2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship Sycuan Casino

$360 MSPT
Day: 2
Event Info

2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship Sycuan Casino

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
85
Prize
$33,149
Event Info
Buy-in
$360
Prize Pool
$155,700
Entries
519
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
66
Players Left
1

$360 MSPT

Day 2 Completed

Chris Smith Wins the MSPT Sycuan Casino $360 Regional for $33,149

Level 31 : 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chris Smith
Chris Smith

Chris Smith doesn't play a full schedule of poker tournaments, as the lifelong San Diego resident works full-time in IT and enjoys poker as a hobby.

When Smith does register for a poker event, he seems to have a knack for winning. Smith added another accomplishment to his poker resume on Sunday night, taking down the $360 Regional NLHE at the 2021 MSPT United States Poker Championship at Sycuan Casino.

Smith topped a field of 519 entries, going away with a $33,149 payday. He outdueled Dana Katzenmeier (2nd - $20,370) in heads-up play to secure the victory.

The first-place finish marks Smith's second win in 2021, and third since 2019. Smith also finished second in the 2019 Ante Up Poker Tour Jamul Casino Main Event in 2019.

MSPT Sycuan Casino $360 Regional Final Table Results

PlaceNamePrize
1Chris Smith$33,149
2Dana Katzenmeier$20,370
3Ricardo Mendoza$14,680
4Luis Pedro$11,102
5Matt Bradford$8,347
6Jake Liebeskind$6,322
7Tim Tang$4,934
8Tai Reyes Purpero$3,855
9Ewart Boyd$2,930

Smith went into final table play relatively short-stacked, with 17 big blinds. That stack was eighth out of the nine final table combatants, but Smith ended up first in chips by night's end.

"I came into the final table short," Smith said. "I had that crazy triple-up right away, but even then it was still far to go."

The hand Smith was referring to happened during eight-handed play, and resulted in a 35 big-blind stack for Smith.

Another pivotal moment for Smith occurred during three-handed play. Ricardo Mendoza (3rd - $14,680) got all of the chips in preflop against Smith, who found a favorable runout with king-jack against Mendoza's ace-king.

That hand set up heads-up play between Smith and Katzenmeier. A two-pair versus two-pair setup turned into a rivered flush for Smith, clinching the win.

"I was not looking forward to playing Dana heads-up," Smith said. "He had my number all day. He still had my number at the end; I just binked a flush."

Other top finishers included Luis Pedro (4th - $11,102) and Matt Bradford (5th - $8,347).

Day 2 Action

The final day of the tournament began with 66 player vying for 54 payout spots. The bubble bursted early on in Day 2, and it took about eight-and-a-half hours for the field to narrow down to a champion.

Notable finishers included Tai Reyes Purpero (8th - $3,855), Adrianne Hall (10th -$2,313), Dantram Huynh (20th - $1,403), all-time MSPT money leader Richard Alsup (35th - $833) and Chris Carney (38th - $756).

The $100,000 guaranteed tournament ended up with a $155,700 prize pool, and played as the opening event on the 2021 United States Poker Championship schedule.

PokerNews will be on hand at Sycuan Casino for live reporting coverage of the MSPT Sycuan Casino $1,110 Main Event, set for Sept. 23-26.

Tags: Adrianne HallChris CarneyChris SmithDana KatzenmeierDantram HuynhLuis PedroMatt BradfordMSPTRicardo MendozaRichard AlsupSan DiegoTai Reyes Purpero

Level: 31

Blinds: 100,000/200,000

Ante: 200,000

Ricardo Mendoza Eliminated in 3rd Place ($14,680)

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Ricardo Mendoza
Ricardo Mendoza

Ricardo Mendoza opened to 425,000 from the button, Chris Smith three-bet to 1,100,000 from the small blind, Mendoza four-bet jammed for 3,300,000, and Smith called.

Ricardo Mendoza: {a-Clubs}{k-Spades}
Chris Smith: {k-Clubs}{j-Spades}

Board: {5-Spades}{6-Spades}{j-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}

Top pair came in for Smith on the flop, and Mendoza couldn't improve on the turn or river.

Smith is now heads-up with Dana Katzenmeier for the $360 Regional Championship.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Smith us
Chris Smith
7,950,000
2,050,000
2,050,000
PokerNews
Dana Katzenmeier us
Dana Katzenmeier
5,025,000
275,000
275,000
Ricardo Mendoza us
Ricardo Mendoza
Busted

Tags: Chris SmithDana KatzenmeierRicardo Mendoza

Smith Gets Value From Mendoza

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Ricardo Mendoza limped in the small blind and Chris Smith checked his option.

The flop came {a-Clubs}{j-Spades}{7-Hearts}, both players checked to the turn {2-Clubs}. Action checked through again and the river came the {6-Diamonds}. Mendoza bet 150,000 and Smith raised to 550,000.

Mendoza called and Smith tabled {6-Spades}{7-Clubs} for two pair and Mendoza mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Smith us
Chris Smith
5,900,000
1,300,000
1,300,000
PokerNews
Ricardo Mendoza us
Ricardo Mendoza
2,100,000
-1,100,000
-1,100,000

Smith Gains Ground

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Dana Katzenmeier opened to 450,000 on the button, and Chris Smith called in the big blind.

Smith check-called a 450,000 from Katzenmeier on the {3-Spades}{a-Clubs}{9-Spades} flop.

Smith checked again on the {j-Diamonds} turn, Katzenmeier bet 750,000, Smith check-raised all-in for 2,055,000, and Katzenmeier tanked for a bit before folding.

Player Chips Progress
Dana Katzenmeier us
Dana Katzenmeier
4,750,000
-1,650,000
-1,650,000
Chris Smith us
Chris Smith
4,600,000
800,000
800,000
PokerNews
Ricardo Mendoza us
Ricardo Mendoza
3,200,000
1,200,000
1,200,000

Tags: Dana KatzenmeierChris Smith

Level: 30

Blinds: 100,000/150,000

Ante: 150,000

Katzenmeier Continues to Stack Chips

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Dana Katzenmeier
Dana Katzenmeier

Dana Katzenmeier called in the small blind and Ricardo Mendoza made it 250,000 more to go.

Katzenmeier called and the flop came {9-Spades}{q-Spades}{8-Diamonds}. Katzenmeier checked, Mendoza bet 175,000 and Katzenmeier called. Both players checked the {7-Diamonds} turn and saw a river of the {k-Hearts}.

Katzenmeier bet 500,000 and Mendoza folded.

Player Chips Progress
Dana Katzenmeier us
Dana Katzenmeier
6,400,000
1,200,000
1,200,000
Ricardo Mendoza us
Ricardo Mendoza
2,000,000
-1,900,000
-1,900,000

Luis Pedro Eliminated in 4th Place ($11,102)

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Luis Pedro
Luis Pedro

Luis Pedro jammed from the cutoff for 1,300,000, and Ricardo Mendoza re-shoved from the button for 2,200,000.

Luis Pedro: {a-Spades}{k-Diamonds}
Ricardo Mendoza: {a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}

Board: {2-Hearts}{j-Spades}{5-Spades}{10-Hearts}{8-Clubs}

Mendoza found top pair on the flop, and Pedro couldn't improve on the runout.

Player Chips Progress
Dana Katzenmeier us
Dana Katzenmeier
5,200,000
550,000
550,000
Ricardo Mendoza us
Ricardo Mendoza
3,900,000
2,100,000
2,100,000
Chris Smith us
Chris Smith
3,800,000
-500,000
-500,000
PokerNews
Luis Pedro us
Luis Pedro
Busted

Tags: Luis PedroRicardo Mendoza