FireKeepers Casino

Nevada Saad Bags Day 1c Chip Lead in Back-to-Back Events; Both Former Michigan State Poker Champs Survive

The 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour Michigan State Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino shattered records. With 884 entrants (195 on Day 1a; 338 Day 1b; and 351 Day 1c) taking to the felt, the $1,100 buy-in Main Event not only became the largest tournament in Michigan history, it also marks the largest non-Vegas event for the tour in its seven-season history.

The record-breaking event, which shattered its $300,000 advertised guarantee by creating an $884,000 total prize pool, surpassed May’s MSPT FireKeepers Main Event, which had set its own record with 820 entries. On Sunday, 179 players will return to Day 2 action, each looking to make the money at the top 81. If they do, they will secure a minimum payday of $2,226, but of course everyone will have their eyes firmly fixed on the $188,314 first-place prize (though the $114,701 consolation prize for the eventual runner-up isn’t bad either).

As for Day 1c, it proved to be the largest of the three starting flights, but after 14 levels of play, just 67 players remained with Nevada Saad (pictured above) and his stack of 338,500 leading the way. Interestingly, Saad also bagged the chip lead on Day 1c of May’s event, though with “just” 262,500. Still, that was enough to give him the overall chip lead heading into Day 2, and amazingly he’s done it again in back-to-back events as he etched out Casey Carroll (287,500) and Parris Collins (318,000), who had finished as the Days 1a and 1b chip leaders respectively.

Another exciting story from Day 1c was that of reigning Michigan State Poker Champ Michael Ferrarotti, who chip up steadily through the night and bagged 106,500. That means a title defense could be in the cards. However, Ferrarotti wasn’t the only Michigan State Poker champ to advance as Ryan Dykhouse, who won the inaugural event in 2014, survived the night with a stack of 82,000.

Others who made it through to Day 2 were Kirby Rogers (304,500), Eric Stocz (185,500), Imari Love (150,500), “Wild” Bill Romer (127,000), Jeff Fielder (117,000), Mike Holm (110,500), MSPT Season 4 Player of the Year Pat Steele (78,500), MSPT Season 5 POY Mike Deis (65,500), Aaron Steury (59,000), and Jason Smith (50,500), who finished third in May’s event.

Of course not everyone could be so fortunate. Among those to try and fail on Day 1c were MSPT Wisconsin State Poker champ Andy Rubinberg; John Sun, who won’t be adding any points to his MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year lead; and two-time MSPT champ Jason Zarlenga, just to name a few.

At 11 a.m. on Sunday, the remaining players will return to play down to a winner. The final table will be broadcast LIVE (15-minute delay) worldwide on msptpoker.com using RFID technology allowing all viewers to see the hole cards. In addition, all the action will be live reported right here in the MSPT live blog. Be sure to join us then to see who becomes the 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Champion!

End-of-Day 1c Chip Counts

Two More Hands

The tournament staff just announced the remaining players will play two more hands before bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a the Day 1c recap, a list of chip counts, and the Day 2 seat draw.

Hao Wu Gets Luck in His First Poker Tournament

Hao Wu is playing in his first poker tournament, and he just experienced the thrill of getting there on the river.

We missed the preflop action, but we do know that Sun and another player were all in for 64,600 and 29,400 respectively against Blake Luther, who had them both covered and dominated.

Luther:
Wu:
Opponent:

Luther maintained his lead on the flop as well as the turn. However, you see the title of this post so you know what’s coming... !

Wu let out a little cheer while Luther was understandably frustrated.

Hao Wu - 150,000
Blake Luther - 80,000

A Look at the Reigning Michigan State Poker Champ

One year ago in just his fourth-ever Mid-States Poker Tour event, Michael Ferrarotti topped a field of 559 entrants to win the 2^nd Annual MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship, which you can read about by clicking here.

Originally from Redford, Michigan, Ferraroti was primarily a cash game player in the Detroit area before taking up tournaments in 2014.

For his win, which included defeating Bill Rogers in heads-up play, Ferrarotti took home a first-place prize of $134,642. That’s still the only MSPT cash of Ferrarotti’s career, but he looks to change that here at FireKeepers as he’s in action here late on Day 1c with a decent stack.

