Sycuan Casino Resort

Nicole Lilomaiava Bags Overall Chip Lead After a Final 13 Players Survive Day 1C

Day 1c of the MSPT Season 17 Sycuan 100 GRAND STACK Series $1,110 Main Event is in the books after drawing 113 entries in the final outing, which was the biggest field of all three starting flights, bringing the overall field up to 220.

At the end of the third and final flight, just 13 players bagged and tagged, with Nicole Lilomaiava securing a double elimination to end the final flight with a whopping 2,020,000 stack, good enough for the overall chip lead.

The final level of the evening saw an onslaught of casualties, which included Adrian Lopez, Jon Larkin and Steve Westberg.

Following behind Lilomaiava was Event #3 winner Tim Acker, who put 1,530,000 in his bag to end the night, while Daryn Brush (1,165,000), Ari Rostenberg (945,000), and Armando Mesina (985,000) rounded out the top five stacks of the flight.

They were joined by Matt Salsberg (870,000), Brandon Lee (865,000), Luke Richard (670,000), John Dollinger(525,000), and MSPT champ Derrick Yamada (415,000).

Among those to try and fall on Day 1c included Anastasiia Knapp, Eddie Pilotin, Tara Dunn, Andrew Merrick, and Mary Anne Madruga, just to name a few.

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 26 (6 from Day 1a, 7 from 1b, and 13 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, October 4^th, to play down to a winner.

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

MSPT Season 17 Sycuan 100 GRAND STACK Series Remaining Schedule

End Day 1C Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Nicole Lilomaiava	2,020,000	1,490,000
Tim Acker	1,530,000	1,360,000
Daryn Brush	1,165,000	1,000,000
Ari Rostenberg	945,000	900,000
Armando Mesina	940,000	770,000
Matt Salsberg	870,000	640,000
Brandon Lee	865,000	1,200,000
Luke Richard	670,000	160,000
Jake Dollinger	525,000	460,000
Surya Ramjali	505,000	415,000
Mark Alag	490,000	260,000
Cy Sibounma	440,000	560,000
Derrick Yamada	415,000	190,000

Westberg Dropped by Acker's Pair of Cowboys; Play Ends for the Night

Photo: Steve Westberg

Steve Westberg was all-in preflop from the small blind and was called by Tim Acker.

Steve Westberg:
Tim Acker:

Westberg was behind needing help, but none came on the runout, ending his Main Event.

Three more knockouts would then occur, with Nicole Lilomaiava securing a double elimination to leave 13 players remaining, ending play for the night.

Tim Acker - 1,360,000
Steve Westberg - Eliminated

Day 2 Lineup

So far, 13 players have punched their ticket to Day 2, and the final group of 13 hopefuls will add their names to that list tonight.

All who make it through until the end of play will return tomorrow, Sunday, October 4^th, at 11:00 a.m. for Day 2, where the remaining players from all starting flights will combine and play until a winner is declared.

Alag Sweats a Double

Photo: Mark Alag

After an initial raise, Mark Alag moved his 135,000 stack into the middle, and only Surya Ramjali looked him up from the small blind.

Mark Alag:
Surya Ramjali:

Alag rolled over the better hand, and connected with the flop, taking a commanding lead.

The dealer then kept things sweaty after dropping the on the turn, but the drama ended when the completed the board on the river, securing Alag’s double-up.

Surya Ramjali - 1,100,000
Mark Alag - 300,000

Francisco Jams into Sibounma's Aces

Photo: Ds Francisco

After an initial raise, Ds Francisco three-bet jammed for 236,000 from the cutoff, and Cy Sibounma went over the top from the small blind, giving him isolation.

Ds Francisco:
Cy Sibounma:

Francisco was in rough shape after seeing Sibounma roll over a pair of aces, and the flop didn’t change much.

The turn did give Francisco a glimmer of hope with a diamond draw, but the that fell on the river was the wrong suit, ending his tournament.

Cy Sibounma - 560,000
Ds Francisco - Eliminated

Late Night Counts & Bust Outs

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Nicole Lilomaiava	1,490,000	1,440,000
Surya Ramjali	1,090,000	840,000
Ari Rostenberg	900,000	220,000
Tim Acker	840,000	520,000
Matt Salsberg	640,000	301,000
Jake Dollinger	460,000	140,000
Steve Westberg	300,000	745,000
Mark Alag	260,000	215,000
Adrian Lopez	0	445,000
Justin Lynch	0	210,000
Samuel Weisman	0	285,000

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

The $1,110 Main Event will be Dec. 3-6, full MSPT / Running Aces Casino Winter Poker Classic schedule will be posted this week.

msptpoker.com

Bardo Loses Race to Lee

Photo: Cynthia Bardo

Cynthia Bardo opened under the gun for 40,000 only to have Brandon Lee three-bet jam for 800,000 from the cutoff.

Action quickly folded back to Bardo, who called off her shorter 300,000 stack, and the two players revealed their hands.

Cynthia Bardo:
Brandon Lee:

Bardo found herself racing for her tournament life, and she quickly fell behind after the flop fell.

The turn then gave Bardo some momentum, as it gave her some more outs with an open-ended straight draw, but the river was a brick and ended her tournament.

Brandon Lee - 1,200,000
Cynthia Bardo - Eliminated

Chip Collectors & Givers

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Brandon Lee	1,200,000	815,000
Armando Mesina	770,000	260,000
Adrian Lopez	445,000	230,000
Ari Rostenberg	220,000	500,000
Derrick Yamada	190,000	155,000
Cynthia Bardo	0	640,000
Nancy Matson	0	260,000
Josh Mok	0	75,000
Derek Molnar	0	65,000