Running Aces Casino

Abraham Awaijane Edges Out Joe Listle to Lead the Final Batch of 23 Players into Day 2

Day 1c of the MSPT500 Series Main Event at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack was the largest of the three starting flights, attracting another 205 runners, and brought the total field tally up to 499 entries, shattering the $150k guarantee.

The massive field generated a $210,575 prize pool with a min-cash paying of $939, while the eventual winner will walk away with a $44,870 first-place prize, along with the MSPT500 Series Main Event Gold Card!

At the end of the third and final flight, just 23 players bagged and tagged, with Abraham Awaijane securing a double against John Mcnee in the final hand to end the night with 528,000, edging out Joe Listle (524,000) in the final flight.

Joseph Colombo had himself a rollercoaster of a day, which eventually ended up with him running up an impressive 487,000 stack, while Steven Veres (482,000) and Andrew Veiga(387,000) rounded out the top five stacks of the flight.

They were joined by Varkey James (378,000), WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow (356,000), Jeff Petronack (323,000), Eric Eelkema (145,000), and MSPT Champ Derek McMaster (75,000).

Among those to try and fall on Day 1b included Arlo Strozewski, Paul Carney, MSPT Champ Brian Landon, Matt Alexander, and Jason Bailey, just to name a few.

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 55 (13 from Day 1a, 19 from 1b, and 23 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, May 10^th, to play down to a winner.

The MSPT live reporting crew will be on the floor throughout the remainder of the tournament to provide updates, so keep it here to catch the action!

MSPT500 Series Remaining Schedule

End Day 1C Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Abraham Awaijane	528,000	100,000
Joe Listle	524,000	387,000
Joseph Colombo	487,000	400,000
Steven Veres	482,000	375,000
Andrew Veiga	387,000	387,000
Varkey James	378,000	310,000
Diego Salto	369,000	369,000
Mike Wilklow	356,000	315,000
Jeff Petronack	323,000	160,000
Carl Wallin	300,000	225,000
Steve W	240,000	160,000
Mario Hudson	238,000	260,000
Harry Behling	211,000	211,000
John Mcnee	185,000	240,000
Christopher Nelson (MN)	163,000	147,000
Randy Jacks	156,000	156,000
Alan Carlson	155,000	200,000
Nicholas Gauger	153,000	153,000
Eric Eelkema	148,000	173,000
Jacob Ranheim	109,000	100,000
Jon Wurden	93,000	100,000
Tyler Stanley	86,000	86,000
Derek McMaster	75,000	66,500

Coy Loses Flip to Bubble Day 1C

Ken Coy raised all-in for 140,000 from the cutoff and was called by Andrew Veiga from the button.

Ken Coy:
Andrew Veiga:

Coy was racing for his tournament life, with the flop changing nothing.

The turn then left Coy needing to spike the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his tournament on the bubble.

Andrew Veiga - 387,000
Ken Coy - Eliminated

Up & Down Battle

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Joe Listle	387,000	260,000
Steven Veres	375,000	105,000
Mike Wilklow	315,000	140,000
Varkey James	310,000	150,000
Mario Hudson	260,000	107,000
Harold Behling	220,000	100,000
Kenneth Coy	215,000	185,000
Alan Carlson	200,000	68,000
Eric Eelkema	173,000	145,000
Jessica Anderson	0	90,000
Andrew Johnson	0	45,000
Derek Crooks	0	38,000
Darcy Dalen	0	35,000
Bee (Nao) Yang	0	110,000
Rob WazWaz	0	48,000
Lee Rzentkowski	0	68,000
John Reading	0	125,000
Joe Matheson	0	70,000

McNee Flushes Rzentkowski for a Double

Photo: John McNee

There was all-in action after a flop between John McNee and two-time MSPT Champ Lee Rzentkowski, with McNee holding 119,000 effective.

John McNee:
Lee Rzentkowski:

McNee was behind holding staright and flush draws, with the turn not changing much, but the dealer followed with the on the river, securing his double through Rzentkowski.

John McNee - 255,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 70,000

James Rivers Ace to Crack Ozturk's Ladies

Photo: Umut Ozturk

There was all-in action preflop between Varkey James from under the gun and MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk from the hijack, with Ozturk holding the effective stack.

Umut Ozturk:
Varkey James:

Ozturk was racing for his tournament life, and the flop kept him in the lead.

The turn was a safe card for Ozturk, and just as he was looking good to score a double, the dealer dropped the on the river, ending his tournament.

Varkey James - 150,000
Umut Ozturk - Eliminated

Chip Collectors & Givers

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Joe Listle	260,000	108,000
John Mcnee	240,000	119,000
Carl Wallin	225,000	125,000
Steve W	160,000	130,000
Varkey James	150,000	140,000
Jessica Anderson	130,000	65,000
Bee (Nao) Yang	110,000	215,000
Mario Hudson	107,000	205,000
Lee Rzentkowski	70,000	155,000
Jeff Petronack	68,000	60,000
Alan Carlson	68,000	240,000
Derek McMaster	66,500	30,000
Gary Ewald	65,000	54,000
Andrew Johnson	45,000	143,500
Marc Karger	0	57,000
Leo Fussy	0	30,000
Basim Habib	0	7,000
Umut Ozturk	0	135,000
Vic Peppe	0	41,500

All Time Main Event Cashes

After notching his first-ever Main Event cash back in 2014, DJ Buckley has become one of the most consistent players on the tour, earning himself a record 86 Main Event cashes, and has started off the new Season by notching eight in the first 13 events.

With a full season remaining, Buckley will look to keep notching the cashes underneath his belt, as he will look to become the first player ever to earn 100 Main Event cashes and take his seat in the coveted MSPT Hall of Fame.

All-Time Main Event Cashes

Anderson Kicks One to the Curb

Jessica Anderson raised all-in from late position, and the hijack called off their slightly shorter stack.

Opponent:
Jessica Anderson:

Anderson rolled over a dominating hand, and the runout secured her the knockout.

Jessica Anderson - 65,000

Updated Chip Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Bee (Nao) Yang	215,000	100,000
Mario Hudson	205,000	280,000
Kenneth Coy	185,000	160,000
Lee Rzentkowski	155,000	106,500
Christopher Nelson (MN)	147,000	67,500
Eric Eelkema	145,000	170,000
Mike Wilklow	140,000	78,500
Umut Ozturk	135,000	30,000
John Reading	125,000	30,000
Jessica Anderson	65,000	58,500
Marc Karger	57,000	129,000
Gary Ewald	54,000	30,000
Rob WazWaz	48,000	111,000
Derek Crooks	38,000	110,000
Leo Fussy	30,000	77,500
Basim Habib	7,000	30,000
Bruce Fagan	0	57,800
Mark Alinder	0	50,000
Stahlien Khaikham	0	44,600
Darshan Pathak	0	30,000
Haroldo Perez	0	65,000