Sycuan Casino Resort

The MSPT returned to Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego, California to host its second Showdown Series this season.

The 19-trophy event series was headlined the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event, and a total of 313 entries (65 from Day 1a; 112 from 1b; and 136 from Day 1c) were tallied, generating a $302,110 prize pool.

On Sunday, 37 players returned for Day 2 action, and after the dust settled, it was Noel Eicher who rose to the top securing his first MSPT title, along with his largest career score of $61,693!

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Eicher said after his win, “I’ve played a lot of these tournaments over the years, but this was my first final table, and it was a haul to make it to the finish line.”

Originally from Minnesota, Eicher took himself to the beautiful Westcoast but still makes a few trips back home each year to visit family and play some poker if possible.

“I love this tour,” Eicher stated after the win. “I typically only play when you guys come out here, but I sometimes try and plan my trips back home when there’re events at Running Aces so I can get some playing in as well.”

The win marks Eichers fourth Main Event cash and now has a career MSPT total of $83,869.

MSPT Season 15 Sycuan Showdown Series $1,110 Main Event Final Table Results

*denotes heads-up deal

Day 2 Action

Players came into the final day on the money bubble as only 36 were slated to get paid.

Bottom stack Carl Smith was able to get off to a hot start, doubling with aces in one of the very first hands while Brad Miller became the unfortunate bubble boy after his pocket tens were set-up by Tim Acker’s pocket nines.

After the bubble burst, the march to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Alex Greenblatt (30th - $2,115), last lady standing Daria Ivantey (24th Place - $2,417), start of day chip leader Bret Eberhart (20th - $3,172), Carl Smith (14th Place - $4,078) and Jon “Cosmo” McGowan (10th Place - $5,106).

Final Table Action

The fast-paced action continued as only a few orbits had gone by before Nino Odisho became the first final table elimination, and Taylor Bell was quick to follow him to the payout desk in eight place.

Almost full level was needed before Brad Gafford was out flopped by Eicher, giving him a seventh place departure while Acker got a near back-to-back doubles before he was eliminated in sixth place for $13,293.

Arthur Boson was able to climb the payday ladder after starting the final table at the bottom of the counts he was outkicked by the lone MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk in fifth place for $17,220.

Four-handed action only lasted a few short hands after Lance Winsaft got his remining stack in the middle holding a made hand of nines and was called by Adrian Lopez holding a pair of sixes.

Unfortunately for Winsaft, Lopez turned a set, and he was unable to pull ahead as he was sent home in fourth place for $22,960.

With three players remaining, Lopez found himself at the bottom of the counts and was sent to the rail in a cooler after his rivered flush was second best to Eicher, taking home $31,117 for his third pace efforts.

The heads-up battle started with Eicher holding a commanding chip lead, but Ozturk was able to out-kick a double to take a slight chip lead. From that point, the two agreed upon a chop but would still duke it out for the coveted trophy.

With Ozturk holding the slight lead, he would continue to chip away at Eicher until everything got into the middle after both players flopped a ten.

Ozturk was ahead holding the superior kicker, but Eicher was saved on the river to take back a commanding chip advantage.

After the cooler, Ozturk got his remaining stack in the middle holding a suited ace but was unable to crack Eicher’s pair of tens as he finished runner-up for $50,693, bringing his career MSPT earnings to $389,134 while also putting him in second place in the Player of the Year Race as he looks to be the first player to earn a back-to-back title.

The MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) will be making its way to JACK Cleveland Casino from May 7^{th - 12th} to host another trophy series, and MSPT team will be on hand providing updates for the $500K GTD $1,110 Main Event so make sure to come back!

Noel Eicher raised and then called MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk’s 2,500,000 three-bet jam.

Umut Ozturk:
Noel Eicher:

Ozturk was behind needing help and found a little after the flop paired his six.

The turn left Ozturk needing any ace or six to fall on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his Main event run in second place for $50,963.

Noel Eicher - 9,390,000
Umut Ozturk - 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.

Noel Eicher raised and Umut Ozturk called to see a flop.

Ozturk wasted little time moving all-in, and Eicher called off his 3,020,000 stack.

Noel Eicher:
Umut Ozturk:

Both players connected with the flop, but Ozturk was ahead holding the dominating kicker.

The dealer then turned and everything was looking good for Ozturk until the fell on the river giving Eicher a better two-pair to take the heads-up chip lead.

Noel Eicher - 6,500,000
Umut Ozturk - 2,890,000

For the ninth stop of its 15th season, the MSPT traveled back to San Diego, CA and players have been duking it out over the past week inside Sycuan Casino & Resort for its 16-trophy event series!

In Event #16: $200 No-Limit Hold'em Epic Stack, 63 epic players took to the felt to duel it out for the top spot and coming out on top was MSPT Season 15 Sycuan $360 Mystery Bounty champ Adrian Cruz who claimed the title for himself to take home the lion's share of the prize pool along with the Sapdey trophy!

Result

*denotes chop

Noel Eicher raised to 165,000 and then called MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk’s 2,700,000 three-bet jam.

Umut Ozturk:
Noel Eicher:

Ozturk had Eicher dominated but had a sweat after the flop came paired.

The paired both players and ended up being a great card for Ozturk as the river secured his double-up to take the slight chip lead in the heads-up battle.

Umut Ozturk - 5,200,000
Noel Eicher - 4,190,000

Adrian Lopez was all in from the small blind holding on a board and was called by Noel Eicher holding .

Noel Eicher - 6,600,000
Umut Ozturk - 2,700,000
Adrian Lopez - Eliminated

Adrian Lopez raised the button and then cammed Lance Winsaft’s 500,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

Lance Winsaft:
Adrian Lopez:

Winsaft get his chips in the middle holding another superior made hand and the flop didn’t change a thing.

“Come-on six,” Lopez uttered out just before the dealer peeled off the on the turn giving him a set to the lead once again.

Winsaft now needed a nine to stay alive, but the completed the board on the river sending him home in fourth place for $22,960.

Adrian Lopez - 2,100,000
Lance Winsaft - Eliminated

Arthur Boson raised all in for 600,000 from the button and MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk looked him up from the small blind.

Arthur Boson:
Umut Ozturk:

Ozturk had Boson dominated and the flop paired both players.

The turn left Boson needing a ten to stay alive, but the completed the board on the river ending his Main Event in fifth place for $17,220.

Umut Ozturk - 3,000,000
Arthur Boson - Eliminated

Tim Acker raised all in for 260,000 from the cutoff and Adrian Lopez looked him up from the small blind.

Tim Acker:
Adrian Lopez:

Acker rolled over a dominating ace and just as the flop was hitting the felt, Lopez said, “I feel an eight coming.”

Lopez’s fortuition then came turn as the dealer turned the putting him out in front, leaving Acker needing a jack on the river to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Acker, the completed the board and ended his Main Event in sixth place for $13,293.

Adrian Lopez - 1,845,000
Tim Acker - Eliminated