FireKeepers Casino

Irbrahim Shoubah leads as 66 advance from Day 1B of the 2018 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

The second of three starting flights in the 2018 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino drew 462 runners, which along with 1A’s 299 brought the field up to 761 entries with Day 1C still to go.

After 16 levels of play, just 66 bagged chips on Day 1B with Irbrahim Shoubah (pictured) and his stack of 488,500 leading the pack. That is well ahead of Day 1A chip leader Isaac Kratchman, who made it through with 384,500. Others to bag big on 1B were Frank Lagodich (431,500), John Hoppes (350,000), 2017 MSPT Indiana State Poker Champion Satish Thakur (310,000), and Larry Baxter (294,500), who round out the top five.

They were joined by the likes of MSPT Season 3 Running Aces champ Rodger Johnson (231,000), John Simon (203,500), Aaron Steury (132,500), Millard Hale (122,000), Ben Keeline (120,500), 2017 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship runner-up Cy Church (102,000), and two-time MSPT champ Greg Himmelbrand (95,500).

Among those to try and fall on 1B were three-time MSPT champ Blake Bohn, former MSPT FireKeepers champion Mike Shanahan, two-time MSPT winner Jason Zarlenga, Minnesota’s Alex Winter, MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup, MSPT Season 5 POY Mike Deis, defending champ Chris Meyers, former Detroit Lions tight end Eric Stocz, MSPT Season 6 POY Mark Hodge, and poker pros Michal Lech, Nick Pupillo, Jeff Fielder, and Mike Shin.

Day 1C will kick off at Noon local time on Saturday, October 13. As usual, we’ll be there the entire time to capture all the action straight from the tournament floor, so be sure to join us then.

End-of-Day 1B Chip Counts

Two More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play two 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.

Scott Sinawi Eliminates Jeffery Castle

Scott Sinawi raised to 9,000 from early position and called when Jeffery Castle moved all in for roughly 70,000 from the big blind.

Sinawi:
Castle:

Castle had a kicker problem and it didn’t get resolved as the board ran out a lowly .

Scott Sinawi - 180,000 (45 bb)
Jeffery Castle - Busted

John Hoppes Fades A Flush Draw For A Big Double

With 60,000 already in the middle, Gary Nyborg bet 45,000 on a board, and John Hoppes responded with an all in shove for 133,500. Nyborg went into the tank for a while, then elected to make the call.

Nyborg:
Hoppes:

Hoppes had a set, but was looking to dodge a club to avoid busting just before bag and tag, and he did just that on the river.

John Hoppes - 330,000 (83 bb)
Gary Nyborg - 60,000 (15 bb)

Gheorghe Farima Busts Bernard Schrader

Bernard Schrader got his stack of 27,500 all in preflop and was racing for his tournament life against Gheorghe Farima.

Farima:
Schrader:

It was a flip but not after the flop came down to pair Farima. Neither the turn nor river helped Schrader and he headed for the exit.

Gheorghe Farima - 150,000 (50 bb)
Bernard Schrader - Busted

Thomas Tarantino Sends Former MSPT POY Pat Steele To The Reservoir Dogs

Thomas Tarantino raised to 12,500 from UTG+1, then called a three-bet shove to 38,500 from Pat Steele in the cutoff.

Tarantino:
Steele:

Steele needed a king to stay alive, but the left him high and dry.

Thomas Tarantino - 100,000 (33 bb)
Pat Steele - Busted

Late Night Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Satish Thakur	320000	250000
Frank Lagodich	290000	165000
Gregory Miller	290000	297500
Ben Keeline	245000	170000
Cy Church	170000	41800
Marc Steingold	150000	200000
Rodger Johnson	144000	34600
Jordan Miller	135000	102500
Cooper Wanty	135000	112500
Jose Rodriguez	122000	122000
Jake Baumgartner	106000	105000
Greg Himmelbrand	98000	100000
Ravi Raghavan	96000	90000
Scott Hammett	78000	78000
Blake Whittington	74500	64000
Nicholas Davidson	62000	45000
Ryan Dykhouse	42500	40000
DJ Buckley	35000	30000
Henry Zou	33000	96000

Larry Baxter Busts Eric Stocz

Former Detroit Lions tight end Eric Stocz moved all in for 55,000 from early position and Larry Baxter called from the cutoff. The button and blinds all folded and the hands were turned up.

Baxter:
Stocz:

Stocz’s best chance at surviving was to catch an ace but he was left wanting as the board ran out .

“Good luck,” Stocz offered before heading for the exit.

Larry Baxter - 170,000 (57 bb)
Eric Stocz - Busted

Ravi Raghavan on the Rise

A player opened for 6,000 and was met by a three-bet to 18,000 from the player to his direct left. WPT champ Ravi Raghavan then four-bet all in for 34,000 from the hijack and the original raiser jammed for roughly 60,000. The three-bettor folded what he claimed was pocket sixes.

Raghavan:
Opponent:

The flop would’ve given the three-bettor quads, but as it was Raghavan was on the ropes looking for an ace. He got one too when the dealer burned and turned the . The river was of no consequence and Raghavan more than doubled.

Ravi Raghavan - 90,000 (30 bb)