Riverside Casino

Nick Barksdale Wins MSPT Riverside $1,110 Main Event for Second Title ($129,740)

The MSPT returned to Riverside Casino for a third and hosted its final $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event of Season 14.attracting 654 Main Event entrants!

On Sunday, only 77 players returned for Day 2 action, and after roughly 12 hours of play, it was Nick Barksdale coming out on top to win the $129,749 top prize and his second MSPT title this year!

“It feels really good”, Barksdale said after his victory, “It was a really tough final table that could have gone in any direction, but I was fortunate enough to walk away with a second title this year.”

Barksdale came into the day holding a top ten stack and had a rollercoaster ride throughout it which eventually led to him taking a top four stack to the final table which cheered on by a great supporting cast.

“It was great having wife here the whole time,” Barksdale continued, “She was able to go to Blackhawk with me earlier in the year when I took that one down, and she doesn’t get to come to many tournaments with me, so this is very unique that she's here again when I win so she’s definitely my good luck charm and I’m glad she was here along with my step-daughter Audrey who was here with her boyfriend Ben (McCoy) who played extremely well at this final table with me.”

With his family here to rail him on, Barksdale was able to finish off half of his remaining eight opponents at the final table enroute to his second MSPT title this year and ended by saying, “I Love this tour, I think all the tournaments are ran fanatically with extremally nice staff, and I just love seeing it continue to grow.”

With 72 slated to get paid, only five players needed to exit before players reached the money. Among those to leave empty-handed were MSPT champ Max Havlish, Mike Estes, Ryan Demeter, and Matt Seiter.

Once the tournament hand-for-hand process, only a few hands were played before Cody Jaeschke jammed into by Scott Moses’ pair of ladies, and the march to the final table began.

Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were four-time MSPT champ Ken Komberec (10th Place - $9,493), defending champ Ben Pettinger (11th Place - $9,493), Brett “Pops” Reichard (13th Place - $7,595), MSPT champ Derek McMaster (16th Place - $6,329), and DJ Buckley (27th Place - $3,671).

Once the player returned from their dinner break, short stack Darin Utley was able to find a double trough MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz and got a pay jump after Casey Blakeley was set up by Asa Snyder.

Utley’s good fortune continued as he coolered WazWaz for another double just before Mike Bowersock jammed his pocket threes into soon to bet two-time MSPT champ Barksdale’s pocket queens.

After Bowersock’s elimination, Utley was able to find a pair of lucky ladies himself to climb to the top of the chip counts and watched Joby Steffeusmeier depart in seventh place, while Bou Leuaxay made his exit in sixth place.

Utley’s good fortune would continue after he flushed Ben McCoy’s pocket kings on the turn as he took home a fifth place finish for $32,910.

Unfortunately for Utley, his luck at the final table would run out after he jammed his king-queen off suite into Snyder’s dominating Big Slick and took a fourth-place finish for $43,669.

With three players remaining, Snyder held half the chips in play, but chips shuffled around until MSPT Hall of Famer WazWaz jammed into Barksdale’s pocket queens to take third place for $58,585.

From there, Barksdale held a significant chip advantage over Snyder and was able to win one final race to secure his second MSPT trophy and payday good for $129,740 while Snyder finished runner-up for $79,099.

The MSPT is returning to the Venetian Las Vegas November 25th - 29th to host back-to-back Main Events and the MSPT.com live reporting team will be on hand providing updates for both events so make sure to come back!

Asa Snyder Eliminated in 2nd Place ($79,099)

Asa Snyder was all in preflop and was called by Nick Barksdale.

Asa Snyder:
Nick Barksdale:

It was a classic race with Snyder looking to connect with either of his tow overs, but the feat was easier said than done as the runout ended his Main Event run in second-place for $79,099.

Nick Barksdale - 19,620,000
Asa Snyder - Eliminated

Rob WazWaz Eliminated in 3rd Place ($58,585)

After juts receiving a double-up, MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz was all-in for just over 3,000,000 from the small blind and Nick Barksdale called from the big blind.

Rob WazWaz:
Nick Barksdale:

WazWaz was behind needing help but didn’t find any on the runout and he was eliminated in third place for $58,585.

