JACK Cleveland Casino

Martun Minasyan Leads 19 Survivors After Day 1A

A non-stop day of action here at the JACK Cleveland Casino saw some brutal eliminations, classic battles and Ohio’s finest constantly put to the test.

Almost a full 15 levels were needed after a hard stop was reached with 13:15 remaining in the final level with Martun Minasyan claiming the Day 1a chip lead with a whopping 724,000, leading the 19 advancing players by a wide margin.

Minasyan was able to position himself in front of Brian Hall (575,000), Michael Michels (552,000), Mike Iacovone (389,000), and Jameson Selvaggio (358,000), who rounded out the top five stacks of the first flight.

Others able to find a Day 2 berth included DJ Swartz (185,000), MSPT champ Jon Lewis (108,000), Brad Sailor (101,000), and Ray Ezzie (93,000).

Among those to try and fall on 1a included Scott Sisler, Grigor Hakobyan, Penelope Banhidy, Andrew Shields, and February’s runner-up Nazim Temiz.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, have two more starting flights to jump back in the action.

Day 1b will kick off at 12:15 p.m. local time on Friday, while the third and final flight, Day 1c, will take place at the same time on Saturday.

The surviving players from each flight will then return at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor of the JACK Cleveland Casino!

MSPT Season 15 JACK Cleveland Remaining Schedule

End Day 1A Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Martun Minasyan	724,000	600,000
Brian Hall	575,000	200,000
Michael Michels	552,000	300,000
Mike Iacovone	389,000	350,000
Jameson Selvaggio	358,000	403,000
Fernando Zuliani	261,000	210,000
Chase Skonieczny	257,000	280,000
Tyler Orsini	255,000	145,000
Alex Nechiporuk	224,000	300,000
Daniel Swartz	185,000	131,000
Gregory Brewer	169,000	123,000
Daniel Wolf	157,000	170,000
Scott Hubert	155,000	265,000
Christian Jessen	138,000	120,000
Patrick Coughlin	136,000	200,000
Jonathan Lewis	108,000	66,000
Brad Sailor	101,000	99,000
Ray Ezzie	93,000	410,000
Andrew Torrico	90,000	200,000

Noel Dropped by Iacovone, Hard Stop Reached

Mike Iacovone raised to 12,000 from the button and then called MSPT champ Bobby Noel’s 102,000 three-bet jam from the big blind.

Bobby Noel:
Mike Iacovone:

Noel was ahead holding an ace and the flop paired his ace.

The turn fell paint, but it was the keeping Noel out in front and he was looking good until the dealer dropped the on the river making him the final elimination of the night with 13:15 remaining in the final level.

Mike Iacovone - 350,000
Bobby Noel - 0

MSPT Bringing Two Major Events to Las Vegas' Venetian

The MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) is heading back to The Venetian Las Vegas for not one, but two events, both with massive, guaranteed prize pools up for grabs.

Starting May 20th, The Venetian Las Vegas will hold its Deepstack Championship Poker Series, and the $14 million guaranteed series will host two Mid-States Poker Tour events opening weekend.

The MSPT live reporting team will be on-site to provide frequent updates from start to finish during both events, starting with the $1,100 Main Event, which runs May 25th - 28th.

That $500,000 guaranteed event will be followed by the $1,600 MSPT Main Event at Venetian June 3rd - 5th, and this one promises at least $750,000 in prize money to be awarded.

Each MSPT Main Event features two Day 1 starting flights beginning at 11:10 a.m.

Players can register for both sessions if they don't bag a stack on Day 1a, with each tournament playing down to a winner on Day 2.

Tournament structures are as follows: 25,000 starting chips and 40-minute blind levels in the $1,100 tournament and 30,000 starting chips with 40-minute blind levels in the $1,600 tournament.

MSPT Venetian winners this season include Sean Berman ($42,305 + Bounties), and Terry Fleischer ($98,101).

Who will be next to add their names to the list of aforementioned Poker Bowl champions?

The MSPT live reporting crew will be on hand to provide live updates as the answer to that question is determined.

Ezzie Finishes Off Bucceri

Action on the table folded to Ray Ezzie who raised to 10,000 from the button and then called Buck Bucceri’s 101,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

Buck Bucceri:
Ray Ezzie:

Bucceri was at risk needing help, but none came on the runout as he made his exit from the tournament field.

Ray Ezzie - 410,000
Buck Bucceri - 0

Slocum Out Kicks Bucceri for a Double

Stephen Slocum open-jammed 28,000 under the gun and action on the table folded around to Buck Bucceri who tossed out a call from the big blind.

Stephen Slocum:
Buck Bucceri:

Slocum liked seeing he had Bucceri dominated and for good reason, as the runout secured his double-up.

Buck Bucceri - 104,000
Stephen Slocum - 60,000

Late Night Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Martun Minasyan	600,000	400,000
Ray Ezzie	410,000	276,000
Jameson Selvaggio	280,000	200,000
Scott Hubert	265,000	208,000
Fernando Zuliani	210,000	220,000
Bobby Noel	203,000	263,000
Nick Lanzi	190,000	385,000
Daniel Swartz	131,000	27,000
Gregory Brewer	123,000	260,000
Chase Skonieczny	101,000	71,000
Brad Sailor	99,000	100,000
Jonathan Lewis	66,000	56,000
Satoshi Tanaka	65,000	41,000
Robert Varga	0	103,000
Odeh Wahden	0	110,000
James McCrillis	0	44,000
Buck Bucceri	0	230,000
Andrew Hoppenjans	0	81,000
Richard Ali	0	50,000

Bryant Madison Strolls Away Top Senior

The MSPT (Mid States Poker Tour) returned to JACK Cleveland Casino and hosted a $300 NLH Seniors Event that saw 255 entries build a $62,220 prize pool that paid out to the top 27 seniors.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Mark Buer (10th Place - $1,115), David Palmucci (13th Place - $970), Odel Wahdan (16th Place - $800), Keith Brandt (21st Place - $680), and Penelopy Benhidy (23rd Place - $570).

Coming out the top was Bryant Madison who took home the MSPT trophy and $13,159 top prize!

Final Table Results

*denotes chop

Hounshell Loses Race to Brewer

Chase Hounshell open-jammed 65,000 from the cutoff and Greg Brewer looked him up from the big blind.

Chase Hounshell:
Greg Brewer:

Hounshell was racing for his tournament life but wasn’t able to take the lead as the runout ended his night.

Greg Brewer - 260,000
Chase Hounshell - 0

Updated Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Martun Minasyan	400,000	355,000
Nick Lanzi	385,000	377,000
Ray Ezzie	276,000	270,000
Bobby Noel	263,000	241,000
Gregory Brewer	260,000	150,000
Buck Bucceri	230,000	183,000
Fernando Zuliani	220,000	226,000
Scott Hubert	208,000	215,000
Jameson Selvaggio	200,000	158,000
Odeh Wahden	110,000	128,000
Robert Varga	103,000	136,000
Brad Sailor	100,000	105,000
Andrew Hoppenjans	81,000	46,500
Chase Skonieczny	71,000	78,000
Jonathan Lewis	56,000	57,000
Richard Ali	50,000	89,000
James McCrillis	44,000	66,000
Satoshi Tanaka	41,000	200,000
Daniel Swartz	27,000	30,000
Paul Robinson	0	20,000
Frank Lagodich	0	75,000
Chase Hounshell	0	65,000