Michael Ferrarotti – 125,000

Once Again Nevada Saad Looks to Claim Overall Chip Lead

Back in May, Nevada Saad bagged the chip lead on Day 1c of the MSPT FireKeepers, which at the time was a record-setting event with 820 entries. Saad’s 262,500 was enough to give him the overall chip lead heading into Day 2, and amazingly he could very well do it again in the 2016 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship as he’s sitting with a massive stack of 400K!

It happened when MSPT Season 4 Player of the Year Patrick Steele raised and Kashat called. Saad then three-bet to 15,000, Steele folded, and Kashat called before checking dark.

When the flop came down , Saad moved all in and Kashat snap-called off a big stack holding . Unfortunately for him it was no good as Saad held .

Help failed to arrive for Kashat, and his tournament came to an end late on Day 1c.

Nevada Saad - 400,000
Firas Kashat - Busted

Kirby Rogers Sends One Packing

After Kirby Rogers opened with a raise from early position, a player three-bet to 16,000 from middle position. Action folded back to Rogers, and he opted to move all in to put his opponent, who had 60,000 or so back, to the test. His opponent thought long and hard before committing.

Rogers:
Opponent:

It was a flip, but Roger’s opponent needed to improve to stay alive. That didn’t happen though as the board ran out a lowly .

Kirby Rogers - 200,000

Rob Kroeger Continues to Roll

A short-stacked player moved all in for 19,000 and Rob Kroeger, who we’ve caught in some big hands throughout the day, called from the small blind.

Kroeger:
Opponent:

It was a flip, but Kroeger needed to omprove to eliminate his opponent. The flop didn’t do anything for him, but the turn did give him an open-ended straight draw. The dealer burned one last time and put out the . Kroeger hit his card and sent yet another player to the rail.

Rob Kroeger - 130,000

Last Break of the Night

Players are now on their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return they’ll play two more levels before bagging and tagging for the night.

A Look at the Next Stop -- MSPT Returns to Iowa for Last Time in Season 7 Oct. 29 Through Nov. 6

For the last time in Season 7, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is headed back to Iowa. From October 29 – November 6, Meskwaki Casino in Tama will play host to a series of satellites, bonus events, and a capstone $1,100 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed Main Event.

"Meskwaki Casino has been a staple on our schedule dating back to 2012, and it continues to maintain its position as one of the tour's most popular stops," said MSPT President Bryan Mileski. "Players tend to flock to the stop not only because of the $300,000 guarantee, but because the folks at Meskwaki know how to treat poker players. For them, there's no bigger priority than offering quality customer service, which is reflected in their tournaments."

The stop, which requires players be just 18 years or older to participate, will hold its Main Event from Friday, November 4 through Sunday, November 6. Day 1a will kick off Friday evening with Day 1a at 4 p.m. with the plan of playing 14 levels. Day 1b will then take place at the same time on Saturday. Players who advance from Main Event Flight 1a to Day 2 are not eligible to play in Flight 1b. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned.

The Main Event final table will be broadcast LIVE (15-minute delay) worldwide on msptpoker.com using RFID technology allowing all viewers to see the hole cards. In addition, the entirety of the Main Event will be live reported in the MSPT live blog, which can be found on msptpoker.com once the tournament begins. Simply look for the neon green button that reads "Live Updates."

The last time the MSPT visited the property was back in July when John Sun, who currently holds a strong lead in the MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year race, topped a field of 451 entries to win the 2^nd Annual Iowa State Poker Championship for $104,627.

Before that, 34-year-old Keith Heine topped a field of 409 entries back in March to capture a $100,981 first-place prize. Other past winners of the MSPT Meskwaki include Rich Alsup (November 2015; 410 entries; $101,229 prize), MSPT Pro Blake Bohn (July 2015; 410 entries; $101,229 prize), and Chad Willett (March 2015; 371 entries; $96,760 prize), just to name a few.

In addition to the satellites and Main Event, Meskwaki Casino will host two bonus events. The first is on Monday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. and is a $50 no-limit hold'em rebuy event with 20-minute levels. The second, a $20 no-limit hold'em rebuy, will then be held at the same time on Tuesday, November 1.

Here's a look at the MSPT Meskwaki schedule:

Located in Tama, Iowa — between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids on Highway 30 — Meskwaki Casino features a huge bingo hall, table games, active craps tables, good blackjack games, horse book, indoor pool, exercise room, spa, and a large number of hotel rooms. For players looking to fly to the stop, the airport in Des Moines is the closest option.