Ameristar East Chicago

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to Ameristar East Chicago for the second time this season to host a four-trophy series which was headlined by the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event237.

The headliner saw a total of 557 entries (115 from Day 1a; 189 from 1b; 252 from 1c) tallied, which slid from its inaugural event held in August but a total of four MSPT records were broken during the stop with none other than MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn navigating his way through to the finish line for a $113,146 first place prize along with a record fifth MSPT title.

“It’s pretty emotional honestly”, a happy Bohn said after his record-breaking win, “I work so much harder at this than what people think, to do it with my wife and friends present was a goal of mine and when me and Kat come to play watch out, because we are trouble and I’ll take my skill set over the rest”.

Bohn continued by saying, “It’s a good win that should put me on top of most of the MSPT leaderboards and there’s still plenty of more to come from me in poker”.

The victory indeed catapulted Bohn to the top as he not only holds the record for most MSPT Main Event titles, but now has the most MSPT career earnings with $943,110.

Season 14 MSPT Ameristar East Chicago Final Table Results

With 69 slated to get paid, a handful of players needed to exit before players reached the money.

Among those to leave empty-handed were Steve WazWaz, Gabe Neighbors, MSPT champ Charlie Dawson, and David McGowan, to name a few.

After McGowan's exit, the hand-for-hand process started with two MSPT Hall of Famers getting double-ups and a few short hands later, fellow Hall of Famer Josh Reichard was out-kicked by Andres Garcia on the Money bubble, leaving the remaining players in the money.

After the bubble burst, MSPT champ Umut Ozturk cemented himself into the coveted MSPT Hall of Fame and the march to the final table began.

Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday were Sarah Stefan (10th Place - $8,082), MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz (14th Place - $6,465), Kitkat Klassen (19th Place - $4,741), and MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang (35th Place - $2,586).

Final Table Action

After players returned from their dinner break, Steve Buell was able to out-kick a triple-up off the bat and ended up getting a few pay jumps after Terrance Jarmon was straightened out in ninth place, and Arthur Zabronsky was out-kicked in eighth place.

Shortly after, newly inducted Hall of Famer Ozturk would find himself in a losing race against Mike Puccio and was sent to the rail in seventh place after making a historic fifth final-table appearance this season.

Puccio would follow by eliminating Andy Rogowski in sixth place for $21,552 and then play would continue for a few levels before Puccio took a took a fifth place finish for himself for $28,556.

After Puccio’s departure, Bohn started to catch steam and called a big all-in from Brett "Pops’ Reichard preflop four-handed.

With Reichard racing for his tournament life, he fell way behind after Bohn flopped a set and ended his tournament in fourth place for $37,715.

Three-handed action saw Bohn holding a 3:1 chip advantage over his final two opponent’s and he was able to drop MSPT champ Mark Sandness in third place finish for $50,646 and finished off Buell runner-up for $69,513.

This wraps up our coverage of another eventful tournament, so make sure you join us when we make our way back to Riverside Casino November 2^nd - 5^th!

MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn raised all in and Steve Buell called off his shorter stack.

Steve Buell:
Blake Bohn:

“HOLD ONE TIME”, exclaimed the Hall of Famer as the dealer dropped a flop pairing his seven.

The turn was great for Bohn as it kept him ahead and the river secured him his record-breaking fifth MSPT title while Buell finished runner-up for $69,513.

Blake Bohn - 16,710,000
Steve Buell - Eliminated

Mark Sandness open-jammed the button and Blake Bohn went over the top from the small blind giving him isolation.

Mark Sandness:
Blake Bohn:

Sandness was ahead holding a made hand of tens but the flop did pair Bohn’s nine.

The paired the board on the turn and Sandness was looking good to score the double-up until the dealer dropped the on the river giving Bohn a full house to eliminate Sandness.

Blake Bohn - 13,710,000
Steve Buell - 3,600,000
Mark Sandness - Eliminated

Blake Bohn opened from the cutoff and then called the 3,400,000 three-bet jam Brett "Pops" Reichard made from the button.

Brett "Pops" Reichard:
Blake Bohn:

It was a classic race with Reichard falling way behind after the flop gave Bohn top set.

The turn was no help to Reichard as it left him drawing dead to the river.

Blake Bohn - 8,950,000
Brett "Pops" Reichard - Eliminated

Blake Bohn opened from the cutoff and then called Mike Puccio’s three-bet jam from the small blind.

Mike Puccio:
Blake Bohn:

Puccio was racing for his tournament with the flop giving him more outs with a gutshot straight draw.

The pairing the board on the turn wasn’t the worst card for Puccio as it brought possible counterfeit options, but the completed the board and ended his Main Event run.

Blake Bohn - 6,400,000
Mike Puccio - Eliminated

Mike Puccio raised the button and then called Steve Buell’s 1,575,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

Steve Buell:
Mike Puccio:

Puccio had Buell dominated, that was until a five appeared in the window on the flop.

The turn didn’t change a thing and the river kept Buell’s tournament rolling.

Steve Buell - 3,250,000
Mike Puccio - 2,000,000

Brett “Pops” Reichard opened for 400,000 from the hijack and was called by Mike Puccio from the cutoff.

The flop saw Reichard continue for 400,000 and Puccio called bringing the turn.

With a paired board, action went check-check, and the completed the board on the river.

Reichard checked once again only to muck his hand after Puccio fired out a 500,000 bet and showed a before collecting the pot.

Mike Puccio - 5,100,000
Brett “Pops” Reichard - 2,345,000

Steve Buell raised all in for 990,000 from the button and was called by Mark Sandness from the small blind.

Steve Buell:
Mark Sandness:

Buell was dominated but the runout paired his queen keeping his Main Event hopes alive.

Mark Sandness - 3,100,000
Stev Buell - 1,900,000

Blake Bohn opened for 305,000 from the hijack and Mike Puccio called from the button.

The flop was checked to the turn where Bohn check-raised to 1,200,000 after Puccio fired out a 300,000 bet.

Puccio didn't waste much time releasing his hand into the muck fiving Bohn the pot.

Blake Bohn - 3,945,000
Mike Puccio - 2,765,000