Sycuan Casino Resort

Gabriel Leads The Way; Baime Looks For Third Title

After nearly 14 levels of full play, the 128 entrants of Day 1B came down to its final 15 players and bagged up for Sunday. With one more flight tomorrow, the players who did not find bags will have ample opportunity to play the and find a bag to carve out their place in MSPT history at Sycuan Resort and Casino.

Leading the way is Thomas Gabriel, who ended his day with 610,000. Gabriel began crushing the day early and never dropped out of the top five in chips as the day progressed. With over $600,000 in lifetime earnings, and scores that date back to 2008 on Hendon Mob, Gabriel’s massive stack looks to be a helpful tool to possibly propel him to take his first MSPT title.

Day 1B Chip Counts

Two-time MSPT champion Ken Baime also ended the day strong with 412,000. Baime won his second title at this very casino not too long ago, defeating Miles Barnum heads up for a prize of $82,512. Can Baime enter himself into the very select group of three-time champions? Others who found bags included Robert Fortuno (315,000), DJ Buckley (203,000), last iteration’s runner up Alexei Racila (136,000), and Brad Sailor (62,000). Each will return on Sunday to play down until a winner is crowned.

Play ended with 1:00 left in Level 14 at the end of the night. Players will return on Sunday to this level with 8:20 left on the clock unless another flight ends earlier than this. Players who didn’t bag today can return tomorrow at 3 pm for the beginning of the next flight. Stay tuned to MSPT.com for all updates regarding the Sycuan Main Event.

End Of Day Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Thomas Gabriel	610,000	281,000
Kenneth Baime	412,000	302,000
Robert Fortuno	315,000	253,000
George Kalfayan	301,000	281,000
Tyler Cormney	239,000	239,000
Lance Winsaft	212,000	181,000
DJ Buckley	203,000	111,000
Thomas Difrancesco	194,000	194,000
Josh Mok	147,000	147,000
Alexei Racila	136,000	74,500
Chase Norton	119,000	119,000
Joseph Canez	108,000	108,000
Bradford Lawn	96,000	96,000
Brad Sailor	62,000	89,000
L Maurice Thomas	48,000	48,000

Play Has Ended For The Night

15 players have ended the night as the field was rapidly brought down to 15 with 1:00 left in Level 14.

Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap.

Kalfayan Flops A Boat

An early position player raised to 8,000 which saw another player move all in for 42,000 from the cutoff and in the big blind, George Kalfayan isolated by moving all in for more which saw the initial raiser fold.

Opponent:

George Kalfayan:

No help was brought to the pocket fours and Kalfayan added to his large stack.

George Kalfayan - 322,000

Gabriel Takes One On The Flop

Thomas Gabriel raised to 8,000 in the small blind, which saw another player raise to 20,000 in the big blind which Gabriel called.

The flop came out and Gabriel checked to his opponent who continued for 18,000. Gabriel raised to 100,000 which saw his opponent toss his hand into the muck but flashed before it hit.

Thomas Gabriel - 430,000

Kalfayan Out Flips Pizarro

Action was picked up with cards on their backs with Tyler Pizzaro all in for their last 80,000 which George Kalfayan had called to put him at risk.

Tyler Pizzaro:

George Kalfayan:

The board ran out and Kalfayan took down a massive pot while Pizzaro exited the tournament.

George Kalfayan - 281,000

Tyler Pizzaro - Eliminated

Baime Building Bigger

Action was picked up on the flop between Kenneth Baime on the button and another player in the big blind.

With a board reading , Baime bet 18,000 which put his opponent all in and they called.

Opponent:

Kenneth Baime:

The board ran out and the king-kicker was good for the pot as Baime added more to his massive stack.

Kenneth Baime - 302,000

Registration Closed

The final levels of late registration have ended. The clock reads 127, which means that players will have to play until level 15, or until 15 players remain.

Najor Doubles Up

Action was recapped by the table as Dillon Najor was raking in a massive pot.

On a flop of , Najor got all of his 65,000 into the center and another player called.

Dillon Najor:

Opponent:

The board ran out and the pair of aces held for Najor to double through his opponent.

Dillon Najor - 165,000

Racila Knocks Out Favish

Terry Favish moved all in from the hijack for 19,000 and from the cutoff, Alexei Racila moved all in with the covering stack, which saw all players fold.

Terry Favish:

Alexei Racila:

The board ran out and Racila’s ace-king held up as the best hand while Favish exited the tournament area.

Alexei Racila - 74,000

Terry Favish - Eliminated