Grand Falls Casino

Luke Blindert leads after Day 1A of the $1,100 MSPT Grand Falls Main Event

Day 1A of the $1,100 MSPT Grand Falls Main Event attracted 81 entrants to the luxury venue and golf resort just south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. By the end of the night, the field was whittled down to just nine players with Luke Blindert and his stack of 332,000 leading the way.

Blindert got a lot of his chips in the last hand of the night when Eric Eelkema got his stack of 100K all in preflop with ace-queen. Blindert held ace-jack and a jack spiked on the river to claim a 200K pot. This isn’t Blindert’s first taste of success at the MSPT Grand Falls. Back in Season 4 he finished fourth in the Main Event for $12,687.

Others to bag big were Jon Midler (236,000), Erick Woehlhaff(228,500), and Mark Meeder (212,500). They were joined by the likes of James Curl (159,000), James Girouard (134,500), Todd Helsper (123,500), Travis Sweet (111,000), and Henry Terwee (80,000).

Among those to compete but fall on Friday were defending champ Ahmed Taleb, four-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Mark Fink, 2018 MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship Brian Soja, MSPT Season 8 Grand Falls Regional champ Travis Gant, PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah, current Kimo Sabe Mezcal MSPT Season 9 Player of the Year points leader Aaron Johnson, and Minnesota players Dave Rutledge, Alex Winter, and Tom & Sherry Hammers.

Those players will have another opportunity to try again if they so choose as Day 1B will kick off at 2 p.m. local time on Saturday. Before it, there will be a “last chance” $250 Turbo Satellite at 10 a.m. The top 20% of players in that satty will win a seat into the Main Event.

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you continued coverage of the MSPT Grand Falls!

End-of-Day 1A Chip Counts

Eric Eelkema Sends Michael Wallin to the Rail

Action folded to Michael Wallin on the button and he moved in for his last 27,500, which Eric Eelkema called from the big blind.

Wallin:
Eelkema:

Wallin had a kicker problem and it got worse when Eelkema paired his on the flop. The turn gave Wallin a flush draw but he missed it when the bricked on the river.

Eric Eelkema - 168,000 (42 bb)
Michael Wallin - Eliminated

Travis Sweet Weathers The Storm

Mark Bonnstetter raised to 8,500 from the small blind, and Travis Sweet made the call in the big blind.

Bonnstetter continued for 9,000 on a flop, and Sweet called.

Bonnstetter fired a second barrel for 12,000 on the turn, with Sweet calling again.

The river was met with a third and final barrel from Bonnstetter for 16,000, and Sweet flicked a single chip in the pot to call.

Bonnstetter could only muster for a bluff, and Sweet took down the pot when he tabled .

Travis Sweet - 150,000 (50 bb)
Mark Bonnstetter - 86,000 (29 bb)

Luke Blindert Eliminates Eric Tycz

Action folded to Luke Blindert in the small blind and he limped. Eric Tycz checked his option and the duo saw a flop of .

Blindert check-called a small bet and then checked the turn. Tycz moved all in for less than 20K and Blindert snap-called.

“You have the queen don’t you?” Tycz asked.

Blindert:
Tycz:

Tycz was drawing dead and headed for the exit after the was run out on the river.

Luke Blindert - 210,000 (70 bb)
Eric Tycz - Eliminated

Michael Wallin Scores A Late-Night Double Through Jon Midler

Michael Wallin (pictured, left) ripped his last 28,500 in from the hijack and found a caller in Jon Midler (pictured, right) from the cutoff. “I don’t like it,” Wallin said before the cards were tabled.

Wallin:
Midler:

“I like it a little more now,” Wallin said before the flop made him like it a lot, as he flopped top pair and took a huge lead in the hand. Midler found no three on the turn or river, and Wallin doubled up with his full house.

Jon Midler - 120,000 (40 bb)
Michael Wallin - 66,000 (22 bb)

Updated Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Erick Woehlhaff	245000	265000
Jon Midler	196000	200000
Luke Blindert	190000	170000
James Girouard	183500	190000
Mark Bonnstetter	120000	125000
James Park	109500	100000
Todd Helsper	101500	70000
Travis Sweet	86000	55000
Henry Terwee	83000	33000
Eric Eelkema	76500	78000
James Curl	68000	60000
Eric Tycz	45500	60000
Brian Havlik	41000	60000
Joshua Martin	33500	42000
Michael Wallin	30000	67000

Last Break Of The Night

The remaining fifteen players are off on a ten-minute break.

James Girouard Rivers Lucas Christoffer

Lucas Christoffer ripped his last 18,200 in from the button, and James Girouard called from the small blind. “I need some help,” Christoffer said before the cards were turned over.

Christoffer:
Girouard:

Christoffer was actually ahead with his king-high, and held on a flop and turn. As the title implied, however, the fell on the river, leaving Christoffer telling the table good luck before heading to the exit.

James Girouard - 190,000 (79 bb)
Lucas Christoffer - Busted

Denver Smith Gets Flipped Out By Erick Woehlhaff

Denver Smith ripped his last 64,100 from UTG, and Erick Woehlhaff shrugged and made the call from the big blind.

Smith:
Woehlhaff:

The classic flip went Woehlhaff’s way on the flop, but Woehlhaff picked up some outs with the on the turn giving him a flush draw. He bricked on the river, and Smith hit the rail while Woehlhaff takes over the chip lead.

Erick Woehlhaff - 265,000 (110 bb)
Denver Smith - Busted