Grand Falls Casino

Kevin Nguyen Wins MSPT Grand Falls Main Event for $83,109

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to Iowa's Grand Falls Casino, just outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for their $1,110 Main Event.

Another solid turnout of 391 entries were recorded over two days with 56 players finding their way into Sundays Day 2 with their eyes set on the title.

Only one player was able to do so, and after 9 hours of play, it was Kevin Nguyen who navigated his way through to the finish line for a $83,109 first-place prize along with his first MSPT title.

“It feels awesome, I really have nothing else to say,” Nguyen said after his win.

Nguyen rarely gets out to play poker but does, he best to try and play when the tour visits his hometown.

“I don’t really play too often but when you guys come into town I try and make sure to play,” Nguyen continued, “This is a great tour, and the staff is amazing, so I definitely make sure to come and play.”

This marks Nguyen’s fourth time cashing here Grand Falls and bested his 17th place finish from last August with his victory today.

2023 MSPT Grand Falls Main Event Final Table Results

With 45 slated to get paid, nearly a dozen players needed to exit before players reached. Among those to leave empty-handed were MSPT champ Chris Burke, TJ Murphey, Paul Park, Elizabeth Ethridge, and Nick Herman just to name a few.

After the bubble burst, the march to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were MSPT champ Dan DQ Hendrickson (11th - $6,044), Alex Wheeler (18th - $4,155), Luke Blindert (31st - $2,267), and MSPT champ's Max Havlish (38th - $2,078) & Umut Ozturk (42nd - $2,078).

Final Table Action

Nguyen entered the final table well ahead of the rest with a healthy 3.3 million stack, and once players returned from their dinner break, it didn't take long before players started dropping like flies.

The speedy race to crown a new champion started with Jason Gish losing a race to Mark Weber to be the first final table elimination while Mike Estes was out-kicked by MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson for an eighth-place finish.

Scott Sisler was next on the chopping block after he failed to hit live cards against Dan Dykhouse, taking a seventh-place finish with Jens Jensen following suit after he was flushed out on the river by Nguyen.

Ngyuen would continue his elimination spree by dropping Johnson in fifth place for $20,777 while fellow MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn lost a race to Weber to take home $27,577 for his fourth-place efforts.

Three-handed action saw Weber close the gap by doubling through Nguyen, only to give it all to Dykhouse a few short hands later.

The heads-up match started with Dykhouse holding almost a 3:1 chip advantage over Nguyen but after two doubles, Nguyen sent Dykhouse home in second place for $51,376.

The MSPT is headed across the state to Riverside, Iowa for the $1,110 Main Event being held March 15th-19th, so make sure to come back to find out who will be crowned the new MSPT Main Event Champion!

Dan Dykhouse Eliminated in 2nd Place ($51,376)

Dan Dykhouse raised all in preflop and Kevin Nguyen called.

Dan Dykhouse:
Kevin Nguyen:

Dykhouse was behind holding suited live cards but couldn't get any help from the runout and he made his exit in second place for $51,376.

Kevin Nguyen - 9,775,000
Dan Dykhouse - Eliminated

Nguyen Straightens Out Dykhouse to Take Chip Lead

Kevin Nguyen got his 3,305,000 stack in the middle on a board and was called by Dan Dykhouse.

Kevin Nguyen:
Dan Dykhouse:

Nguyen pulled ahead after turning the straight and the river secured his double-up.

Kavin Nguyen - 7,275,000
Dan Dykhouse - 2,500,000

MSPT Running Aces Minnesota State Poker Championship March 23rd - April 2nd

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is making its way back to Minnesota for the Minnesota Poker State Championship at Running Aces Casino from March 23rd - April 2nd.

The 13-event series will is headlined by the $1,110 Main Event which will be held March 30th - April 2nd, with three starting flights before the field combines on Sunday to compete for the MSPT title.

Recent MSPT Running Aces winners include MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn ($181,864), & Chan Pelton ($150,512).

For a complete list of the schedule click here.

Ten in the Window Secures Nguyen a Double

Dan Dykhouse raised to 300,000 and then called the 2,175,000 three-bet jam from Kevin Nguyen.

Kevin Nguyen:
Dan Dykhouse:

Nguyen was ahead and saw a ten in the window on the flop to keep the lead.

Neither the turn nor the river changed a thing as the stacks are nearly even in the heads-up match.

Dan Dykhouse - 5,425,000
Kevin Nguyen - 4,350,000

Mark Weber Eliminated in 3rd Place ($37,399)

Mark Weber was all in preflop from the big blind and was called by Dan Dykhouse from the button.

Mark Weber:
Dan Dykhouse:

Weber was behind but a nine did appear in the window on the flop which also gave Dykhouse an open-ended straight draw.

Unfortunately for Weber, his sweat didn’t last long as the dealer turned the to complete Dykhouse’s straight, and then dropped the on the river for good measure, ending Weber’s tournament in third place for $37,399.

Dan Dykhouse - 7,000,000
Kevin Nguyen - 2,775,000
Mark Weber - Eliminated

Weber Doubles Through Nguyen

Kevin Nguyen raised to 120,000 on the button and then called the 1,820,000 three-bet jam Mark Weber made from the small blind.

Mark Weber:
Kevin Nguyen:

Nguyen had Weber dominated until a jack appeared in the window on the flop.

The turn didn’t change a thing nor did the river and Weber put himself right back into the mix with three players remaining.

Dan Dykhouse - 5,000,000
Mark Weber - 3,640,000
Kevin Nguyen - 2,000,000

Blake Bohn Eliminated in 4th Place ($27,577)

Blake Bohn raised all in for 975,000 from the cutoff and Mark Weber called off his 955,000 stack from the small blind.

Mark Weber:
Blake Bohn:

Bohn was ahead with his made hand until the dealer dropped a flop giving Weber the nuts.

The paired the board on the turn giving Bohn a glimpse of hope if a ten or seven were to fall on the river, but the completed the board and Weber collected his double while Bohn was left with just 20,000 and departed the very next hand.

Mark Weber - 1,820,000
Blake Bohn - Eliminated

Aaron Johnson Eliminated in 5th Place ($20,777)

Action folded to Kevin Nguyen who raised all in and Aaron Johnson called off his short stack from the big blind.

Aaron Johnson:
Kevin Nguyen:

The flop paired Nguyen’s jack leaving Johnson needing running help, but neither the turn nor the river were the cards Johnson needed as made his exit in fifth place for $20,777.

Kevin Nguyen - 4,000,000
Aaron Johnson - Eliminated

Jens Jensen Eliminated in 6th Place ($15,866)

Kevin Nguyen raised to 120,000 under the gun and then called the 400,000 three-bet jam Jens Jensen made from the hijack.

Jens Jensen:
Kevin Nguyen:

Jensen had Nguyen dominated and paired his queen on the flop, but it also gave Nguyen the nut flush draw.

The paired the board on the turn and Jensen just needed to fade a club on the river to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Jensen, a Main Event title wasn’t going to be his birthday present as the dealer dropped the on the river, ending his run in sixth place for $15,866.

Kevin Nguyen - 3,800,000
Jens Jensen - Eliminated