FireKeepers Casino

The MSPT returned to FireKeepers Casino for the final time this season to host the Season 15 Michigan Poker State Championship, and the turnout was another mouth dropper.

The $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 GTD Main Event was one to remember, as a total of 2,819 entries (600 from Day 1a; 1,012 from 1b; 1,207 from 1c) were tallied, which put it just behind the venue’s record field of 2,883 set last October.

After an action-packed weekend, it was MSPT newcomer Nick Murray who emerged victorious to claim his first MSPT title along with a career-best $295,494 first-place prize.

“This is a dream come true,” said the newly crowned champ after his victory, “My previous best cash before this was $8,700 so I’m feeling on top of the world.”

Murray continued, “I literally flipped a quarter to come here, and I ran it up so I couldn’t be happier.”

The Michigan native finished by saying, “To say that I came in first place out of 2,819 is honestly a lot to take in, but I’ve been working on my game for years now and it just means a lot to me to be called a champion.”

MSPT Season 15 Michigan Poker State Championship Final Table Results

*denotes ICM deal

Final Day Action

The final day came back with all 309 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with players liked MSPT champ Satish Thakur, Brad Sailor, Blake Whittington, and fellow MSPT champ Alex Cruz all falling in the first batch of eliminations.

The rush of players to the payout line continued with MSPT champ’s Jonathan Lewis, (234th Place $2,571), Chris Moon (233rd Place $2,571), Michael Berk (228th Place $2,571), and Max Havlish (218th Place $2,571) all had their final day cut much shorter than anticipated.

With players dropping like wildfire, MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk was still in the mix building a stack but ultimately walked away with his 15th cash this season in 132nd place finish for $3,789

With the march to the final table in full swing, others to fall along the way albeit with a payday, were Season 14 Michigan Poker State Champion Travis Young (125th place - $3,789), MSPT Hall of Famer Richard Alsup (120th place - $3,789), MSPT top casher DJ Buckley (78th place - $4,874), MSPT champ Hall of Famer’s Aaron Johnson (23rd place - $16,240) & Patrick Steele (15th place - $25,712), along with MSPT champ’s Danny Sepiol (13th place - $25,712), and Angela Jordison (10th place - $3,2478).

Final Table Action

Once players took their seats at the final table, it didn't take long for action to kick into gear with a three-way all in which led to MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz taking a quick exit after notching his record 20^th final table appearance on the tour.

Shortly after WazWaz’s departure, Mike Iacovone found himself on a losing end of a race against MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard who turned around and dropped Tim Capretta with a made hand of nines.

Six-handed action saw Reichard and Nicola DiTrapani holding over half of the chips in play and the two big stacks got into a monster hand which saw DiTrapani river a set of kings to take a commanding chip lead while Reichard dropped to the bottom of the counts.

Reichad was able to chip-up a little but rand his pocket nines into Murray’s pocket queens and took a sixth place exit for $86,609 as he jumped into the top spot in both the tight 2024 ICON standings as well as the Player of the Year standings.

After catching an early triple-up at the start of the final table, Dapreesch Scates wasn’t able to get much traction going afterwards and watched his stack dwindle to a fifth place finish for $108,261.

With four players remaining, it didn’t take long before an ICM chop was discussed but it got shot down by Murray as he wanted to play for the title.

After the chop was denied, short-stack Amir Kamari got his chips in good holding ace-queen only to get straightened out by David Evans to take a fourth place finish for $140,739.

Three-way action then saw chips shuffle around the table for a few levels which prompted another ICM which came to an agreement as long as they played for the title.

Once the agreement came to be, action hit a new gear as each player got their chips in the middle multiple times which eventually saw Evans make a third place departure for $212,849 while DiTrapani took a runner-up finish for $295,492.

This wraps up our coverage of yet another amazing tournament so make sure you join us next when we make our way back to Riverside, Iowa for their $1,110 Main Event at the Riverside Casino October 29th - November 3rd!

