Grand Falls Casino

Dave Gonia Secures Second Main Event Title for $88,073 at Grand Falls!

For the second time this season, the MSPT traveled to Iowa's Grand Falls Casino, for their $1,110 Main Event.

A solid turnout of 414 entries were recorded over two days with 44 players finding their way into Sundays Day 2 with their eyes set on the title.

The final day saw 10 former champs return to the felt after roughly nine hours of play, it was Minnesota’s Dave Gonia who was the one to navigate his way to his second career title along with a payday good for $88,073.

“It feels good”, Gonia said after his win, “It’s been 11 years since my last win, so it’s nice to get another one under the belt.”

The victory not only notched Gonia his second MSPT title, but also marked his 14th Main Event MSPT cash which brought his career total to $413,054!

MSPT Season 15 Grand Falls Main Event Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 44 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with MSPT champ Erv Bjerga losing a big race to Loki Abboud in the first hand of the day.

Following Bjerga to the payout desk was fellow MSPT champ Gerald Cunniff after his flopped trip sevens had a kicker problem to Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz.

Fellow Hall of Famer Rich Alsup also had his Day 2 come up short of claiming a second title after his flush draw bricked the turn and river, making a 33rd exit for $2,450.

The fast-paced action kept rolling, and players like start of day chip leader Mo Nuwwarah (28^th Place - $2,450), MSPT Hall of Famer DQ Dan Hendrickson (21^st Place - $3,811), MSPT champ Jason Sell (15^th Place - $5,251), Tom Hammers (12^th - Place $6,541), and MSPT champ Sean Hinton (11^th Place - $6,451) all fell by the wayside setting up the stacked final table.

Final Table Action

The final table saw three former champs looking for their second piece of hardware with WazWaz holding the chip lead over his final eight opponents while Kevin McMahon entered the final table well in the middle of the pack holding an average stack, but after had an unfortunate turn of events after his pocket aces were set-up by Tyler Klumb’s pair of fours to become the first final table elimination.

The very next level saw some ICM failure after Warren Madison’s second-place chips hit the rail for an eighth place finish while MSPT champ Justin Lynch was able to get a few pay jumps before losing a flip to Ron Bay to be eliminated in seventh place.

With one former champ down, there were two remaining, and Hall of Famer WazWaz found himself at the bottom of the counts trying to make a move with king-queen off only to have Bay roll over a pair of eights.

While the temperatures may have cooled down for the week it's still summertime outside, but WazWaz was unable to melt Bay’s snowmen as he took a sixth place exit for $16,853.

The final table appearance extended WazWaz’s record to 19 on the tour, while also pushing him further away in the GOAT rankings as he was able to sneak up to the second place spot in the 2024 ICON rankings as he's just 100 points behind fellow Hall of Famer Josh Reichard.

Alex Wheeler came into the final table with the least amount of chips but was able to maneuver his way up the payday ladder by besting his seventh place finish from earlier this season after being outkicked by Jalen Heald to take home a fifth place finish for $22,054

Shortly after Wheeler’s departure, Klumb’s rollercoaster of a day came to an end after his ace-five failed to beat Heald’s king-six suited, as he walked to the payout desk in fourth place for $29,256.

Three-handed action saw Gonia hold slight lead, but chips shuffled around for a few levels which saw each player sit atop of the counts at one point until Bay lost two all-ins to Gonia, which led to him taking third place exit for $39,658.

After Bay’s elimination, Gonia held a 2:1 chip advantage over Heald and it didn’t take much time for him to secure his second career MSPT title while Held took a runner-up finish for $54,461.

The MSPT will be making its way to JACK Cleveland Casino from August 13^{th - 18th} to host another trophy series, and MSPT team will be on hand providing updates for the $500K GTD $1,110 Main Event so make sure to come back!

Jalen Heald Eliminated in 2nd Place ($54,461)

Jalen Heald raised all in and Dave Gonia looked him up.

Jalen Heald:
Dave Gonia:

Heald was at risk holding two live cards but couldn’t find either on the runout as he took a second place finish for $54,461 while Gonia secured his second MSPT Main Event title for $88,073.

Dave Gonia - 12,400,000
Jalen Heald - Eliminated

MSPT Returns to Sycuan Casino for the Season 15 Showdown Series September 12th - 22nd!

For the third time this season, the MSPT returns to Sycuan Casino in San Diego, California, for the Showdown Series, September 12th - 22nd!

A total of 15 trophy events will take place during the two-week span, which includes a $360 NLH Mystery Bounty ($100K GTD) during the opening weekend (September 12th - 15th).

The series will run into the headlined $1,110 Main Event running from Thursday, September 19th through Sunday, September 22nd, and will feature a $300K guarantee for its three starting flights.

The start of the New Year saw the MSPT crown Savo Mandarapa the first champ of Season 15 after he outlasted 451 runners to take home a $93,771 score while Noel Eicher became the defending champ after he ran through 313 runners in May enroute to a $61,693 payday.

