Ameristar East Chicago

Day 1c was the final starting flight of the MSPT 2026 Indiana Poker State Championship at the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and attracted a final 280 runners, which, along with the 264 totals from the previous two flights, brought the total field up to 544 entries, shattering the $300k guarantee.

The impressive field generated a $526,180 prize pool, paying out a minimum of $2,015, while the eventual winner will walk away with a $111,344 first-place prize, along with the MSPT 2026 Indiana Poker State Championship!

At the end of the third and final flight, just 31 players bagged and tagged with David Orlando securing the final elimination of the night to bag over a milly (1,153,000) and take the overall chip lead into Day 2.

Rounding out the big stacks were Sebastian Stefanski (874,000), Alin Cotolan (618,000), Tansel Turgut (487,000), and Dustin Bowling (471,000).

Others who survived the third and final flight included Jeff Halcomb (315,000), Casey Bogus (298,000), MSPT Champ Matt Porter (238,000), Mike Puccio (212,000), Clint Lilienthal (188,000), and MSPT Hall of Famer & bracelet winner Rob WazWaz (125,000).

Among those to try and fall on Day 1c were MSPT Champ Curtis Vierstraete, Jason Crews, Jennifer Mandel, MSPT Champ Tim Burden, Jill Bryant, and Ricky Landais, just to name a few.

The surviving players from all three flights – of which there are 61 (12 from Day 1a, 18 from 1b, and 31 from 1c) – will return at 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, August 30^th, 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 Season 17 Indiana Poker State Championship Schedule

Photo: Gary Abrahams

Gary Abrahams raised all-in for 28,000 from early position and was called by Songjie Zhou next to act, along with Sam Zureikat from the big blind.

The board was checked to showdown, and all three hands were tabled.

Zureikat rolled over for a top pair, thinking it was good, but Abrahams tabled to collect a triple-up.

A few hands later, Abrahams found himself all-in again from the small blind, and Dave Orlando called from the hijack.

Gary Abrahams:
Dave Orlando:

Abrahams found another premium hand on the bubble, but this time, the flop gave Orlando the nuts, leaving him drawing to running help, as the jack of diamonds was no good.

Unfortunately for Abrahams, the turn wasn’t a card he wanted to see, as it left him drawing dead to the river, ending his night on the bubble.

Dave Orlando - 1,153,000
Gary Abrahams - Eliminated

After the elimination of MSPT Champ Anthony Kastelic, just 32 players remain, meaning the hand-for-hand process has started, as only 31 of them will be making Day 2.

So far, 30 players have punched their ticket into Day 2, and the final group of 31 hopefuls will look to add their names to that list tonight.

All who make it through until the end of play will return tomorrow, Sunday, August 30^th, 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.

Photo: Charlie Reichard

After losing ace-king to a pair of queens, Charlie Reichard moved his last 24,000 into the middle and was called by Tansel Turgut.

Charlie Reichard:
Tansel Turgut:

Reichard found himself in another race and, just like the previous hand, he wasn’t able to hold the lead as the runout gave Turgut top two pair to end his tournament.

Tansel Turgut - 350,000
Charlie Reichard - Eliminated

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS

: March 9-14, 2027

: August 24-29, 2027

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Photo: Colin Likas

A series of preflop raises led to Colin Likas getting his 128,000 stack in the middle from the hijack, and Li Shen called from the big blind.

Colin Likas:
Li Shen:

Likas was ahead holding the superior made hand, and the runout secured his double-up.

Colin Likas - 260,000
Li Shen - 150,000

Photo: Matt Miller

Matt Miller raised all-in from middle position, and Dustin Bowling looked him up from the big blind.

Matt Miller:
Dustin Bowling:

Miller was in rough shape after seeing Bowling roll over a better made hand, and the runout ended his Main Event.

Dustin Bowling - 530,000
Matt Miller - 0