Golden Gates Casino - Black Hawk, CO
March 23-26, 2017
Main Event: 893 Entrants
Corey Zedo Wins MSPT Golden Gates Regional, $47,420!
Back in February, the Heartland Poker Tour held a $300 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament that drew 871 entrants, which made it the largest poker tournament by attendance ever held in Colorado. The record didn’t last long.
From March 23-26, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) set a new record by attracting 893 entries in the MSPT Golden Gates $360 Regional Event.
After two days of play, Corey Zedo, formerly of Orlando now residing in Denver, emerged victorious to capture a $47,420 prize after a heads-up chop with Drew Schulz. It marked a career-high score for Zedo and brought his lifetime earnings up to $269,293.
“It felt great,” said Zedo, who plays poker while investing in small entrepreneurial ventures. “I spend a lot of time up here playing tournaments, so having cards cooperate in big spots was really nice.”
Zedo, who has been in a longtime relationship with girlfriend Andrea, reflected on the turning point of his tournament, as well as what inspired the chop.
“There was one big hand where someone overplayed a pair and I had aces,” he said. “I got a full double. Having them hold in that big hand allowed me to play comfortably the rest of the day, so that was a big one. Heads-up, we were close in chips so we ended up chopping straight up, though I got the trophy because I had the chip lead. He played really well, and it was an honor to take away a chop as anything can happen heads up.”
Other highlights on his poker résumé include fifth in the 2014 World Series of Poker Circuit Lodge Casino Main Event for $28,967, fifth in the 2015 HPT Daytona Beach Main Event for $28,350, and 10th in the 2014 Venetian Deepstack Extravaganza III Event #66: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $27,452.
Furthermore, Zedo has cashed every season since the MSPT started coming to Golden Gates back in Season 5. In November 2015, Zedo finished 36th in the Main Event for $2,425, and a year after that he placed ninth in the same tournament for $9,893. In April 2016, he notched his Season 7 cash by finishing 12th in the Main Event for $7,239, and his Regional win, which brought his total MSPT earnings up to $66,977, gave him his Season 8 cash.
Zedo also won $4,000 for taking down a $200 no-limit hold’em deepstack side event during last November’s MSPT stop.
Others who cashed in the tournament include Sammy Aweida (5th - $11,788), Michael Wolf (18th - $2,143), World Series of Poker Colossus II champ Ben Keeline (28th - $1,366), Danny Gonzalez (45th - $1,125), Kevin “1$ickDisea$E”” Eyster (52nd - $991), and Kirk Miller (81st - $697).
The latest tournament marked the fifth time the MSPT has hosted a Regional Event at the property. The inaugural event, which took place two years ago, attracted 637 entries and saw Bruce Carter come out on top for $45,883. In November 2015, Bobby Sanoubane bested a field of 770 entries to win $33,000 after a heads-up chop with Troy Allgeier.
Last year, Stephen Zipprich outlasted 835 runners in the spring Regional for $29,331 after an eight-way chop, and in November “Money” Mike Maruna won $50,997 after besting a field 838 entries.
Congratulations to Corey Zedo, winner of the 2017 MSPT $360 Regional Event at Golden Gates Casino!