Bally's Black Hawk Casino

Adam Reifman Soars to the Top to Lead 19 Survivors After Day 1B

Day 1b of the MSPT Season 17 Bally's Black Hawk Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event has come to an end after seeing 178 entries take to the felt, taking the two-day total thus far to 280.

Of those 178 entries, only 19 players remained when chips went into bags, with Adam Reifman securing a double elimination in the final hand of the night to burst the bubble, ending the night with a healthy 745,000 chip stack to lead the bunch.

Kent Biel had his Day 1a come to an abrubt end last night but he came back with a vengence and was able to navigate his way to second in chips bagging 643,000, as he was the only other player to bag north of 600k while Tan Hoang (591,000), Event #8 winner Aaron Thomas (538,000), and last year’s Main Event Champ Faraz Jaka (414,000) rounded out the top five stacks.

Season 12 Player of the Year Kyna England was a late arrival but still ran up 321,000 stack while Brad Pausch (173,000), MSPT Champ Michael Reynolds (160,000), MSPT’s top casher DJ Buckley (153,000), and defending champ Antonio Vargas (146,000) are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster along with the 12 to have already advanced from Day 1a.

Unlike the aforementioned players, not everyone was as lucky as Gary Ewald, Naval Subbarayan, Jason Vanstrom, Shane Borrilo, and Jeremy "Woody" Wood, all took their shot on Day 1b, only to fall short of a Day 2 berth.

Those players, along with many others, will have one more opportunity with Day 1c starting tomorrow at noon 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 9:10 p.m.)

MSPT Season 17 Bally’s Black Hawk Showdown Remaining Schedule

Make sure to tune in to see who makes it through to Day 2.

End Day 1B Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Adam Reifman	745,000	380,000
Kent Biel	643,000	435,000
Tan Hoang	591,000	165,000
Aaron Thomas	538,000	200,000
Faraz Jaka	414,000	450,000
Kyna England	321,000	381,000
Sean Hoesing	260,000	160,000
Michael Rankins	257,000	195,000
Corey Dodd	234,000	60,000
Kevin Kurtz	223,000	86,000
Brad Pausch	173,000	130,000
Michael Reynolds	160,000	220,000
DJ Buckley	153,000	80,000
Antonio Vargas	146,000	180,000
Wayne Harvey	131,000	155,000
Robert Goldstein	106,000	110,000
Wilnor Lundi	99,000	60,000
Ronald Scott	93,000	361,000
Ryan Hays	63,000	30,000

Adam Reifman Sets Up Hanner & Shaw for Double Elimination to Burst the Bubble

Photo: Jon Hanner

There was three-way all-in action preflop between Adam Reifman from middle position, Jon Hanner from the small blind, and Justin Shaw from the big blind, with Reigman putting both players at risk.

Justin Shaw:
Jon Hanner:
Adam Reifman:

Reifman was ahead, holding a pair of aces, and improved after the flop gave him top set.

The turn then left Hanner and Shaw drawing dead to the river, ending play for the evening.

Adam Reifman - 745,000
Jon Hanner - 0
Justin Shaw - 0

Vargas Rivers Full House to Double Through Wahdan

Photo: Nader Wahdan

Nader Wahdan limped in under the gun and then called a 17,000 raise defending champ Antonio Vargas made from the hijack.

Once the flop hit the felt, Wahdan moved all-in, and Vargas called off his shorter 55,000 stack.

Antonio Vargas:
Nader Wahdan:

Vargas was ahead holding a pair of ladies, and they proved to be lucky as he faded the turn and river to improve to a full house and collect a much-needed double.

Nader Wahdan - 180,000
Antonio Vargas - 170,000

Day 1A Chip Counts

Yesterday’s starting flight saw 12 players advance from a 102-player field into Sunday’s Day 2, and another group of 20 hopefuls will be looking to join them after tonight's Day 1b flight.

Pierce Dropped by Jaka

Photo: Faraz Jaka

Action folded to MSPT Champ and bracelet winner Fraza Jaka, who raised to 16,000 from the cutoff before calling John Pierce’s 51,000 three-bet jam from the big blind.

John Pierce:
Fraza Jaka:

Pierce was ahead holding an ace, but the flop paired Jaka’s ten, giving him the lead.

The turn then gave both players straight draws, but the completed the board on the river, giving Jaka the king-high straight, eliminating Pierce from the Day 1b field.

Faraz Jaka - 450,000
John Pierce - 0

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE MSPT 2026 CANADIAN POKER CHAMPIONSHIP AT Playground Poker Club

: October 1-12, 2026

: $1,000,000 GTD Main Event

MSPT MAJOR (1.5X POY)

Jaka Rivers Flush for Survival

Photo: Faraz Jaka

MSPT champ and bracelet winner Faraz Jaka was all in preflop for 134,000 from the small blind and was called by Justin Shaw from middle position.

Faraz Jaka:
Justin Shaw:

It was a classic race, with an ace appearing in the window on the flop, to put Jaka behind, but it also gave him a diamond flush draw.

The turn didn’t bring any help for Jaka, but the that followed on the river completed his flush and secured his double-up.

Faraz Jaka - 346,000
Justin Shaw - 50,000

Late Night Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Kent Biel	435,000	244,000
Kyna England	381,000	335,000
Ronald Scott	361,000	315,000
Nader Wahdan	284,000	245,000
Antonio Vargas	260,000	35,000
Von Muse	245,000	100,000
Michael Reynolds	220,000	185,000
Jon Hanner	205,000	160,000
Aaron Thomas	200,000	195,000
Michael Rankins	195,000	245,000
Zach Gutierrez	193,000	245,000
Tan Hoang	165,000	131,000
Sean Hoesing	160,000	55,000
Wayne Harvey	155,000	70,000
Brad Pausch	130,000	134,000
Kevin Kurtz	86,000	64,000
DJ Buckley	80,000	130,000
Faraz Jaka	75,000	173,000
John Pierce	65,000	53,000
Wilnor Lundi	60,000	135,000
Corey Dodd	60,000	145,000
Dan Daugherty	0	75,000
Justin Lynch	0	158,000
Gregory McClain	0	145,000
David Levy (CO)	0	110,000
Umut Ozturk	0	95,000

Check Out Episode 11 of the MSPT Poker Podcast is Out!

WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway & MSPT Season 12 Player of the Year Kyna England discuss all the action from the New Years Poker Open, the Sycuan winners, their predictions for 2026, and so much more

Watch here