JACK Cleveland Casino

The MSPT returned to JACK Cleveland Casino for the second time this season, hosting a four-event series which was headlined the $1,110 buy-in, $500K GTD Main Event.

A total of 602 entries (165 from Day 1a; 198 from 1b; 238 from 1c) were tallied and on Sunday, 69 players returned to Day 2 action to take their stab at the $582,440 prize pool.

Of those 69 players, five were past champs on their quest for their second Main Event title and after 13 hours of play, Bobby Noel did just that as navigated his way through a tough field to claim the $122,345 first place prize along with his second MSPT title!

“It feels really nice,” Noel said after his victory, “The heads-up battle was really tough, he was a tough opponent, but I had a good run of cards, and I thought I played pretty good throughout the day.”

Noel came into the final day with a below average chip stack while his heads-up opponent Kyle Gross, started with the least amount of chips having just four big blinds to start the day.

Both players were able to maneuver their way through to the final table which saw Noel holding the sizeable chip lead, while Gross sat mid-pack.

Noel knew his hunt for his second title he had to go through Gross, who was also looking to improve off his fourth place finish he took here earlier in the year, but the two didn’t really get into a battle until five-handed action which ended with Noel whishing he may have played the hand a little differently.

“Earlier I had the nut blocker when he had the flush and I kind of regret doubling him up,” Noel continued, “But everything seemed to work out well afterwards.”

Ater the double-up, Noel kept his composure and was able to clap back at Gross to reclaim the chip lead, which eventually lead to his securing his second, one that is very meaningful to him.

“The money is nice but the title to me was honestly more important,” Noel said in his closing statement.

With the victory, Noel now has 11 MSPT Main Event cashes totaling an impressive $486,482.

MSPT Season 15 JACK Cleveland Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

With 63 slated to get paid, just six players needed to exit before players reached the money.

WSOP bracelet winner Katie Kopp came into the final day looking to catch some steam sitting at the bottom of the chip counts but ended up being the first elimination of the day.

Others who followed Kopp out the door empty-handed included Kyle Parks, Patrick Coughlin, Mitch Gasiorowski, and Giovanni Ciarlariello. With players dropping like flies, Eric Ladny found himself all in holding Big Slick before play could reach the hand-for-hand process.

After the bubble burst, just five MSPT champs remained in the field which included two MSPT Hall of Famer’s but unfortunately for Umut Ozturk (61^st Place – $2,213), Chris Moon (48^th Place - $2,329), Jon Lewis (47^th Place – $2,329), and Josh Reichard (46^th Place - $2,329), they all had their day cut much shorter then hoped on claiming a second MSPT title.

After the former champs made their exits, the march to the final table continued, and others to fall along the way, albeit with a payday were WSOP bracelet winner Satoshi Tanaka (42^nd Place - $2,504), Ian Richardson (24^th Place - $4,251), Scott Hubert (17^th Place - $5,824), WSOP bracelet winner Billy Kopp (13^th Place - $6,989), and Frank Lagodich (10^th Place - $8,736).

Final Table Action

Once the players returned from their dinner break, action picked right up after short stack Thomas Della Volpe got it in from the small blind holding king-five off suit only to have soon to bet two-time MSPT champ Noel roll over a dominating king-queen. Della Volpe was unable to pull ahead and became the first final table elimination.

Shortly after, Jake Turkall got his chips in good holding a made hand of kings only to have Gross flop a set of nines to send him to the rail in eighth place.

Next on the chopping block was Ken Rutledge who was unable to complete his flush draw as he departed in seventh place while Michael Pempin quickly followed Rutledge to payout desk in sixth place for $23,297.

After a full level of double-ups, Ken Wasik found himself on the wrong side of a cooler holding a made hand of kings only to run into Andy Manchen’s pocket aces as he took home $30,869 for his fifth place efforts.

With four players remaining, the chips in play were evenly disbursed between them until Dan Wolf was put into a tight spot by Manchen and called of his stack holding a top pair of kings.

With his tournament life hanging in the balance, Wolf saw he was behind after Manchen rolled over a turned two-pair, and he was unable to pull ahead as his ended his tournament in fourth place for $40,770.

