Hollywood Casino Columbus

The MSPT headed east to the Hollywood Casino in Columbus, Ohio to host its inaugural $1,110 Main Event272 for the Season 15 Winter Poker Classic Finale!

A total of three starting flights pulled together a 672-entry field which was enough to blast the $500k guarantee and generated a $650,340 prize pool.

On Sunday, only 72 players returned for Day 2 action, and after a hefty 13 hours of play, it was Ohio native Gary McGolthlin coming out on top to win the $117,814 top prize and his first MSPT Winter Poker Classic Main Event Title!

“It feels great,” McGolthlin said after securing his first MSPT victory. “It was a long weekend of ups and downs but it’s awesome to be able to close it out.”

It was a long road to victory for McGolthlin who came into the final day with a top 20 stack, but had his eyes set on the finish line from the start.

“The first text I sent people today was telling them there were 71 players between me and $100k,” McGolthlin ended by saying with a smile on his face, “I continued that all the way down to the final table and was told not to come home until I get first place so, I guess I get to go home now.”

The final day came back with 72 players already in the money, and action kicked right into gear with two-time MSPT champ Bobby Noel making his way to the payout desk to become the first elimination of the day.

The first elimination sparked a fire in the field as players started to follow the two-time cham to the payout desk as Louie Moore, Garrett Davis, Angela Shade, and Lisa Harbaugh, all fell in the first batches of knockouts.

With players continuing to make their way to the payout line, two-time MSPT champ Chris Meyers was stacking chips looking to become the eighth player in tour history to win at least three Main Event titles.

While the two-time champ was to make a deep run, it wasn’t as far as hoped, as he bowed out in 23^rd place for $4,682. The run wouldn’t go without purpose as it marked his 23^rd Main Event cash meaning, he only needs two more to earn his respected spot in the coveted MSPT Hall of Fame.

After Meyers’ departure, back-to-back Player of the Year Umut Ozturk (21^st Place - $5,593), Andy Hammell (19^th Place - $5,593), Brian Hall (16th Place - $6,503), MSPT champ Alex Cruz (14^th Place - $7,804), and start of day chip leader Patrick Lacy (11^th Place - $7,040) all hit the rail in short succession, setting the stage for the final table.

Final Table Action

The final table started with Connor Burchwell holding the top spot but after a few levels went by and failing to pull off a bluff against Kevin Stroud, he fell to the bottom of the counts.

After looking to make a move with a weak ace, Stroud called and was able to flush him out the door for the first final table elimination.

The knockout catapulted Stroud to the top of the counts but after a failed couple of bluffs of his own, Stroud found himself at risk against Lenny Pisano’s pair of kings.

Stroud was a holding a ace-queen off suit looking for help but couldn’t find any on the runout, as he followed Burchwell to the payout cage.

The final table elimination spree would continue with Xayadeth Kayavong being flushed out in seventh place by Pisano while Robert Councell and MSPT champ Abdul Amer fell quickly after in sixth and fifth place to Louis Shade respectively.

The back-to-back eliminations for Shade would send him right back to the top of the counts only to lose a few more swings before ultimately being flushed in fourth place for $44,874 by soon-to-be champ McGolthlin.

Three-handed action started with Pisano holding a slight chip advantage over his two opponents until he dusted Dalton Jones in third place for $60,482, to take a commanding chip lead into the heads-up battle.

The heads-up match started off with a bang with McGolthlin catching some lady luck to secure the first double-up and take the chip lead.

A furious game of pass and catch doubles would pursue which saw each player fall and climb back into the lead until a final all-in saw Pisano take a runner-up finish for $96,814 while McGolthlin secured his first MSPT title to go along with a cool $117,815 payday!

Umut Ozturk Wins MSPT Player of the Year and 2024 ICON Packages

MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk came into the weekend with a pre-notion he had the Season 15 Player of the Year locked up as the other two players who were in the running weren’t going to be in attendance this weekend and after registration closed on Day 1c, he officially became the first player ever to win the award twice, and he has done it in back-to-back seasons!

Ozturk went on another incredible tear this year cashing for a record 19 times for $145,143 and came into the final day only being 225 points behind fellow Hall of Famer Josh Reichard in the tight 2024 ICON standings.

Knowing he had to make a deep run and coming into the final day with a top 15 stack, Ozturk maneuvered his way to where he needed and secured a final 400 points to lock up his second WPT package this season!

Ozturk has now cemented himself in the record books in back-to-back seasons for not only the most cashes in a single season with 19 but also claiming the title of back-to-back Player of the Year honors!

This wraps up our coverage of a very memorable 15th season but make sure to join us for the Season 16 opener January 2^nd - 5^th as MSPT will be making its way to the Venetian Las Vegas the $1,110 Main Event 273 being reported by our MSPT live reporting team so make sure to tune in!