Who will be next to add their name to the Season 15 winner list? The MSPT live reporting crew will be on hand to provide live updates as the answer to that question is determined.

Ron Bay Eliminated in 3rd Place ($39,658)

MSPT champ Dave Gonia raised the button and then called Ron Bay’s three-bet jam from the small blind.

Ron Bay:
Dave Gonia:

Both players rolled over made hands and once again, Gonia was holding the better one as the runout ended Bay’s run in third place for $39,658.

Dave Gonia - 8,190,000
Jalen Heald - 4,120,000
Ron Bay - Eliminated

Gonia Rides Rollercoaster to Double

MSPT champ Dave Gonia raised all in for 2,225,000 from the button and Ron Bay isolated from the small blind.

Dave Gonia:
Ron Bay:

Gonia was ahead holding the better made hand and the flop didn’t change that fact.

The turn however, fell the giving Bay a full house to take the lead.

Luckily for Gonia, his rollercoaster ride wasn’t over as the dealer dropped the on the river giving him a better full house to stay alive.

Jalen Heald - 5,225,000
Dave Gonia - 4,690,000
Ron Bay - 2,485,000

The MSPT Heads to Sin City for the 2024 NFL Kickoff!

The start of the 2024 NFL season will see the MSPT hold a $1,100 $500K GTD Main Event during the Venetian DeepStack Showdown Series, which gives players a 25,000 starting stack and offers three starting flights with Day 1a starting bright and early at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, September 5th.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, September 6th with Day 1c following suit on Saturday, September 7th.

All surviving players from the starting flights will return for Day 2 at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 8th, and will play until a winner is crowned.

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

MSPT Venetian winners this season include Sean Berman ($42,305 + Bounties), "Scary" Terry Fleischer ($98,101), Alexander Wong ($89,544), and Chris Meyers ($158,100).

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.

Heald Trips Up Gonia for a Double

MSPT champ Dave Gonia raised the button and Jalen Heald defended his big blind to see a flop.

Heald check-called a 150,000 continuation bet from Gonia, and then did the same for 300,000 after the paired the board on the turn.

After the completed the board on the river, Heald checked his option one last time only to call off his 1,505,000 stack after Gonia moved all-in.

Gonia rolled over for air while Heald tabled to collect the pot with tip aces.

Jean Heald - 5,300,000
Dave Gonia - 3,600,000
Ron Bay - 3,500,000

Bay Takes Back the Lead

Ron Bay raised to 200,000 from the button and MSPT champ Dave Gonia defended his big blind to see a flop.

Gonia check-called a 150,000 continuation bet from Bay, and then did the same for 300,000 after the fell on the turn.

Once the completed the board on the river, Gonia checked his option one last time and then mucked his hand to a final 500,000 bet from Bay.

Ron Bay - 6,400,000
Dave Gonia - 4,200,000
Jalen Heald - 1,800,000

The MSPT Returns to Ameristar East Chicago August 27th - September 2nd!

For the first time this season, the MSPT is headed to the Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago, Illinois from August 27th - September 2nd for a 10-event trophy series!

Last season, the MSPT made its inaugural stop at the Ameristar in August which set a high bar with the Main Event attracting 841 entries which saw Illinois native Marc Bernal capture his first MSPT title along with a cool $130,822 first place prize.

The next trip saw the MSPT come into town just before Old Hallow's Eve and attracted another 557 runners which saw MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn capture his record-setting fifth Main Event title enroute to a $113,146 payday to become the defending champion.

Season 14 Main Event Final Table Results

The 10-event trophy series will start on Tuesday, August 27th and a series of $100, and $265 satellites will feed into the headlined $1,110 buy-in MSPT263 Main Event, which requires players be 21+ to play.

The tournament holds a $300K GTD and will offer four starting flights with Day 1a beginning Thursday, August 29th with a Noon start time.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, August 30th, with Day 1c following suit on Saturday, August 31st, and Day 1d on Sunday, September 1st.

The surviving players from all starting flights will return at 11:00 a.m. on Labor Day Monday and will play down to a winner.

Also, on that Sunday starting at 11:00 a.m. will be the $125 Flip 'N' Go with 1 in 10 players receiving a $1,100 satellite entry into the $1,100 Milestone satellite which will award a direct entry into the $10,400 WPT World Championship held in December!

Tyler Klumb Eliminated in 4th Place ($29,256)

Jalen Heald raised all in from the small blind and Tyler Klumb called off his shorter stack from the big blind.

Tyler Klumb:
Jalen Heald:

Klumb was ahead holding an ace until the flop fell pairing Heald’s six.

The turn gave Clumb some more outs if another eight were to fall on the river, but the dealer dropped the completing the board and ending his Main Event run.

Jalen Heald - 3,100,000
Tyler Klumb - Eliminated