The MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) kicked off its 15th season with a 19-trophy event Showdown Series at the Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego, California.
The series was headlined the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event, and a total of 451 entries (113 from Day 1a; 136 from 1b; and 201 from Day 1c) were tallied, generating a $435,970 prize pool.
On Sunday, 53 players returned for Day 2 action, and after the dust settled, it was Savo Mandrapa who rose to the top securing his first MSPT title, along with his largest career score of $93,771.
MSPT Season 15 Sycuan Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event Final Table Results
| Place |
Player |
Prize |
POY |
| 1 |
Savo Mandrapa |
$93,771 |
1,600 |
| 2 |
Peter Cross |
$57,623 |
1,400 |
| 3 |
Gianluca Pace |
$41,541 |
1,300 |
| 4 |
Randy Shamo |
$31,427 |
1,200 |
| 5 |
Matt Salsberg |
$23,579 |
1,100 |
| 6 |
Robby Mier |
$17,912 |
1,000 |
| 7 |
Raad Nasouri |
$13,988 |
900 |
| 8 |
Jessica Vierling |
$10,936 |
800 |
| 9 |
Chris Smith |
$8,320 |
700 |
Day 2 Action
The final day came back with 53 players already in the money so action kicked right into gear with Steve Westberg receiving a much-needed double to start the day while Josh Lachman wasn't as fortunate being the first elimination of the final day.
Action across the final tables continued with players dropping like wildfire as the march to the final table was on.
Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Abbas Alikhani (10th - $6,577), Jared Greiner (16th - $4,397), start of day chip leader Jesus Bastardo (24th Place - $3,394), and MSPT champ Derrick Yamada (25th Place - $2,958).
Final Table Action
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Once players returned from their dinner break, they seemed to be in a food coma, as a full level of raises and folds occurred before 2021 Sycuan Regional champ Chris Smith became the first final table elimination.
Another full level was needed before Jessica Vierling hit the rail, but action sped up when Raad Nasouri followed her to the payout desk shortly after in seventh place.
Robby Mier would follow soon after his pocket ace failed to hold against Matt Salsberg’s ace-ten off suit.
With five players remaining, action would once again hit a wall before Salsberg’s stack eventually dwindled down to the shortest and he departed in fifth place for $23,579.
Four-handed action saw Randy Shamo sitting at the bottom of the chip counts and after flopping a pair of sevens, decided to risk his stack after Peter Cross jammed for more.
Unfortunately for Shamo, his flopped pair of sevens was second best to Cross’ flopped a top pair of aces. Shamo was unable to pull ahead as he was sent home in fourth place for $31,427.
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Three-handed action started with Mandrapa and Cross holding majority of the chips in play while MSPT champ Gianluca Pace was waiting patiently to make his move.
When the time finally arrived, he was called by both his opponent which ended with Mandrapa sending both players home in one swoop as Pace took third for $57,623 while Cross finished runner-up for second place $57,623.
This finishes up our coverage of this event but Season 15 of the MSPT continues with its second stop in the beautiful Black Hawk, Colorado at Bally's Casino for its Showdown Series January 17th - 28th with live coverage of the $1,110 Main Event beginning on January 25th so make sure to came back and tune in!
Season 15 Player of the Year Race Standings
| Rank |
Player |
Season 15 Cashes |
Points |
| 1 |
Savo Mandrapa |
1 |
1,600 |
| 2 |
Peter Cross |
1 |
1,400 |
| 3 |
Gianluca Pace |
1 |
1,300 |
| 4 |
Randy Shamo |
1 |
1,200 |
| 5 |
Matt Salsberg |
1 |
1,100 |
| 6 |
Robby Mier |
1 |
1,000 |
| 7 |
Raad Nasouri |
1 |
900 |
| 8 |
Adrian Cruz |
1 |
828 |
| 9 |
Jessica Vierling |
1 |
800 |
| 10 |
Chris Smith |
1 |
700 |