Ameristar East Chicago

Day 1c of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Ameristar East Chicago $1,110 Main Event attracted 252 runners, which along with 1a's 115 and 1b’s 189 brought the total field up to 557 entries, blasting past the $300k guarantee.

The field generated a $538,790 prize pool, paying the top 63 players with the eventual winner walking away with a six-figure first-place prize, along with the Main Event trophy.

At the end of the third and final flight, the hard stop of 30 players was reached with 29:00 remaining in Level 14 and when chips went into the bags it was Zach Heiman who collected the most with 741,000, edging out Casey Bogus (701,00) for the overall top stack.

Rounding out the top five stacks of the final flight were Anthony Palmer (623,000), inaugural Ameristar third-place finisher Mike Puccio (557,000), and Arthur Zabronsky (478,000).

They were joined by Sarah Stefan (437,000), MSPT champ Jason Ramos (249,000), Season 14 POY points leader Umut Ozturk (248,000), Brad Sailor (247,00), and MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (229,000).

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 69 (15 from Day 1a, 24 from 1b, and 30 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, October 27th 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!

MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Remaining Schedule

So far, 39 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and the final group of hopefuls have added their names to that list.

All 30 players who are now bagging will return tomorrow, Sunday, October 29th, 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.

Jerry Hapunik raised the button and then called MSPT champ George Janssen’s 80,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

George Janssen:
Jerry Hapunik:

Janssen was dominated but was able to pull ahead after the flop paired his four.

Unfortunately for Janssen, the turn would be the start of bad news as it gave Hapunik an open-ended straight draw, which was completed with the on the river, ending his Main Event.

Jerry Hapunik - 180,000
George Janssen - Eliminated

Nikola Budzakoski raised from middle position only to have MSPT champ Umut Ozturk three-bet from the small blind.

Action folded back to Budzakoski who four-bet jammed and Ozturk snap-called.

Nikola Budzakoski:
Umut Ozturk:

Ozturk was ahead holding a made hand of kings and improved after the flop gave him top set.

The turn was no good for Budzakoski as it left him drawing dead to the river.

Umut Ozturk - 250,000
Nikola Budzakoski - Eliminated

The Mid States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to the Ameristar Hotel & Casino and hosted a $250 NLH Seniors Championship that saw 100 seniors aged 50 and up build a $20,000 prize pool that paid out to the top 12 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Mary McCullough (10th Place - $420), Anwar Baig (11th Place - $420), and Gary Garnowski (12th Place - $420).

Coming out the top senior was none other than inaugural Main Event third-place finisher Mike Puccio, who took home the MSPT trophy, along with $4,635!

Seniors Championship Final Table Results

Players have returned from their final break meaning registration for the MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Main Event is now closed.

The third and final flight drew 253 entries, bringing the grand total to 557.

The plan is to play through Level 15 unless 12% of the field (30) players is reached first with the tournament clock reading 45 players remining.

Prize pool information will be posted once available.

Boulos Estafanous was all in for 26,000 from early position and was called by MSPT champ Jason Ramos from the hijack.

Boulos Estafanous:
Jason Ramos:

Estafanous was in rough shape holding the inferior pocket pair, but the dealer dropped a flop giving him hope with a set.

Unfortunately for Estafanous, the running turn and river gave Ramos the better flush ending his tournament.

Jason Ramos - 252,000
Boulos Estafanous - 0

Alex Ahmed open-jammed his short stack from late position only to have Sarah Stefan go over the top for 40,000 from the hijack and Nick Cikulin isolate from the small blind.

Alex Ahmed:
Sarah Stefan:
Nick Cikulin:

“I only one ten,” uttered Stefan just before one appeared in the window on the flop giving her a set.

It seemed to be Stefan’s lucky day after the dealer sweetened the deal by dropping the on the turn just before they completed the board with the on the river.

Nick Cikulin - 260,000
Sarah Stefan - 98,500
Alex Ahmed - 0