340 entrants.

After 14 levels of play, just 25 players remained with five-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Kurt Jewell and his stack of 350,500 leading the way. Others to bag big stacks were “Big” Al Hedin (222,000), Charles Payne (207,500), Donnie Phan (194,500), and three-time WSOP ring winner Bob Castoire (189,000).

Another player making it through was Charlie Dawson, who hails from Owensboro, Kentucky. Back in Season 5, Dawson topped a field of 225 entrants to win the first-ever MSPT Tropicana Evansville for $60,527, so he’s going for his second title here at Tropicana. He’ll return Sunday with a stack of 160,000.

Others who punched their ticket to Day 2 were Clinton Hubble (140,500), Jordan Miller (99,000), Henry Tran (83,000), and Chad Bowley (42,500).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to find a bag. Among those to fall on Day 1A were Kimo Sabe MSPT Mezcal Season 8 Player of the Year contender Keith Block, 2016 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Champ Andy Rubinberg, MSPT Season 4 POY Pat Steele, former MSPT Tropicana Evansville champ Mike O’Neill, and World Series of Poker bracelet winners Nick Jivkov and Adam Friedman.

All of those players and anyone new to the field will have the chance to play on Day 1B, which will kick off at 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday. As always, we’ll bring you updates straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to join us then.

End-of-Day 1A Chip Counts

Dawson Busts One

Charlie Dawson raised to 6,000 from early-position and was met with a shove for 23,000 from Terry Moore in middle-position. Dawson called and the hands were tabled.

Dawson:
Moore:

Moore got a little help on the flop, but the gave him a plethora of outs.

Unfortunately for him, the on the river bricked off, and Dawson claimed another knockout in the last minutes of the day.

Charlie Dawson- 155,000 (65 bb)
Terry Moore- Busted

Five More Hands

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 survivors with chip counts along with a recap of the day’s action.

John Mingus Wins A Flip

After a preflop raising war, John Mingus had his stack of 35,600 in the middle from the big blind and David Wilkens had called from the cutoff.

Mingus:
Wilkens:

It was a classic flip, and Wilkens survived the flop, but not the on the turn.

The river had to be a or to earn Wilkens a knockout, but an instead scored Mingus a double.

David Wilkens- 100,000 (50 bb)
John Mingus- 75,000 (38 bb)

Sevens True for Ray Litteken

Ray Litteken moved all in for 38,900 from middle position and Jordan Miller isolated by three-betting all in over the top from the small blind.

Litteken:
Miller:

The flop gave Miller more outs to go with his overs, but the dealer listed to Litteken’s plea for safe cards by putting out the turn and river.

Ray Litteken - 83,000 (42 bb)
Jordan Miller - 53,000 (27 bb)

Henry Tran Felts One

Dennis Hite limped in for 2,000 from middle position and Henry Tran then shoved for his last 37,000, convincing the blinds to fold.

Hite looked down at his 12,300 stack, gathered it up, said, “OK,” and pushed it all into the middle of the table.

Tran:
Hite:

Tran had the best of it with his king high, and although the flop gave him top pair, it also gave Hite an open-ended straight draw.

Tran dodged the draw with the turn, and again on the river, and was able to felt Hite and pick up some much needed chips.

Henry Tran- 64,000 (32 bb)
Dennis Hite- Busted

Wood Makes A Straight Late

Donald Siscel raised from the cutoff to 6,000, finding a lone caller in Gregory Wood out of the big blind.

The flop started with a check from Wood. Siscel bet another 6,000, and Wood called.

Wood took the lead on the turn, betting 12,700. Siscel stuck around with a call.

The fell on the river, and Wood bet 22,100, which was about two-thirds of his remaining stack. After a short stint in the tank, Siscel called.

Wood said “Straight,” and tabled for the wheel. Siscel mucked and Wood won a chunky pot late in Day 1A.

Gregory Wood- 95,000 (48 bb)
Donald Siscel- 65,000 (33 bb)

MSPT Venetian Champ Nadar Kakhmazov Wins WSOP Gold Bracelet

Earlier his summer, Russia’s Nadar Kakhmazov topped a field of 3,273 entrants to win the MSPT Venetian for $395,888 after a heads-up deal with Brayden Gazlay. The tournament not only proved to be one of the biggest no-limit hold’em events of the summer, but also the largest ever for both the MSPT and The Venetian.

Less than three weeks later, the 29-year-old Kakhmazov was at it again by winning a gold bracelet at the 2017 World Series of Poker (WSOP). It came when he bested a field of 574 players to win Event #36: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed for $580,338.

"I am very happy," Kakhmazov told WSOP officials after the win. "I have wanted to do this for three years, but every time I lose two big pots, deep in the tournament. I played some other events, but had not won much for prizes, but now it's good this year.”

Indeed, 2017 has proved to be a life-changing year for Kakhmazov. Prior to May, he had just $162,144 in tournament earnings. His heater began in May when he placed eighth in the PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event for $62,743, which gave him some cash to travel to Vegas. The rest, as they say, is history!

In his WSOP win, Kakhmazov began heads-up play with a 3:1 chip lead against Chris “Big Huni” Hunichen. In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 30 (50,000/100,000/15,000) on Hand #114 of the final table, Hunichen raised to 225,000 holding the Q♣2♣ and Kakhmazov called with the Q♥7♥.

When the flop came down 6♥10♥Q♦, Kakhmazov checked and Hunichen bet 225,000. Kakhmazov responded with a check-raise to 650,000, Hunichen called, and the dealer burned and turned the 10♣. Kakhmazov returned to checking and Hunichen bet 975,000. Kakhmazov then check-raised all in, and Hunichen asked for a count.

“Why you want count?” the PokerNews live updates quotes Kakhmazov as saying. “I have more than you. Want to know what I have? … If you fold and show, I will show you.”

Eventually Hunichen called off the 2.69 million he had behind and was looking for some help to chop the pot. Unfortunately for him, the 6♠ paired the board on the river and Kakhmazov’s seven kicker played.

Kakhmazov joins Nick Jivkov as the only player with both a MSPT title and WSOP gold bracelet. Jivkov’s win came back in 2014 when he topped a field of 426 entrants to take down the MSPT Meskwaki for $104,974. His bracelet came back in 2012 when he won Event #5: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em for $189,818.

Final Table Results
1 Nadar Kakhmazov (Moscow, Russia) $580,338
2 Chris Hunichen (Columbia, SC) $358,677
3 Kenny Hallaert (Hansbeke, Belgium) $238,855
4 Sam Soverel (West Palm Beach, FL) $162,257
5 Faraz Jaka (San Jose, CA) $112,484
6 Christian Rudolph (Germany) $79,611

Gulsen Triples Up

Kurt Jewell raised from UTG+1 to 3,500, getting a call from Aaron Gamino on the cutoff and Fevzi Gulsen in the big blind.

The started with a check from Gulsen, before Jewell continued for 6,400. Gamino called, then Gulsen shoved for an additional 29,900. Jewell thought for a moment, then declared “all-in” as well, for 38,000 effective.

Gamino counted his stack out, then put his head in his arms for a moment, looking pained about his decision. After a few more moments, he plunked his big chips in the pot and the hands were tabled.

Jewell:
Gulsen:
Gamino:

Jewell had the best of it, but was fading the flush draw of Gulsen and the ace or queen of Gamino. The on the turn was safe, but the on the river earned a fist pump from Gulsen as he spiked the nut flush. Jewell took the small side pot, and Gamino was eliminated.

Kurt Jewell- 155,000 (97 bb)
Fevzi Gulsen- 121,500 (76 bb)
Aaron Gamino- Busted