With his third place finish, WazWaz inched his way closer in the POY race this season after recording an 18th MSPT Main Event final table, and fifth this season.

Nick Barksdale - 13,145,000
Asa Snyder - 6,475,000
Rob WazWaz - Eliminated

WazWaz Out Kicks Snyder for Double Up

Asa Snyder raised the button and then called MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz’s 3,340,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

Rob WazWaz:
Asa Snyder:

WazWaz had Snyder dominated and the flop gave him top two-pair.

The turn did give WazWaz a little scare but the river put him right back in the mix.

Rob WazWaz - 6,540,000
Asa Snyder - 6,540,000
Nick Barksdale - 6,540,000

Darin Utley Eliminated in 4th Place ($43,669)

Darin Utley raised all in for 2,025,000 from the button and was called by MSPT champ Nick Barksdale from the small blind before Asa Snyder went over the top from the big blind.

Action was back on Barksdale who decided to lay his hand down and the other two players tabled their cards.

Darin Utley:
Asa Snyder:

The flop paired both players, but Utley wasn’t able to pull ahead as the turn followed by the river ended his Main Event run.

Asa Snyder - 10,420,000
Nick Barksdale - 6,000,000
Rob WazWaz - 3,200,000
Darin Utley - Eliminated

WazWaz Doubles Through Snyder

Asa Snyder opened from the button and then called MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz’s 1,620,000 from the small blind.

Rob WazWaz:
Asa Snyder:

WazWaz was ahead holding the better made hand and the runout secured his double-up.

Asa Snyder - 5,400,000
Rob WazWaz - 3,500,000

The MSPT Returns to the Venetian November 25th - 29th for Back-to-Back Main Events!

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is returning to the Venetian Las Vegas November 25th - 29th to host back-to-back Main Events!

Kicking things off will be the $1,100 $250K GTD Main Event which gives players a 25,000 starting stack and offers two starting flights with Day 1a starting bright and early at 11:10 a.m. on November 25th.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Sunday, November 26th with all surviving players from both flights returning for Day 2 at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 27th and will play until a winner is crowned.

Late registration for each flight will remain open until approximately 5:55 p.m. local time.

From November 27th - 29th, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) will play host to a second Main Event, this one costing $1,600 to enter and holds a $400,000 guarantee.

Day 1a will get started at 11:10 a.m. on November 27th, and players will start with 30,000 in chips with blind levels lasting 40-minutes.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Tuesday, November 28th, and Day 2 will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 29th.

Recent MSPT Venetian winners include George Janssen ($89,823), Michael Rocco ($54,049), Zack Fuentes ($117,060), James Romero ($171,167), Matthew Schulte ($118,874), and Corel Theuma ($113,900).

Who will be next to add their names to the list of aforementioned champions? The MSPT live reporting crew will be on hand to provide live updates as the answer to that question is determined.

Ben McCoy Eliminated in 5th Place ($32,910)

Ben McCoy was all in for 2,900,000 from the hijack after Darin Utley led out for 700,000 after a flop from the big blind and was called.

Ben McCoy:
Darin Utley:

McCoy was ahead holding a made hand of kings but didn’t have much of a sweat after the dealer turned the completing Utley’s flush and the river ended McCoy’s Main Event run.

Darin Utley - 7,700,000
Ben McCoy - Eliminated

Bou Leuaxay Eliminated in 6th Place ($24,682)

Bou Leuaxay open-jammed 810,000 from the hijack and Ben McCoy isolated from the cutoff.

Bou Leuaxay:
Ben McCoy:

Leuaxay was behind needing his ducks to fly high, but the runout sent them away in the wind.

Ben McCoy - 2,150,000
Bou Leuaxay - Eliminated

Joby Steffeusmeier Eliminated in 7th Place ($18,986)

Nick Barksdale raised from under the gun and then called Joby Steffeusmeier’s 780,000 three-bet jam from the button.

Joby Steffeusmeier:
Nick Barksdale:

Steffeusmeier was ahead, that was until the dealer dropped a flop giving Barksdale two-pair.

The turn did give Steffeusmeier some hope with a Broadway draw, but the river ended his Main Event run.

Nick Barksdale - 5,200,000
Joby Steffeusmeier - Eliminated