$

Awarded to date

bestbet

January 19 - 22, 2017
Regional Event: 561 Entrants
Winner: Mick Robilotto
recap_icon

EVENT RECAP

bestbet - Jacksonville, FL

January 19-22, 2017

$350 Regional Event: 561 Entrants

Mick Robilotto Wins $350 MSPT Regional at bestbet Jacksonville, $26,814!

Watch the full final table video (large file, may take a few minutes to load)

The second Regional Event of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 8, and the 15th ever held, took place at bestbet Jacksonville January 19-22. The event drew 561 runners, which surpassed the $100,000 advertised guarantee by creating a $168,300 prize pool.

After one of the most unique final tables in MSPT history, the final four players struck a deal that saw them each lock up $19,000 with $7,814 and the title to play for. After numerous chip lead changes, two outers, and a few coolers, it was 37-year-old local player Michael “Mick” Robilotto of Fernandina Beach, Florida who emerged victorious to take home $26,814.

“It’s exciting,” Robilotto said after the win. “We made a deal but there was still a lot of money up at the top, so once I got into shooting distance for the win, I really wanted to get it.”

Joining Robilotto in the final four were Jonathan Cronin, Chris Walker, and Toby Boas. At the time of the deal, Boas seemed to get the best of the bargain as he was down 2-1 in chips compared to the other three players. Still, they managed to come to terms. Despite fourth, third and second places all paying the same, everyone except Robilotto proceeded with caution.

“What difference does it make?” he says when asked about calling off to a three-bet shove from Cronin. “The king-seven was a big hand. I was just gambling; I didn’t think I was ahead. I put 300,000 in, not gonna hold a million back.”

Robilotto managed to win the race against Cronin’s pocket fours, which gave him a big chip lead. After Boas and Walker fell, Robilotto took a massive 30-1 chip lead into heads-up play against Cronin. The man from Savanah, Georgia put up a good fight, but in the end Robilotto’s chip lead proved too much to overcome… it also helped he picked up aces in the final hand.

“This is one of my top three cashes, and I’ve been playing poker a long time,” said Robilotto. “I’ll be playing in the Main Event next week.”

When it comes to bestbet Jacksonville, it’s unwise to bet against Robilotto. In October 2016, he placed 21st in the World Poker Tour Bounty Scramble Main Event for $16,380, and he also made back-to-back final tables in the MSPT bestbet $200 NLHE Prelim event finishing runner-up for $7,472 in Season 6 and seventh for $2,044 in Season 7.

Others who cashed the event were Day 1c chip leader Tan Nguyen (17th – $1,488), Day 1b chip leader Kelley Slay (10th - $2,479), and Day 1a chip leader Bryan Brozman (5th - $6,612). In addition, Brozman was awarded a $1,500 chip leader bonus in his flight, while Kelley and Tan earned $1,000 and $500 respectively. Defending champ Blake Whittington was not in attendance.

result

The RESULTS

Rank
Player Name
City
State
Amount
Points
1
FL 
$26,814
533
2
GA 
$19,000
467
3
FL 
$19,000
433
4
Sylva 
NC 
$19,000
400
5
SC 
$6,612
367
6
SC 
$5,785
333
7
Keota 
IA 
$4,959
300
8
FL 
$4,132
267
9
FL 
$3,306
233
11
FL 
$2,149
200
12
FL 
$2,149
200
13
SC 
$2,149
167
14
FL 
$1,818
167
15
SC 
$1,818
167
16
FL 
$1,818
133
17
FL 
$1,488
133
18
Macon 
GA 
$1,488
133
19
FL 
$1,488
100
20
GA 
$1,488
100
21
Lodi 
WI 
$1,157
100
22
FL 
$1,157
100
23
FL 
$1,157
100
24
GA 
$1,157
100
25
NC 
$1,157
100
26
FL 
$1,157
100
27
NC 
$1,157
100
29
FL 
$1,157
67
30
FL 
$1,157
67
31
FL 
$992
67
32
SC 
$992
67
33
FL 
$992
67
34
FL 
$992
67
35
York 
PA 
$992
67
36
SC 
$992
67
37
FL 
$992
33
39
Senoia 
GA 
$992
33
40
NY 
$992
33
41
FL 
$826
33
42
GA 
$826
33
43
FL 
$826
33
44
FL 
$826
33
45
FL 
$826
33
46
FL 
$826
17
47
SC 
$826
17
48
FL 
$826
17
49
FL 
$826
17
50
FL 
$826
17
51
FL 
$661
17
52
FL 
$661
17
53
FL 
$661
17
54
FL 
$661
17
56
FL 
$661
17
57
KY 
$661
17
58
FL 
$661
17
59
NC 
$661
17
60
GA 
$661
17