An ICM heads-up deal was made which saw Nic DiTrapani take a second place finish for $295,492 while Nick Murray will take home the trophy and $295,294.

Nick Murray raised all in for 23,500,000 and Davd Evans called off his 21,000,000 stack.

David Evans:
Nick Murray:

Evans was ahead and the flop didn’t change a thing.

The paired the board on the turn and Evans was looking good to score the double until the dealer peeled off the on the river ending his tournament in third place for $212,849.

Nick Murray - 45,000,000
David Evans - Eliminated

For the second and final time this season, the MSPT heads back to the Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago, Illinois November 19th - 24th!

The 11-event trophy festival will start with Event #1: $400 NLH Monster Stack at noon on Tuesday, November 19th, followed by Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha at 4:00 p.m. on the same day.

A series of $100, and $265 satellites will feed into the $1,110 buy-in MSPT269 Main Event, which requires players be 21+ to play.

The tournament holds a $300K GTD and will once again offer three starting flights with Day 1a beginning at noon on Thursday, November 21st.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, November 22nd, with Day 1c following suit on Saturday, November 23rd with a noon start time as well.

The surviving players from all starting flights will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 24th, and will play down to a winner.

Also, held that Sunday will be the final two events of the festival with Event #10: $250 Black Chip Bounty NLH starting at noon while Event #11: $200 Last Chance Monster Stack NLH starts at 3:00 p.m.

Nic DiTrapani was all in preflop for 31,400,000 and was called by Nick Murray.

Nic DiTrapani:
Nick Murray:

DiTrapani rolled over the premium and the runout secured his massive double-up.

Nic DiTrapani - 63,000,000
Nick Murray - 7,000,000

For the first time, the MSPT is headed to the Parkwest Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, California from November 5th - 10th as part of their Big Poker Oktober Series!

The four-event trophy series will be headlined by the $1,110 buy-in MSPT268 Main Event, which requires players be 21+ to play.

The tournament holds a $500K GTD and will offer four starting flights with Day 1a beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 7th.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, November 8th, with Day 1c following suit on Saturday, November 9th at 10:00 a.m.

The final starting flight will then take place as well on Saturday, November 9th with a 4:30 p.m. start time, and will be turbo style with 30-minute blind levels.

The surviving players from all starting flights will then return to the felt at noon on Sunday, November 10th, and will play down until a winner is crowned.

Make sure to come and join us for our inaugural stop at the Parkwest Bicycle Casino!

Amir Kamari raised all in from the cutoff and David Evans looked him up from the big blind.

Amir Kamari:
David Evans:

Kamari was ahead holding an ace but the runout gave Evans a seven-high straight to send Kamari home in fourth place for $140,739.

David Evans – 15,000,000
Amir Kamari – Eliminated

Dapreesch Scates raised all in for roughly 5,000,000 from the small blind and Nick Murray looked him up from the big blind.

Dapreesch Scates:
Nick Murray:

Scates was ahead holding an ace and the flop didn’t change a thing.

The turn, however, came the to put Murray in the lead and the river eliminated Scates in fifth place for $108,261.

Nick Murray – 24,400,000
Dapreesch Scates – Eliminated

MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard opened under the gun for 5,000,000 and then called off his remaining stack after Nick Murray went over the top from the hijack.

Josh Reichard:
Nick Murray:

Reichard rolled over an inferior made hand and wasn’t able to find a set on the runout as he made his way to the payout desk in sixth place for $86,609.

Nick Murray – 21,000,000
Josh Reichard – Eliminated

David Evans raised the cutoff and then called off his 6,300,000 stack after Nic DiTrapani three-et jammed for more from the small blind.

David Evans:
Nic DiTrapani:

Evans rolled over the better made hand and the runout secured his double-up.

Nic DiTrapani – 38,000,000
David Evans – 13,000,000