Ameristar East Chicago

Moreno Ascends To The Top In Day 1b Of The MSPT East Chicago

The $300,000 guarantee has been hit for The MSPT $1,110 Ameristar In East Chicago. With 283 entrants today, sky's the limit for what the overall prize pool can grow too, given that tomorrow is looking to be the biggest day of the event so far. Just () found their way to a bag at the end of the day and they will join the 23 from yesterday on Sunday at 11 am.

Leading the way is Robert Moreno who ended their day with 680,000. Moreno sat at the table towards the end of the day with the most chips, but as the day progressed, he raked in pot after pot to put him as the only player over 600,000 by days end. With $222,725 in lifetime earnings, the Illinois native has seen his best MSPT finish as a 19th place in Riverside over a year ago. With his massive bag from today, he looks to add a better finish as he hunts for his first MSPT title.

Rounding out the top three in chips were a pair of MSPT champions in the forms of Mark Sandness (576,000), and Rob Wazwaz (534,000). Both decorated MSPT veterans found themselves soaring high in the chip counts in the late stages of the night, with Wazwaz knocking out Angela Gambino at the end of the night to bag his massive stack. Only one other MSPT champion made it through the day as Rich Alsup (175,000) will join his fellow champions in their quest for a second title on Sunday. Poker power couple Frank Lagodich (377,000) and Abby Merk (262,000) found themselves both bagging health stacks at the end of the day, joining the likes of MSPT legend DJ Buckley (372,000), Chris Trombley (296,000), Angela Jordison (266,000), Maxx Holland (220,000), Anthony Sedlak (172,000), Ryan Julius (116,000), and Zinoviy Pelekh (101,000).

Not all saw favorable fortunes today, as players like MSPT champions Gerald Cuniff, Patrick Steele, Kou Vang, Kenneth Baime, and Aaron Johnson joined the likes of Mario Arribas, Brad Sailor, Steve Wazwaz, Sarah Stefan, Joe Batterman, WSOP bracelet winner Tom Koral and WPT champion Michael Del Vecchio. All of them will have one final chance tomorrow to find a bag to play for the newest MSPT title for the tour.

Play ended with 12:00 left in Level 15 in Day 1a and since play continued until close, this will be the time the players will return to on Sunday, unless the following flight ends earlier than this. The 36 players from this flight will join the 23 players from yesterday’s flight and tomorrow’s survivors at 11 am on Sunday.

Stay tuned to MSPT.com for all updates regarding The MSPT $1,110 Main Event at Ameristar Casino in East Chicago

End Of Day Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Robert Moreno	680,000	556,000
Mark Sandness	576,000	576,000
Rob WazWaz	534,000	92,000
Frank Lagodich	377,000	284,000
DJ Buckley	372,000	409,000
Brendan Murphy	353,000	353,000
Joseph Elpayaa	350,000	350,000
Kevin Andriamahefa	345,000	345,000
Gediminas Poska	331,000	187,000
Marvin Thompson	309,000	309,000
Chris Trombley	296,000	98,000
Angela Jordison	266,000	159,000
Abby Merk	262,000	187,000
Niel Mittelman	238,000	238,000
John Simon (IL)	238,000	0
Mike Parisi	236,000	236,000
Germandio Andoni	236,000	236,000
Maxx Holland	220,000	316,000
Michael Sabbia	218,000	218,000
Terrence Doyle	179,000	179,000
Richard Alsup	175,000	143,000
Anthony Sedlak	172,000	187,000
Bhanuchandar Sadineni	163,000	163,000
Chris Thiel	157,000	289,000
Brian Batt	148,000	148,000
Taylor Martin	138,000	138,000
Ryan Julius	116,000	179,000
Heather Schuchaskie	110,000	110,000
Zinoviy Pelekh	101,000	149,000
Steve Jungmann	99,000	99,000
Jennifer So	94,000	94,000
Roman Budzak	93,000	93,000
Dave Flowers	91,000	91,000
Kevin Brewer	84,000	249,000
Jeremy Danner	76,000	76,000
Greg Koutelidakis	60,000	184,000

Wazwaz Knocks Out Gambino In The Last Hand of The Night

Rob Wazwaz opened to 15,000 and was called by two players including Angela Gambino in the big blind.

