Sycuan Casino Resort

Jesus Bastardo Reaches the Milly Mark to Lead 16 Advancing Players After Day 1B

Almost full day of action was played to its conclusion at the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 15 Sycuan Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event as the hard stop of 16 players was reached with 26:35 remaining in Level 15.

The second of three flights drew 136 entries to bring the two-day total thus far to 250.

Of those 136 entries, only 16 players remained when chips went into bags with Jesus Bastardo breaching the million-barrier putting an exact 1,000,000 on his slip to end the night.

Bastardo has been hot this Showdown Series as he’s racked up two trophies already while being able to bag a fourth of the chips in play tonight, which was more than both Savo Mandrapa’s 447,000 stack, and Mike Foster’s 406,000 stack combined, finishing second and third respectively.

Rounding out the top five stacks of the day were Peter Cross (292,000), & Marco Agnollicci (277,000), while Brian Nordin (233,000), Ken Douglas (218,000), and MSPT champ Gianluca Pace (153,000) are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster along with the 13 to have already advanced from Day 1a.

The final starting flight will get underway tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. local time, and it will be the last chance for players to punch their ticket into Sunday's Day 2.

Late registration and re-entries will remain open through Level 12 (approximately 11:40 p.m.) Make sure to tune in to see who makes it through to Day 2.

MSPT Season 15 Sycuan Showdown Series Remaining Schedule

End Day 1B Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Jesus Bastardo	1,000,000	790,000
Savo Mandrapa	447,000	211,000
Michael Foster	406,000	346,000
Peter Cross	292,000	191,000
Marco Agnollicci	277,000	193,000
Brian Nordin	233,000	127,000
Ken Douglas	218,000	177,000
Steve Firestone	205,000	173,000
Max Davids	179,000	198,000
Ky Nguyen	156,000	165,000
Gianluca Pace	154,000	181,000
Nissar Quraishi	148,000	235,000
Straton Wilhelm	133,000	135,000
Richard Furfaro	90,000	59,000
Jacob Mendelsohn	77,000	118,000
Josh Lochman	66,000	30,000

Griener Dropped in Final Hand

Nissar Quraishi raised from the cutoff only to have Jared Griener three-bet jam for 51,000 from the small blind.

Action was on chip leader Jesus Bastardo whop called from the big blind, and Quraishi came along as well bringing about a flop.

Bastardo led out for 30,000 and Quraishi quickly released his hand.

Jared Griener:
Jesus Bastardo:

Griener didn’t like seeing he was dominated, and things got worse after the dealer turned the which left him drawing dead to the river, making him the final elimination of the night.

Jesus Bastardo - 1,000,000
Nissar Quraishi - 148,000
Jared Griener - 0

Jesus Bastardo Wins Second Trophy of the Series

Over the past week, the MSPT returned to San Deigo to kick off its 15th season and players have been duking it out at Sycuan Casino for its Showdown Series!

In Event #15: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack, a 125-runner field took to the felt and generated a $25,000 prize pool that was reserved for the top 15 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Mary Sarver (10th place - $513), Richard Lanes (12th place - $513), and Jessica Vierling (15th place - $425).

When the dust settled, it was a familiar face who rose to the occasion once again.

After securing his first trophy of the series a day prior, local Jesus Bastardo was able to climb his way back into the winner's circle, claiming the top prize and his second trophy of the series!

Day 1A Chip Counts

Poker Vet Matt Salsberg bagged a massive 647,000 stack in yesterday’s starting flight leading the 13 players who advanced from a 114-entry field, and players who make it through today will join that group on Sunday, January 14th at 11:00 a.m. for Day 2.

Day 1A Chip Counts

Nordin Trips Up Quraishi for Double, Eliminates Fortuno in the Process

Robert Fortuno open-jammed 17,000 from the hijack and was called by Nissar Quraishi from the cutoff before Brian Nordin went over the top for 82,000 from the button.

Action folded back to Quraishi who called, putting both his opponents at risk.

Robert Fortuno:
Brian Nordin:
Nissar Quraishi:

Fortuno was out in front holding a made hand of eights but fell behind after the flop gave Nordin trip tens.

The turn did pair Quraishi, but it wasn’t enough, as the completed the board on the river and secured Nordin his double-up while Fortuno made his exit from the Day 1b field.

Nissar Quraishi - 565,000
Brian Nordin - 178,000
Robert Fortuno - 0

Taijae Evans Wins Event #14

The MSPT returned to San Deigo to kick off its 15th season and players have been duking it out for the past week at Sycuan Casino for its Showdown Series!

In Event #14: $185 No-Limit Hold'em Epic Stack, 83 hopefuls took to the felt, and in the end, it was Taijae Evans who claimed the top spot for himself, along with the trophy!

Event #14 Results

*denotes chop

Late Night Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Nissar Quraishi	565,000	435,000
Jesus Bastardo	365,000	430,000
Savo Mandrapa	211,000	218,000
Max Davids	198,000	240,000
Marco Agnollicci	193,000	170,000
Peter Cross	191,000	270,000
Gianluca Pace	181,000	175,000
Ken Douglas	177,000	223,000
Steve Firestone	173,000	200,000
Vernon Barlow	166,000	94,000
Ky Nguyen	165,000	150,000
Michael Foster	153,000	233,000
Shawn Libersky	140,000	120,000
Straton Wilhelm	135,000	45,000
Jared Griener	120,000	130,000
Jacob Mendelsohn	118,000	70,000
Richard Furfaro	59,000	60,000
Kevin McBarron	53,000	83,000
Robert Fortuno	0	60,000

Davids Calls Correctly, Out Kicks Fortuno for Double

Robert Fortuno raised from middle position and Max Davids called from the small blind to see a flop.

Davids check-raised to 35,000 after Fortuno fired out a 18,000 continuation bet and was quickly faced with a three-bet jam.

The bet put Davis stack at risk and after a good amount of time in the tank, he called off his 118,000 stack.

Max Davids:
Robert Fortuno:

Davids made the correct call, as he saw he held the dominating kicker after both players flopped top pair, and e turn followed by the river secured his double-up.

Max Davids - 240,000
Robert Fortuno - 60,000

Tyler Pizarro & Alexander Remiticado Dominate Tag Team Event

The Mid States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to the Sycuan Casino & Resort and hosted a $300 NLH Tag Team Event during it's Showdown Series.

A total of 180 entries built a $20,700 prize pool that paid out to the top 9 teams.

Coming out the top team was Tyler Pizarro & Alexander Remiticado, who took home the MSPT trophies and $5,331!

Event #12 Results

*denotes chop