Golden Gates Casino

Jason Beasley Leads 34 Day 1C Survivors as MSPT Denver Poker Open Grows to 413 Total Entries

The third and final starting flights in the $1,100 MSPT Denver Poker Open at Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado drew 178 entrants, which along with Day 1B’s 147 runners and Day 1A’s 88 brought the total field up to 413 entries.

After 14 levels, Jason Beasley of Salem, Oregon emerged as the chip leader among the 34 Day 1C survivors with a stack of 315,500. That is behind of Day 1B leader Jay Daignault, who bagged 456,000, but ahead of Day 1A chip leader Terry Wheeler, who made it through on Thursday with 230,000.

Beasley is seeking his first MSPT cash, but he’s found success outside the tour with $159,358 in tournament earnings dating back to 2004. His biggest cash of $66,820 came way back in 2005 when he won the $500 Fall Poker Round Up Main Event in Pendleton.

Others who bagged big stacks were Baptiste Chavaillaz (241,500), Gerald Cunniff (268,500), Jason Su (220,500), and Nils Bardsley (199,500), who round out the top five.

They will be joined by the likes of Rick Lehman (161,000), Matt Fisher (95,500), Shane Faulk (65,500), 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship Brett Blackwood (59,000), Sammy Aweida (58,500), and MSPT Season 7 Golden Gates Regional Champ “Money” Mike Maruna (31,000).

Among those to fire and miss on Veterans Day were former Air Force intelligence analyst and SHRPO Ambassador Jessica Dawley, Las Vegas poker pro Tim West, Wisconsin’s Ty Veras, MSPT Season 8 Golden Gates Regional Champ Corey Zedo, and local favorites Patti O’Rourke-Perkovich and Tom Bouziden.

At 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, 76 players (20 from 1A, 23 from 1B, and 33 from 1C) will returned to action and play down to a winner. The payouts will be posted first thing in the morning, so be sure to join us tomorrow to see who leaves empty handed, and who walks away with some cash in the 2017 MSPT Denver Poker Open.

End-of-Day 1C Chip Counts

Four More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play four 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 and the Day 2 seat draw.

Steve Wilkie Sent Packing By 2016 MSPT Michigan St

Action folded to 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Champ Brett Blackwood in the small blind and he raised enough to put the pressure on Steve Wilkie, who was sitting with around 10K in the big. Wilkie called off and the cards were turned on their backs.

Wilkie:
Blackwood:

Wilkie had the best of it, and his hand held on both the flop and turn. Unfortunately for him, the spiked on the river to pair Blackwood.

Steve Wilkie - Busted

Gerald Cunniff Gets Some Value From Keith Wright

Nader Wahdan limped from the lojack, and Keith Wright raised to 8,000 from the hijack. Gerald Cunniff called from the button, and Wahdan came along as well.

The flop was checked by Wahdan, and Wright bet 18,000. Cunniff called, and Wahdan folded.

Wright checked the turn, and Cunniff took the opportunity to bet 30,000. Wright made a quick call.

The river went check-check, and Cunniff rolled over for top pair, top kicker. Wright mucked his hand.

“First hand I’ve played at this table!” Cunniff said, referencing the fact that he had been recently moved.

Gerald Cunniff - 220,000 (92 bb)
Keith Wright - 100,000 (42 bb)

A Late Night Double for Drew Schulz

After Nader Wahdan limped and Keith Wright did the same, MSPT Season 8 Golden Gates Regional Event runner-up Drew Schulz moved all in for 19,000 from the hijack.

Action folded back to Wahdan, and he folded. Wright then made the call and discovered the bad news.

Wright:
Schulz:

Schulz was way out in front, and his spot got even better when the flop paired his ace. The turn left Wright drawing dead, and he sent over some chips after the bricked on the river.

Keith Wright - 80,000 (33 bb)
Drew Schulz - 48,000 (20 bb)

A Lowly Deuce Gives Daniel Brewer the Double

Action folded to Eric Greenberg (pictured left) and he raised in the small blind. Daniel Brewer (right) responded by moving all in for 24,100 from the big and Greenberg snapped him off.

Greenberg:
Brewer:

The flop gave Greenberg top set, but Brewer held the only spade with his deuce. The turn gave him the said flush, and he doubled when the failed to pair the board on the river.

Daniel Brewer - 50,000 (25 bb)
Eric Greenberg - 7,000 (4 bb)

Brandon Byrne's Turn to Double Through Jordan Turoff

Action folded to Brandon Byrne in the cutoff and he raised to 5,000, which was popped to 13,500 by Jordan Turoff on the button. Both blinds folded, Byrne jammed for 36,900, and Turoff called.

Turoff:
Bryne:

It was another flip for the two players, and this time the proverbial coin came down in Bryne’s favor after the board ran out .

Brandon Byrne - 78,000
Jordan Turoff - 43,000

Gerald Cunniff Bets Two Streets Against Shane Faulk

Shane Faulk and Gerald Cunniff had built up a chunky 25,000 pot and had a board of showing. Faulk checked from the big blind over to Cunniff, from UTG, who fired 17,000 into the pot. Faulk made the call.

The fell on the turn, and Faulk checked again, Cunniff bet again, this time for 20,000. Faulk thought briefly, then flicked his hand away.

Cunniff turned over for queens-up as he raked in the pot.

Gerald Conniff - 200,000 (100 bb)
Shane Faulk - 120,000 (60 bb)

Jordan Turoff Doubles Through Brandon Byrne

Brandon Byrne (pictured left) opened for 5,000 from the cutoff only to have Jordan Turoff (right) three-bet all in for 39,400 from the button. Both blinds folded and Byrne thought for a bit before making the call.

Turoff:
Byrne:

It was a flip, but not after the flop came down to give Turoff a set. The turn have Byrne a gutshot wheel draw, but he missed it when the bricked on the river.

Ship the double to Turoff.

Jordan Turoff - 80,000 (40 bb)
Brandon Byrne - 36,000 (18 bb)