On the flop of , action checked around to Wazwaz who bet 25,000 which only Gambino called.

The turn saw Gambino check once more to Wazwaz who bet 55,000 and Gambino called.

Gambino moved all in on the river for 93,000 and Wazwaz snap called.

Angela Gambino:
Rob Wazwaz:

The MSPT hall of famer took down the late night pot while Gambino exited the tournament area.

Rob Wazwaz - 534,000
Angela Gambino - Eliminated

Jordison Rivers Cuniff

Gerald Cuniff moved all in for 56,000 from the hijack and in the big blind Angela Jordison called.

Gerald Cuniff:
Angela Jordison:

The board ran out and the river king brought the pot to Jordison while the MSPT champion exited the tournament just shy of end of day.

Angela Jordison - 289,000
Gerald Cuniff - Eliminated

Koutelidakis Holds The Aces This Time

Greg Koutelidakis raised to 15,000 from early position which saw action fold to the button where another player moved all in for 65,000 which saw Koutelidakis call quickly.

Opponent:
Greg Koutelidakis:

The board ran out and the aces held up for Koutelidakis who has recovered from the big cooler he had against DJ Buckley.

Greg Koutelidakis - 209,000

Moreno Over 600k

Action was picked up with cards on their backs with George Janssen all in for his last 62,000 with Robert Moreno having called him with the covering stack.

George Janssen:
Robert Moreno:

The board ran out and the ace-king found top pair to secure the pot while Janssen exited the tournament.

Roberto Moreno - 610,000
George Janssen - Eliminated

Brewer Busts Dietz

George Dietz moved all in from the small blind for 29,000 which saw Kevin Brewer call in the big blind.

George Dietz:
Kevin Brewer:

The board ran out and the king-jack was unable to improve for the MSPT regular and Brewer’s chip stack grew significantly.

Kevin Brewer - 249,000
George Dietz - Eliminated

Alsup Sends Out Neering; Moon Exits

Raymond Neering called in the hijack and in the small blind Richard Alsup called while Ryan Julius checked his option.

The flop came out and action checked around to Neering who bet 16,000. Alsup raised to 32,000 which saw Julius fold and Neering called.

On the turn, Alsup moved all in for 19,000 effective and Neering called to put himself at risk.

Rich Alsup:
Raymond Neering:

The river did not change the hand and Alsup secured the pot while Neering exited the tournament.

At the same table shortly after, MSPT champion Chris Moon exited the tournament.

Rich Alsup - 145,000
Raymond Neering - Eliminated
Chris Moon - Eliminated

Lagodich Knocks Out Baime; Stefan Gone

Frank Lagodich raised to 8,000 in the cutoff and a player called on the button while in the big blind, MSPT champion Kenneth Baime moved all in for 121,000 which saw only Lagodich call while the other player face up folded

Kenneth Baime:
Frank Lagodich:

The board ran out and the board came out as a flush for Lagodich as he took down the pot while the two time MSPT champion exited the tournament.

At another table, Sarah Stefan was eliminated.

Frank Lagodich - 284,000
Kenneth Baime - Eliminated
Sarah Stefan - Eliminated

Assorted Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Maxx Holland	316,000	365,000
Chris Thiel	289,000	289,000
Angela Gambino	239,000	248,000
Gediminas Poska	187,000	104,000
Anthony Sedlak	187,000	68,000
Abby Merk	187,000	162,000
Ryan Julius	179,000	65,000
Angela Jordison	159,000	65,000
Frank Lagodich	151,000	89,500
Zinoviy Pelekh	149,000	39,000
Chris Trombley	98,000	21,400
Gerald Cunniff	96,000	46,000
George Dietz	75,000	58,000
Scott Sisler	73,000	151,000
Greg Koutelidakis	69,000	287,000
Kevin Brewer	68,000	68,000
Chris Moon	53,000	21,800
Kenneth Baime	51,000	68,300
John Simon (IL)	51,000	32,100
Richard Alsup	48,000	64,300
Raymond Neering	48,000	0
Sarah Stefan	47,000	71,000
Patrick Steele	0	136,000
Adam Saunders	0	47,300
Ben Luber	0	38,900
Mario Arribas	0	39,800
Nicola DiTrapani	0	39,800
Marquez Davis	0	89,000