JACK Cleveland Casino

Anthony Cico Wins MSPT Ohio Poker State Championship

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to JACK Cleveland Casino for the Ohio Poker State Championship and the was one for the record books.

The $1,110 buy-in, $500K GTD Main Event was one to remember as a total of 1,041 entries (226 from Day 1a; 339 from 1b; 476 from 1c) were tallied, which blasted passed the venue’s previous best field of 991 last May and the $1,008,270 prize pool was the first milly breaker in an Ohio casino.

After 12 hours of play, it was Anthony Cico who navigated his way through to the finish line was for a $140,771 first place prize along with his first MSPT title.

“It feels great to be honest,” Cico continued, “I haven’t really played poker in a few years, and this was my first MSPT event ever so it feels really awesome.”

The six-figure score was definitely a milestone for Cico as he doesn’t have much to his name in live earnings but all you need is a little luck according to him as he ended by saying,

“It was all because of the lucky French fry.”

2023 MSPT JACK Cleveland Final Table Results

With 108 slated to get paid, a handful of players needed to exit before players reached the money. Among those to leave empty-handed were Brad Sailor, Katie Kopp, DJ MacKinnon, and Matt Park, to name a few.

Only one level needed to pass before the hand-for-hand process began and Godson Wright lost back-to-back hands to be eliminated on the money bubble.

After the bubble burst, the march to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday were, MSPT Season 14 POY points leader Jared Ingles (11th - $14,115), Frank Lagodich (16th - $9,881), MSPT champ Chan Pelton (29th - $4,436), MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard (62nd - $2,823), and MSPT champ Chance Kornuth (108th - $2,117).

Final Table Action

Once players took their seats at the final table, it didn't take long for action to kick into gear as short stack Thomas Scott got his chips in the middle with Big Slick against Andrew Shields holding a suited queen-eight.

It was a rough start for Scott after the flop gave Sheilds trip queens to take a massive lead. Scott did pick up a Broadway draw but he was unable to complete it as he was the first final table elimination.

Shortly after, Van Tran got his chip stack in the middle on the button with a made hand of fours only to have Brent Ballentine wake up with a pair of eights in the big blind.

Unfortunately for Tran, he was unable to improve his hand and he made his exit in eighth place.

Next up was Ali Berry, whose crazy roller coaster day ended after he jammed king-ten into Dionta James' pocket kings.

Mike Iacovone waited patiently and finally found a hand to roll with as he called off his stack with a made hand of eights against Andrew Shields holding a ten-five suited.

Shields was trying to make a move, and in the end, it paid off as he rivered a flush to eliminate Iacovone in sixth place for $37,305.

The final table misfortune continued as Nathan Early’s freeroll came to an end after his pocket jacks were cracked by Shields suited ace-five.

That hand left Early short and after receiving a double, he was outkicked by Cico to take home $48,396 for his fifth place finish.

After Early’s departure, it didn’t take long for an ICM chop discussion to take place and after the numbers were calculated, a deal was agreed upon with Anthony Cico taking home the title along lion’s share for the record-breaking prize pool.

This wraps up our coverage of yet another record-breaking tournament so make sure you join us when we make our way back to Larchwood, Iowa for its $1,110 Main Event at Grand Falls Casino March 10th - 12^th!

Brent Ballentine Eliminated in 2nd Place ($106,890)

After 12 hard hours of play, Brent Ballentine has ended the tournament in second place for $102,278 for his best ever finish in an MSPT main event.

Dionta James Eliminated in 3rd Place ($102,278)

After 12 hours of play on Day 2, Dionta James has ended the tournament in third place for $102,278 for his best ever finish in an MSPT main event.

Andrew Shields Eliminated in 4th Place ($100,804)

After 12 hours of play on Day 2, Andrew Shields has ended the tournament in fourth place for $100,804 for a career best score.

Nathan Early Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,396)

After receiving a double-up, Nathan Early jammed for 960,000 from the cutoff after Andrew Shields raised to 300,000 under the gun, and only Anthony Cico called from the small blind.

Nathan Early:
Anthony Cico:

Cico had Early dominated and the flop didn’t change a thing.

The turn paired the board bringing possible chop outs, but the completed the board and ended Early’s free roll.

Anthony Cico - 10,665,000
Brent Ballentine - 5,620,000
Dionta James - 4,910,000
Andrew Shields - 4,840,000
Nathan Early - Eliminated

Shields Rivers Ace to Double Through Early

Anthony Cico raised to 400,000 from cutoff and Andrew Shields three-bet all in for 2,495,000 from the small blind.

Cico tossed out the chips for a call, but it was out of turn, action was on Nathan Early who took the opportunity to four-bet over the top holding 250,000 more.

Cico quickly released his hand, and the two players tabled their cards.

Andrew Shields:
Nathan Early:

Shields was at risk needing help, but none came on the flop.

Luckily for Shields, his fortune turned around as the turn followed by the river secured his double-up with two-pair.

Andrew Shields - 5,000,000
Nathan Early - 250,000

Mike Iacovone Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,305)

Andrew Shields open-jammed under the gun for 1,525,000 and action folded to Mike Iacovone who called from the small blind.

Andrew Shields:
Mike Iacovone:

Iacovone was ahead with his made hand of eights and improved after the flop gave him a set, but it also gave Shields big draws.

The turn didn’t change anything as Iacovone needed to fade the river.

Unfortunately for him, the feat was easier said than done, as the completed the flush for Shields, leaving Mike Iacovone just 80k behind which was gone the very next hand.

Andrew Shields - 3,200,000
Mike Iacovone - Eliminated

MSPT Returns to Grand Falls

Once again, the MSPT is headed to Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, IA from February 16th - March 12th.

A series of $70 and $265 satellites will feed into the $1,110 buy-in MSPT218 Main Event, which requires players be 21+ to play.

The tournament, which will offer a $200K GTD, will offer two starting flights starting with Day 1A at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 10th.

Day 1B will take place at the same time on Saturday, March 11th. The surviving players from both flights will then return at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 12th to play down to a winner.

Also, on that Sunday there will be a $250 NLH Last Chance Casino Bonus Event beginning at Noon.

Click here for a look at the full MSPT Grand Falls schedule.

Chip Counts from After Break

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Anthony Cico	11,750,000	8,500,000
Dionta James	3,700,000	3,750,000
Nathan Early	3,500,000	2,700,000
Andrew Shields	2,800,000	4,600,000
Mike Iacovone	1,900,000	2,100,000
Brent Ballentine	1,700,000	2,200,000

Ali Berry Eliminated in 7th Place ($29,239)

Ali Berry open-jammed for 1,600,000 from the hijack and Dionta James isolated on the button.

Ali Berry:
Dionta James:

Berry was in rough shape after seeing James roll over a pair of cowboys and the flop didn’t change a thing.

The turn gave Berry some hope as the fell giving him a Broadway draw, but the completed the board on the river and ended his Main Event.

Dionta James - 3,750,000
Ali Berry - Eliminated