Sycuan Casino Resort

Salsberg Takes The Lead Of The Final Flight; Ozturk Finds Bag

After 15 levels of play, the first day of The $1,110 United States Poker Championship presented by MSPT at Sycuan Casino and Resort has come to an end. A total of 186 players came out to this flight, leaving just 22 remaining at day's end. This brings the total number of entrants to 404 players, securing 45 players a minimum of $2,147, while first place will take home a prize worth $85,884.

Leading the way is television writer and World Poker Tour champion Matt Salsberg, who ended his day with 584,000. Salsberg has played poker for many years and his experience on the felt was an asset to him on the felt today as he raked in many significant pots throughout the day. With $2,861,713 in lifetime earnings, he looks to secure his first MSPT championship with a stack good for a top five stack.

Top Ten Day 1c Chip Counts

MSPT champion and current player of the year front runner Umut Ozturk also bagged a significant stack at 341,000. Ozturk registered a little bit later into the day, but managed to find success to bag a top five stack in his flight. With Ozturk holding a slim lead over second place Rob Wazwaz, a good finish here will push him up higher in the Player of the Year standings. DJ Buckley from the prior flight is the only player also in the running for player of the year in this tournament, but a win in this event will not have him catch Ozturk. If Ozturk wins this event, he will significantly extend his point lead.

Robert Fortuno (459,000), Jared Griener (386,000), Anthony Bland (334,000), Ryan Rutter (297,000), and WSOP bracelet winner Massoud Eskandari (285,000) all found sizable bags to go to Day 2 with. Among the casualties today were Camille Brown, Rich Lanes, Aditya Prayseto, Matthew Blagg, and poker celebrity Robbi Jade Lew. They will have to look to another MSPT to claim a title.

Play ended with 13:25 left in play in Level 14 on the first day and no flight finished earlier than the after that. Players will return on Sunday at 11 am with blinds coming back to 3,000/5,000 and a 5,000 big blind ante.

Stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all updates on The United States Poker Championship

Day 2 Table Draw By Chip Counts

Day 2 Table Draw Alphabetical

Day 2 Seat Draw By Table

End Of Day Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Matt Salsberg	584,000	516,000
Dillon Najor	485,000	456,000
Cefrino Fajardo	483,000	483,000
Robert Fortuno	459,000	109,000
Jared Griener	386,000	309,000
Umut Ozturk	341,000	252,000
Anthony Bland	334,000	171,000
Ryan Rutter	297,000	312,000
Jason Griffith	292,000	292,000
Massoud Eskandari	285,000	261,000
Shun Wakita	257,000	219,000
Tony Hartmann	222,000	293,000
Riley Dieckhoft	190,000	190,000
Rip Fritzer	190,000	101,000
Vladimir Medvinsky	171,000	171,000
Francis Kim	123,000	123,000
Tara Dunn	102,000	102,000
Richard Sanchez-Davis	93,000	93,000
Bob Hoag (CA)	90,000	90,000
Reed Petroski	76,000	76,000
Jared Rogers	72,000	72,000
Keith Eoll	53,000	53,000

Griffith Knocks Out A Player To End The Day

A player moved all in for 65,000 in middle position and on the button, Jason Griffith moved all in on the button which saw all other players fold.

Opponent:
Jason Griffith:

The board ch and the aces held up for Griffith to leave the final 22 players in the flight.

Stay tuned to a full recap and seat draw later tonight.

Jason Griffith - 292,000

Najor Doubles Through Eskandari

Action was picked up on the turn in a three bet pot between Dillon Najor on the button and Massoud Eskandari in the hijack.

With a significant pot already built and a board reading , Eskandari checked over to Najor who moved all in for 127,000.

“I’ve got too many outs,” lamented Eskandari “I call.”

Dillon Najor:
Massoud Eskandari:

The river saw no change to the draws for Eskandari and Najor secured the double up.

Dillon Najor - 456,000
Massoud Eskandari - 261,000

Salsberg Growing High

Action was picked up on a flop in between Matt Salsberg in first position, another player in the hijack and Tom Hammers in the big blind.

The flop came out and Hammers moved all in for 33,000 which both Salsberg and the hijack called.

On the turn, Salbserg bet 40,000 and the hijack moved all in for 159,000 which sent Salsberg into the tank. After some thought he called.

Tom Hammers:
Matt Salsberg:
Opponent:

The river did not change anybody’s hand, leaving Salsberg with a pair of tens to take down the whole pot and rise to one of the tournament leaders.

Matt Salsberg - 418,000

Griener Locks Up The Hand On The Flop

A player moved all in for 19,000 from middle position, prompting Jared Griener to move all in from the cutoff and everyone else at the table folded.

Opponent:
Jared Griener:

The flop of which gave Griener four tens and left no chance for his opponent to catch up. The turn and river were mere formalities as the pot was pushed to Griener.

Jared Griener - 185,000

Eskandari Tops Latest Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Massoud Eskandari	512,000	183,000
Dillon Najor	365,000	291,000
Ryan Rutter	312,000	358,000
Tony Hartmann	293,000	251,000
Umut Ozturk	252,000	131,000
Matt Salsberg	233,000	219,000
Shun Wakita	219,000	71,000
Anthony Bland	171,000	139,000
Robert Fortuno	109,000	59,500
Rip Fritzer	101,000	119,000
Tom Hammers	49,000	68,000