Golden Gates Casino

Jay Daignault Bags Big Chip Lead as 23 Players Survive Day 1B of MSPT Denver Poker Open at Golden Gates Casino

The second of three starting flights in the $1,100 MSPT Denver Poker Open at Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado saw 147 runners take to the felt, which along with Day 1A’s 88 players brought the total field up to 235 entries with Saturday’s Day 1C still to go.

After 14 levels, Jay Daignault bagged the big stack among the 23 Day 1B survivors with a monster 456,000. That is nearly double that of 1A chip leader Terry Wheeler, who advanced last night with 230,000.

Daignault, who is seeking his first-ever MSPT cash, took over the chip lead in one of the last hands of the night when he woke up with aces and Nader Wahdan held kings. The rockets held and Daignault won the biggest pot of the tournament thus far.

The second-biggest stack from 1B was Carlos Tucker with 233,000. Others to bag healthy stacks were Greg Geller (224,500), Eric Maier (143,500), and MSPT Season 6 Golden Gates champ Kane Lai (113,500).

Among those to fire and miss on Day 1B were recent WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe Main Event winner Max Young, Las Vegas poker pro Tim West, fan favorite Kevin “Phwap” Boudreau, 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Champion Brett Blackwood, MSPT Season 3 Running Aces champ Rodger Johnson, World Poker Tour winner Ryan Van Sanford, and SHRPO Ambassador Jessica Dawley, who was playing in her first MSPT event outside of Las Vegas.

All of those players will have a chance to try again on Saturday with the Day 1C flight at Noon. That’ll be the last opportunity for players to compete, with registration and re-entries remaining open until the close of play.

End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts

Five More Hands

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

Kane Lai Busts Tim West

Poker pro Tim West re-entered the tournament here in the last level hoping to spin it up. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go according to plan.

West ended up shoving all in for 17,600 under the gun and action folded to MSPT Season 6 Golden Gates Champ Kane Lai, who called from the big blind.

Lai:
West:

West was dominated, and the flop made it worse as Lai made a set. The turn gave West hope with an open-ended straight draw, but the river was not what he needed to extend his tournament life.

Kane Lai - 130,000 (54 bb)
Tim West - Busted

Steven Abramowitz Rips It In Late

Steven Abramowitz opened to 6,000 from UTG, and found four callers; Steve Pavilanis in middle position, Stephen Patch on the cutoff, Norman Straughn on the button, and Ted Ramos in the big blind.

The flop saw Ramos check, and Abramowitz jam for his last 40,000. Everyone folded in pretty quick succession and Abramowitz drug the pot.

“Thank you very much!” He said with a grin as he raked in the pot.

Steven Abramowitz - 75,000 (31 bb)

Steve Patch Doubles Up Brad Gordon

Steve Patch raised to 6,200 from UTG+1, and was met with a three-bet shove to 18,900 from Brad Gordon in middle position. Action folded back to Patch, who made a quick call.

Patch:
Gordon:

Patch found no immediate help on the flop, but the opened up more outs with a gutshot straight draw. The bricked off on the river, however, and Patch shipped a small portion of his massive stack over to Gordon.

Steve Patch - 240,000 (120 bb)
Brad Gordon - 45,000 (22.5 bb)

Bryan Wienhoff vs. Greg Geller vs. Richard Seale

The preflop action escaped us, but we do know that Bryan Wienhoff, who had 19,100, and Greg Geller, who had 68,800, were all in and at risk against Richard Seale.

Seale:
Wienhoff:
Geller:

Geller had the best of it, and his cowboys held after the board ran out a clean .

Greg Geller - 160,000 (67 bb)
Richard Seale - 65,000 (27 bb)
Bryan Wienhoff - Busted

It's The Nader Wahdan Show!

Nader Wahdan opened the action to 4,500 from UTG+1, finding three callers; Bryan Johnson in middle position, Scott Horvath in the small blind, and Douglas Kaczmarek in the big blind.

The flop saw the blinds to check to Wahdan, who fired 7,000. Johnson called, and the blinds folded.

On the turn, Wahdan thought a bit before flicking two yellow 1k chips in the pot for a min-bet. The table had a little chuckle as Johnson made the call.

The river went check-check, and neither player seemed enthused to show. Johnson finally showed , and Wahdan showed why he was hesitant to table his hand; he turned over for a slightly higher two pair and the winner.

“Heater’s here...you guys should just surrender!” Wahdan said with a grin.

Nader Wahdan - 240,000 (120 bb)
Bryan Johnson - 100,000 (50 bb)

Bryan Wienhoff Falls to Richard Seale, Immediately Re-Enters

A short-stacked Bryan Wienhoff moved all in for 5,700 and Brad Gordon three-bet to 9,000. Richard Seale flatted from the hijack and the rest of the players folded.

When the flop came down , Gordon checked and then folded to a bet of 25,000 from Seale.

Seale:
Wienhoff:

Wienhoff was looking for a boxcar, but neither the turn nor river was it. With that, Wienhoff made his way to the registration desk to try again.

Richard Seale - 170,000 (85 bb)
Bryan Wienhoff - 20,000 (re-entry)

Ryan Van Sanford Going to Give It Another Go

Bryan Wienhoff raised to 4,500 and was met by an all-in three-bet to 11,000 by WPT champ Ryan Van Sanford. Action folded back to Wienhoff and he snap called.

Wienhoff:
Van Sanford:

Van Sanford was looking for an eight, but he was left wanting as the board ran out .

Van Sanford headed for the registration desk and immediately re-entered the tournament.

Bryan Wienhoff - 85,000
Ryan Van Sanford - 20,000 (re-entry)