Meskwaki Casino

Wisconsin's John Sun Captures Iowa State Poker Championship for $104,627

The 2nd Annual Mid-States Poker Tour Iowa State Poker Championship at Meskwaki Casino attracted a 451-entry field (187 Day 1a & 264 Day 1b) -- which set a new state record for largest major ($1,000+ buy-in) – and after three days of intense action 40-year-old accountant and recreational player John Sun emerged victorious to capture a $104,627 first-place prize.

If you've ever watched one of our MSPT Potawatomi final table broadcasts, then there is a good chance you remember the entertaining Sun, who hails from Milwaukee and has a remarkable record on the MSPT. It started in Season 5 when he final tabled the MSPT Potawatomi, ultimately finishing in fifth place for $26,808. Two years later, which was in April of this year, he finished third in the same event for $50,017. Then, just last week, he placed seventh in the MSPT Potawatomi Regional Event for $9,497.

Sun only has three MSPT cashes on his résumé, and amazingly all are final table appearances at Potawatomi. Who knew it'd take his first visit to Iowa to play poker to finally claim victory.

"It feels great," Sun said after the win, which also propelled him to the top of the MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year Race with 3,200 points, a solid 800 ahead of TJ Thondup. "I guess I'll follow the MSPT for Season 7 now," Sun added.

The win brought Sun's lifetime earnings up to $306,744, which vaulted him to 17^th on Wisconsin's all-time money list. It's also worth noting that Sun defeated Iowa's Cory McCarthy in heads up play to take the title of Iowa State Poker Championship to the Badger State.

On Sunday, 78 players returned for Day 2 action, and with 45 spots paid, 33 of them would leave empty handed. Among those to fall were poker pro Kou Vang; Jay Philips, who was playing her first MSPT outside Minnesota; and bubble boy Vincent Wolrab, who fell after his ace-king fell to the eight-five of Kurt Morden.

Among those to earn a payday in Iowa were Keith Heine (42^nd - $2,180), who won the MSPT Meskwaki Spring Event back in March; the last woman in the field, Kathy Hartwick (31^st - $2,616); MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge (20^th - $3,270); and Day 1a chip leader Phil Mader (14^th - $5,668).

Usually MSPT final tables start with nine players, but because Reg Powell (11^th - $7,411) and Mark Reid (10^th - $7,411) busted simultaneously at separate tables, just nine advanced to the live-streamed finale. It proved to be an action-packed affair.

In just 26 hands, Mark Lick, Justin Brown, Morden and Brett Reichard all hit the rail. Reichard's sixth-place finish was noteworthy in that he began the final table as the second-shortest stack and simply sat back and watched players bust. It was enough to earn him $16,785 and give him both the best cash and finish in his MSPT career.

Tyler Newman was the next to go after growing short and shoving queen-jack into the ace-queen of Nebraska's Thomas Shea, who followed him out the door a short time later. After Randy Perkins bowed out in third, it came down to Sun and McCarthy, who was looking to keep the State Championship on home turf.

During three-handed play, McCarthy spiked a five outer on the river to double through Sun, who was railed by his cousin Mike Shin (fresh off a 12^th-place finish in the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event). As a result, Sun began heads-up play at a 5-1 chip disadvantage.

"I felt like I lost $50,000 right there," Sun said of the hand. "I swore a lot in the bathroom and came back."

As it turned out, Sun's final table experience paid off in a big way as he scored two doubles through McCarthy before chipping away at his opponent. In what would be the final hand, McCarthy shoved an open-ended straight draw on the flop and Sun called with pocket nines. The pair held and McCarthy had to settle for runner-up and a $63,216 consolation prize.

Season 7 of the MSPT continues August 6-14 with a $350 Regional Event at Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia, Minnesota. From there, it's onward to Tropicana Evansville for the Indiana State Poker Championship the weekend of August 19-21.

Cory McCarthy Eliminated in 2nd Place ($63,216)

In the final hand of the tournament, John Sun raised to 300,000 from the button and Cory McCarthy called to see a flop. McCarthy open-jammed and Sun snap-called.

Sun:

McCarthy:

McCarthy went with his open-ended straight draw, but it didn’t come in as the blanked on the turn followed by the river.

Cory McCarthy Eliminated in 2nd Place for $63,216

Cory McCarthy Wakes Up with Aces

Cory McCarthy moved all in from the button for 1.04 million and John Sun snap-called from the big blind.

Sun:

McCarthy:

The board ran out and McCarthy stayed alive.

John Sun - 6.89 million

Cory McCarthy - 2.12 million

John Sun Now Out on Top 5-1

When heads-up play began, John Sun was at a 5-1 chip disadvantage. The tables have turned.

After Cory McCarthy raised the button to 300,000, Sun moved all in for 3.8 million. McCarthy called and discovered he had the best hand.

McCarthy:

Sun:

There was a good chance of a chop, but not after the flop paired Sun. The turn gave McCarthy a flush draw, but he missed when the blanked on the river.

John Sun - 7.7 million

Cory McCarthy - 1.4 million

John Sun Ships a Double

John Sun open-shipped to 1.385 million and Cory McCarthy called him.

McCarthy:

Sun:

Sun needed some luck, and he got it when the flop paired him. The turn meant McCarthy could win with either an ace or queen, but it wasn’t in the cards as the bricked on the river.

Cory McCarthy - 6.22 million

John Sun - 2.79 million

Heads-Up Chip Counts

Cory McCarthy - 7.53 million

John Sun - 1.48 million

Randy Perkins Eliminated in 3rd Place ($41,199)

Chip leader Cory McCarthy raised the button to 300,000 only to have Randy Perkins three-bet all in for 1.15 million from the small blind. John Sun folded the big and McCarthy made a quick call.

McCarthy:

Perkins:

The flop gave McCarthy two pair, but Perkins flopped an open-ender and a spade flush draw. the turn left McCarthy’s rail calling for a red deuce, and the dealer delivered by putting out the , the last card Perkins would see in the 2nd Annual Iowa State Poker Championship.

Randy Perkins – Eliminated in 3rd Place for $41,199

"I'm Cursed"

In the last hand of Level 29, John Sun raised to 200,000 from the small blind and Cory McCarthy called from the big. McCarthy then called a bet of 300,000 on the flop. When the appeared on the turn, Sun fired out 600,000 and then called when McCarthy moved all in for 2.31 million.

Sun:

McCarthy:

Sun was well out in front and just needed to dodge a nine and king on the river. Much to his frustration, and McCarthy’s delight, the spiked to upset the balance.

“I’m cursed,” Sun lamented to his rail, obviously referencing his three prior final table appearances on the MSPT. “I’m pretty sure I’m cursed.”

Cory McCarthy - 6 million

John Sun - 1.9 million

Thomas Shea Eliminated in 4th Place ($28,556)

Action folded to Thomas Shea on the button and he moved all in for 820,000, which John Sun snap-called from the small blind.

Shea:

Sun:

The flop paired Sun, but it also gave Shea a gutshot to Broadway. The turn meant another diamond would result in a chop, but that didn’t happen as the paired the board on the river to send Shea home in fourth place.

John Sun - 6 million

Thomas Shea - Eliminated in 4th Place for $28,556

Sun Pulling Away

John Sun - 5.27 million

Cory McCarthy - 1.62 million

Randy Perkins - 1.35 million

Thomas Shea - 890,000