Bally's Black Hawk Casino

Vinny Moscati Rides a Heater to Lead 12 Survivors After Day 1A

Day 1a of the MSPT Season 17 Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event at Bally's Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, has come to a close after seeing 102 entrants kick things off.

A hefty day of 14 levels was needed to hit the hard stop of 12 players being reached with 1:25 remaining in the final level at 3,000/5,000/5,000.

When chips finally went into bags, it was Vinny Moscati who led the pack by a wide margin after securing a double elimination of Nicholas Reznichek and Kent Biel to take a whopping lead with 1,068,000 into Day 2.

Chris Quackenbush’s pocket kings dropped Aaron Thomas’s snowmen to bag second in chips with 430,000, while Barb Visher eliminated Kelly Mahana on the bubble to end the night with 279,000.

Rounding out the top five stacks were Rosie Paules (272,000), and Jim Casement (212,000), while Thor Hansen (174,000), Roger Low (136,000), Craig Dubberstein (130,000), Hunter Cichy (110,000), Maziar Keshavarzi, (109,000), Stephen Driggers (86,000), Ryan Manning (51,000), all found a Day 2 birth.

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a included last January’s Main Event runner-up Zach Gutierrez, Sam McMaster, Regional Champ Danny Gonzales, WSOP bracelet winner Kevin Eyster, and Mike Wheeler, just to name a few.

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

Day 1b will kick off at Noon 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 11:00 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 at Bally's Casino!

MSPT Season 17 Bally’s Black Hawk Showdown Remaining Schedule

End Day 1A Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Vincent Moscati	1,068,000	960,000
Chris Quackenbush	430,000	400,000
Barb Visher	279,000	245,000
Rosie Paules	272,000	287,000
Jim Casement	212,000	145,000
Thor Hansen	174,000	170,000
Roger Low	136,000	123,000
Craig Dubberstein	130,000	170,000
Hunter Cichy	110,000	85,000
Maziar Keshavarzi	109,000	80,000
Stephen Driggers	86,000	111,000
Ryan Manning	51,000	75,000

Kelly Mahana Bubbles Day 1A

Kelly Mahana was all in for 62,000 after a flop from middle position, and Barb Visher looked him up from the big blind.

Kelly Mahana:
Barb Visher:

Mahana was at risk, needing help, but didn’t find it as the turn and river ended his night on the bubble.

Barb Visher - 279,000
Kelly Mahana - 0

Hand-for-Hand Begins

Event #8 winner Aaron Thomas’ pocket eights failed to crack Chris Quackenbush’s pocket kings, leaving 13 players remaining, meaning the hand-for-hand process has begun, as only 12 of them will be making Day 2.

Chris Quackenbush - 460,000
Aaron Thomas - 0

Bozeman Ousted by Hansen

Photo: Ralph Bozeman

Action on the table folded to Thor Hansen, who raised all-in from the button, and Event #3 winner Ralph Bozeman called off his shorter stack from the small blind.

Ralph Bozeman:
Thor Hansen:

Bozeman was ahead, holding an ace, until the flop fell, pairing Hansen’s lady.

The turn then left Bozeman needing an ace on the river to stay alive, but the followed to complete the board and ended his night.

Thor Hansen - 170,000
Ralph Bozeman - 0

Chip Collectors & Givers

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Vincent Moscati	960,000	910,000
Rosie Paules	287,000	130,000
Barb Visher	245,000	250,000
Aaron Thomas	200,000	58,000
Thor Hansen	170,000	89,000
Craig Dubberstein	170,000	142,000
Jim Casement	145,000	72,000
Roger Low	123,000	159,000
Kelly Mahana	116,000	44,000
Stephen Driggers	111,000	120,000
Danny Gonzales	105,000	82,000
Hunter Cichy	85,000	105,000
Maziar Keshavarzi	80,000	85,000
Ryan Manning	75,000	80,000
Chris Quackenbush	64,000	153,000
Nicholas Reznichek	0	275,000
Jeremy Standiford	0	65,000
Tan Hoang	0	37,500
John Holdren	0	81,000
Noomis Jones	0	145,000
Kevin Clyde	0	18,000
Kent Biel	0	253,000
Ralph Bozeman	0	100,000
Josh Edgell	0	30,000
Clayton Wilson	0	60,000

Moscati Turns the Biggest Hand of the Night, Closes in On a Milly

Photo: Vinny Moscati

Vinny Moscati opened for 9,000 from late position and was called by Kent Biel from the hijack, along with Nicholas Reznichek from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Moscati, who fired out a 9,000 continuation bet, and Biel called only to have Reznichek fire out a 40,000 check-raise.

Both Moscati and Biel called, bringing the turn.

Action was then checked once again to Moscati, who fired out a 25,000 bet, and Biel raised to 50,000 while Reznichek check-jammed for 200,000.

Moscati then called to put Reznichek at risk, and Biel called off his slightly shorter stack, revealing all three hands.

Kent Biel:
Nicholas Reznichek: xx
Vinny Moscati:

It was a money turn for Moscati, as he turned the full house to eliminate both players after the completed the board, securing the largest pot of the night.

Vinny Moscati - 910,000
Nicholas Reznichek - 0
Kent Biel - 0

Mahana Gains Some Traction After Waking Up with Two Cowboys

Photo: Kelly Mahana

Roger Low raised to 10,000 from middle position only to have Regional Champ Danny Gonzales three-bet jam for 97,000 from the button.

Action then folded to Kelly Mahana, who called off his 14,000 stack from the big blind, prompting a fold from Low, and the two hands were tabled.

Kelly Mahana:
Danny Gonzales:

Mahana woke up with a premium hand of kings in the big blind, and faded the runout to collect the pot.

Danny Gonzales - 83,000
Kelly Mahana - 44,000

Full Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Vincent Moscati	420,000	455,000
Nicholas Reznichek	275,000	200,000
Kent Biel	253,000	200,000
Barb Visher	250,000	132,000
Roger Low	159,000	100,000
Chris Quackenbush	153,000	143,000
Noomis Jones	145,000	130,000
Craig Dubberstein	142,000	55,000
Rosie Paules	130,000	93,000
Stephen Driggers	120,000	117,500
Hunter Cichy	105,000	57,000
Ralph Bozeman	100,000	80,000
Thor Hansen	89,000	30,000
Maziar Keshavarzi	85,000	93,000
Danny Gonzales	82,000	60,000
John Holdren	81,000	30,000
Ryan Manning	80,000	52,000
Jim Casement	72,000	163,000
Aaron Thomas	58,000	135,000
Kelly Mahana	44,000	30,000
Kevin Clyde	18,000	27,000
DJ Buckley	0	30,000

Day 1A Registration Closed

Level 13 has started, meaning registration for Day 1a of the MSPT Season 17 Showdown Series at Bally’s Casino is officially closed with 102 entrants tallied for the first flight.

The plan is to play until 11% of the field, rounded up (12 players), is reached, with the tournament clock reading 22 players remaining.