The first of four MSPT Canterbury Park Main Events this season kicked off on Friday with the first of two starting flights, and Day 1A saw 207 entrants hit the felt, putting the tournament on pace to best the $300k guarantee with Day 1B still to come at 3 pm on Saturday.

After nearly 15 levels of play on Friday night, just 25 players survived with Amir Tavanae and his 364,000 chips out in front. Tavanae, a local cash game grinder, has a single Main Event cash on his MSPT resume, finishing in 23rd place at Running Aces all the way back in Season 1.

Others to bag big include two-time MSPT champ Matt Kirby (297,000), Paul Eidem (284,500), Jay Melancon (273,000), and Andy Redleaf (245,000).

Others able to find a bag include MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (221,000), “Minnesota” Jon Hanner (174,500), “DQ” Dan Hendrickson (163,500), Sherry Hammers (154,500), Loki Abboud (150,500), 2017 MNPokerMag POY Todd Melander (115,500), and Tom Hammers (113,000).

Of course, not everyone was fortunate to survive today’s flight; a who’s who of big names fell short, including reigning MSPT POY Aaron Johnson, three-time MSPT champs Carl Carodenuto and Blake Bohn, MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup, two-time MSPT champ Jeremy Dresch, MSPT champs Jeffrey Birt, Mark Wadekamper, Erv Bjerga, Nathan Trenkamp, Jon Kim and Rob Wazwaz, and WSOP Bracelet winner John Reading.

Those players, as well as any newcomers, will have the opportunity to fire in the second starting flight at 3 pm on Saturday. There is also a final $250 satellite at 10 am tomorrow for anyone looking to try and get it on the cheap.

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you all the action straight from the tournament floor here at Canterbury Park!