Three-handed action saw Manchen hold just over half of the chips in play but ended up losing his momentum and ended up taking a third place finish for $54,749.

From there, the heads-up match saw a little back-and-forth tussle until Noel started chip away at Gross which eventually led to him shipping his second MSPT title and payday good for $122,345 while Gross finished runner-up for $75,135.

This wraps up our coverage of another eventful tournament, so make sure you join us when we make our way to FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan for their $1,110 Main Event May 16^th - 19^th!

MSPT champ Bobby Noel raised all in and Kyle Gross called off his stack.

Kyle Gross:
Bobby Noel:

Gross was ahead holding the better suit but the flop came with a sweat as it gave both players straight draws.

The turn fell the keeping Gross in the lead, but the dealer followed with the on the river to give Noel the queen-high straight to eliminate Gross in second place for $75,134.

Bobby Noel - 18,060,000
Kyle Gross - Eliminated

Don’t look now, but Michigan is one of the country’s hottest spots for poker, a fact evidenced by massive tournament fields.

Case in point, recent stops of the MSPT, which will visit FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek for the first time in Season 15 May 16th - 19th.

A series of $70 and $265 qualifiers will take place in the weeks leading up to the $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 guarantee Main Event, which is once again expected to draw a massive field.

The Main Event, which requires players be 21 years of age to participate, will feature three starting flights beginning with Day 1a at Noon on Thursday, May 16th.

The next two starting flights, Days 1b and 1c will then be held at the same time on Friday, May 17th, and Saturday, May 18th respectively. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday, May 19th at 10:00 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned.

Last May, a venue record of 2,473 entrants packed the poker room and, in the end, it was MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang who took home a career-best $314,145 for the win.

That event was followed up by the MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship in October which set a new bar with 2,883 entrants tallied and saw Travis Young walk away with a $297,977 first-place prize.

Some others who've notched wins at FireKeepers are Matthew Davis (October 2022 for $344,446), Dan Bekavac (May 2022 for $198,175), Bobby Noel (October 2019 for $262,145), and Chris Moon (May 2019 for $258,407).

For more information, visit firekeeperscasino.com.

For a full look at the MSPT FireKeepers schedule, click here.

MSPT champ Bobby Noel raised to 500,000 and then called a 1,500,000 three-bet from Kyle Gross.

Once the flop hit the felt, Gross continued for 1,100,000 and Noel called bringing about the turn.

This time, Gross slowed down and check-folded to an all-in bet from Noel.

Bobby Noel - 11,960,000
Kyle Gross - 6,100,000

Andy Manchen raised all in from the small blind and MSPT champ Bobby Noel looked him up from the big blind.

Andy Manchen:
Bobby Noel:

The fop fell giving Noel top pair but also keeping Manchen alive with a gut shot straight draw.

The turn wasn’t the worst card for Manchen as it gave him some more outs with a double gutter, but the paired the board on the river and ended his Main Event in third place for $54,749.

Bobby Noel - 10,960,000
Kyle Gross - 7,100,000
Andy Manchen - Eliminated

Andy Manchen raised the small blind and MSPT champ Bobby Noel defended to see a flop.

Manchen fired out a continuation bet, and Noel called bringing about the turn.

This time, Manchen check-called a 1,000,000 bet from Noel and the river was checked to showdown.

Manchen tabled for a made hand of jacks, but they were no good as Noel rolled over for top pair to win the pot.

Bobby Noel - 9,260,000
Kyle Gross - 7,300,000
Andy Manchen - 1,500,000

MSPT champ Bobby Noel limped-in from the small blind and then called a 425,000 raise from Kyle Gross from the big blind.

The two took to a flop and action was checked to the turn.

Noel check-called a 650,000 bet from Gross, and the river was checked to showdown.

Noel tabled for top pair but had kicker issues as Gross rolled over to scoop the pot.

Bobby Noel - 7,850,000
Kyle Gross - 6,780,000

Kyle Gross raised from the small blind and Andy Manchen defended to see a flop.

Gross led out with a 400,000 bet and then called a 900,000 raise to see the turn.

Both players checked, and then did the after the completed the board on the river.

“King-high,” Manchen said as Gross tabled to win the pot.

Kyle Gross - 7,525,000
Andy Manchen - 4,125,000