Grand Falls Casino

Rick Leonard Leads the Frist Batch of 13 Players After Day 1A

Day 1a of the MSPT Grand Falls $1,110 Main Event is in the books, with the first flight tallying 115 runners. Plenty of players made their way to Grand Falls Casino, filling the room with MSPT Champs, GOATs, and Hall of Famers.

With chips flying and players dropping throughout the day, play tightened in the later levels as only 11% of the field found a Day 2 berth, and that mark hit with 31:30 remaining in Level 14 (3,000/5,000/5,000).

Once players put pens to slips, it was Rick Leonard, who ended up leading the pack of 13 with a whopping 623,000, edging out Kevin Berthelsen (507,000) for the top stack.

MSPT Hall of Famer Gerald Cunniff held his own throughout the day, finishing with 399,000, while James Girouard (384,000) and “Wild” Bill Romer (319,000) rounded out the top five stacks.

Others that advanced included Matt Sundberg (260,000), Dennis Stevermer (253,000), Daryl Oppelt (183,000), two-time MSPT Champ Mo Nuwwarah (124,000), and MSPT Champ Joe Matheson (62,000).

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a were Shanda Ramm, Heidi Roggenkamp, Jon Maras, Justin Heilman, and MSPT Hall of Famer DQ Dan Hendrickson, to name a few.

Those who didn't bag will have one more flight to try, with that held tomorrow on All Hallows' Eve, Saturday, October 31^st at 2:00 p.m. local time.

This is a best-stack forward event: If a player qualifies for Day 2 more than once, they may only play the higher chip stack; any lower stack(s) will be removed from play at the start of Day 2 and receive the lowest Day 2 payout.

Player of the Year points will only be awarded for the higher stack. Players will only receive credit for a single MSPT Main Event cash finish.

As usual, the live reporting team will be back at it then, so be sure to come back and see who else adds their name to Sunday's Day 2 roster.

MSPT Season 17 Grand Falls Remaining Schedule

End Day 1A Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Richard Leonard	623,000	450,000
Kevin Berthelsen	507,000	420,000
Gerald Cunniff	399,000	290,000
James Girouard	384,000	240,000
Bill Romer	319,000	170,000
Matt Sundberg	260,000	200,000
Dennis Stevermer	253,000	285,000
Daryl Oppelt	183,000	135,500
Mo Nuwwarah	124,000	96,000
Ryan Remmes	118,000	100,000
Benjamin Beegle	117,000	100,000
Bruce Fagan	96,000	130,000
Joe Matheson	62,000	65,000

MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard Bubbles Day 1A

Kevin Berthelsen raised from the hijack, and MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard defended his big blind to see a flop.

Action was then checked to the turn, where Reichard check-jammed for 55,000 after Berthelsen fired out a bet and was called.

Josh Reichard:
Kevin Berthelsen:

Both players flopped top pair, but Reichard had kicker issues, and the river ended his night on the bubble.

Kevin Berthelsen - 507,000
Josh Reichard - 0

Recent Drop Outs; Hand-for-Hand Begins

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Qin Chen	0	50,000
Jacob Long	0	51,500
Brad Pausch	0	50,000
Rob WazWaz	0	150,000
Mike Wilklow	0	60,000

Take A Look Through the Day 1A Photo Gallery!

Playing Day 1a of the MSPT Season 17 $1,110 Main Event at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort?

Have family or friends in action?

Click here to browse our Photo Gallery tab and see if you can find their photo, courtesy of the event photographer, Jess Beck.

Brown Jams into Nuwwarah's Aces

Photo: Andre Brown

Andre Brown tossed out his 30,000 stack from under the gun and found action from two-time MSPT Champ Mo Nuwwarah from the small blind.

Andre Brown:
Mo Nuwwarah:

Brown was at risk needing help, and found some after the flop paired his king.

The turn then left Brown needing help on the river, but the completed the board and ended his night.

Mo Nuwwarah - 96,000
Andre Brown - 0

Stock Risers & Fallers

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Kevin Berthelsen	420,000	170,000
Gerald Cunniff	290,000	130,000
Dennis Stevermer	285,000	260,000
Bill Romer	170,000	128,000
Bruce Fagan	130,000	60,000
Joe Matheson	65,000	75,000
Brad Pausch	50,000	85,000
Qin Chen	50,000	128,500
Josh Reichard	30,000	30,000
Andre Brown	0	200,000
Justin Heilman	0	35,000
Aaron Johnson	0	55,000
Frank Kapaun	0	205,000
Brett Slezak	0	30,000

Day 1A Registration is Closed

Level 13 has started, meaning registration for Day 1a of the MSPT Season 16 $1,110 Main Event at Grand Casino is officially closed.

The first starting flight tallied 115 runners, and the plan is to play until 11% of the field, rounded up (13 players), is reached, with the tournament clock reading 22 players remaining.

Chip Assessments

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
James Girouard	240,000	155,000
Frank Kapaun	205,000	110,000
Gerald Cunniff	130,000	60,000
Bill Romer	128,000	197,000
Brad Pausch	85,000	45,000
Mike Wilklow	60,000	30,000
Justin Heilman	35,000	27,000
Brett Slezak	30,000	45,500
Jon Maras	0	61,500
Angela Jordison	0	30,000
Michael Estes (IA)	0	30,000

MSPT World Rankings!

If the seeding ended today, here’s what the 2026 MSPT World Ranking Top 64 Heads Up Championship bracket would look like

: Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack - Columbus, MN

Rounds 1-2: Thursday, Dec. 3 @ 12pm

Rounds 3-4: Friday, Dec. 4 @ 12pm

Semis & Finals: Saturday, Dec. 5 @ 12pm

*No Alternates - opponent doesn’t show is a bye

Full Winter Poker Classic Schedule

MSPT World Ranking Leaderboard