Bally's Black Hawk Casino

Sherman Wu Wins MSPT Season 15 Bally's Black Hawk Showdown Series Main Event ($123,059)

The MSPT returned to the beautiful mountainside at Bally's Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, and hosted a 17-trophy Showdown Series which was headlined by its $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event.

A total of 602 entries were tallied through three starting flights and generated a $586,320 prize pool.

On Sunday, 65 players returned for Day 2 action, and after roughly eight hours of action, it was Sherman Wu who came out on top to win the $123,059 top prize and his first MSPT title!

MSPT Season 15 Bally's Black Hawk Showdown Main Event Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 65 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with Paul Gibbons getting off to a hot start after he out-kicked Adam Tschinkel for the first elimination of the day, sending the field into a frenzy.

Eliminations then started like wildfire after MSPT champ Beau "Don K. Nado" Wilshire flopped the case queen to set up Joey Montoya, and Beau Battista would top that after his king-eight suited filled up to drop Matt Langford’s Big Slick.

Coolers across the room would continue starting with Dave Litt hitting a four-card flush with pocket queens to crack MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk’s pocket kings.

Ozturk would hit a few more road bumps throughout the day only to wind up finding another pair of kings to get his remaining chips in the middle with only to have them come up short once again against Vladas Tamasauskas’ ace-jack suited.

After having his pocket kings fail him once again, Ozturk took a much earlier departure than hoped (22nd Place - $4,212), but the exit also came with a season-high 11th cash which catapulted him to the top of the POY standings and put him just 50 points behind fellow Hall of Famer Josh Reichard (28th Place - $2,746) in the Icon standings.

With some stiff competition continuing to fall, January’s runner-up Jeremey “Woody” Wood was still left in contention, and had his eyes set on hoisting the trophy above his head this time around.

Unfortunately for the hometown legend, his eventful run came to an end after his big blind special was turned the wrong way as he made a 10th place exit for $8,727, setting up final table action.

Final Table action

Once the final table was set, Ken Rabideau sat at the bottom of the counts and found an ace to roll the dice with only to run into Thomas Fuller’s dominating hand to become the first final table elimination.

After that action hand, chips shuffled around the table until top stack Troy VanOrden missed a big flush draw against Gibbon’s pair of aces, leaving him the short stack at the table. VanOrden was able to find a quick double but ultimately was flushed out by Fuller for an eighth place departure.

VanOrden’s exit sparked a fire at the table as the next four eliminations came in quick succession with the first being Corey Dodd.

Dodd started the final table with the chip lead but made a disappointing exit in seventh place after he failed to hit an open-ended straight draw against Wu's made hand of kings.

While Dodd’s chip lead turned into an early exit, Sergio Martinez was able to grind his short stack into a sixth place finish after his ace-nine failed to crack Tamasauskas’ pair of cowboys.

Following Martinez to the payout desk was start of day chip leader, Matthew Rice, who’s roller coaster of a final table came to an end after he failed to hit live cards against Wu.

Tamasauskas would then top Wu’s knockout with a double elimination of his own after he picked up another pair of cowboys to set-up Fuller’s pair ladies in fourth place for $40,974, only to pick-up of pair of ladies of his own to drop Gibbons in third place for $55,046.

After the double elimination, Tamasauskas took a slight chip lead over Wu to start the heads-up battle, but Wu was able to regain the lead and made a flippy call to send Tamasauskas home with a runner-up finish for $75,538 while Wu secured his first MSPT trophy and career payday good for $123,059!

The MSPT (Mid States Poker) is making its way to Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri, July 30^th – August 4^th, and is hosting a 9-trophy event which is headlined by the $1,110 Main Event260 being reported by the MSPT live reporting team so make sure to tune in!

Vladas Tamasauskas Eliminated in 2nd Place ($75,538)

Vladas Tamasauskas limed-in on the button only to have Sherman Wu raise to 1,400,000 from the big blind.

Tamasauskas clapped back with a 8,625,000 three-bet jam and Wu counted out his chips and said, “I wanna be done playing, I’m tired of this”, and then made the call holding slightly more.

Vladas Tamasauskas:
Sherman Wu:

Tamasauskas was ahead holding a made had of deuces but the flop came with a sweat as it gave Wu more outs with a gut shot straight draw.

The hit the turn keeping things safe for Tamasauskas that was until a loud “SEVEN”, came from Wu’s rail just before the dealer dropped the on the river giving him the nine-high straight to send Tamasauskas home in second place for $75,538.

Sherman Wu - 18,180,000
Vladas Tamasauskas - Eliminated

Mindaugas Kerbelis Wins Event #16

The MSPT returned to the beautiful mountainside of Black Hawk, Colorado for its second stop of the 15th season, and players have been inside Bally's Casino duking it out over the past week for its Showdown Series!

In Event #16: $200 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack, 108 terrifying players went to the felt and generated a $17,280 prize pool that was paid out to the top 12 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Warren Rudman (10th Place - $363), Karen Novotny (11th Place - $363), and Ted Shenefelt (12th Place - $363).

In the end, it was Colorado native Mindaugas Kerbelis who took down the lion's share of the prize pool along with the Sapdey trophy!

Final Table Results

Tamasauskas Makes Correct Call to Regain Chip Lead

Vladas Tamasauskas raised to 500,000 and Sherman Wu defended to see a flop.

Action went check-check, and the fell on the turn.

Wu led out with a 500,000 bet and Tamasauskas called to see the complete the board on the river.

Wu took another stab at the pot with a 1,400,000 bet and Tamasauskas called after some careful thought.

Wu tabled for a pair of threes and Tamasauskas was happy to show to scoop the pot.

Vladas Tamasauskas - 9,830,000
Sherman Wu - 8,350,000

The MSPT Returns to Hollywood Casino July 30th - August 4th!

For the second time in Season 15, the MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour) is headed to Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, MO from July 30th - August 4th!

A total of nine trophy events will take place over six days with three being held on the opening day which included the ever-popular $400 NLH Tag Team Championship.

A series of $135, and $265 satellites will feed into the $1,110 buy-in MSPT260 Main Event, which requires players be 21+ to play.

This upcoming Main Event boasts a $300K GTD and will offer three starting flights with Day 1a beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 1st.

Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, August 2nd with Day 1c following suit on Saturday, August 3rd.

The surviving players from all starting flights will then return at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 4th to play down to a winner.

Also held that Sunday will be the final two trophy events on the schedule with Event #8: $250 NLH Black Chip Bounty starting at 3:00 P.M. while Event #9: $150 NLH Last Chance Showdown will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Paul Gibbons Eliminated in 3rd Place ($55,046)

Paul Gibbons raised all in for 1,800,000 from the button and Vladas Tamasauskas looked him up from the small blind.

Paul Gibbons:
Vladas Tamasauskas:

Gibbons didn’t like seeing Tamasauskas roll over a crushing made hand, but the flop came with more outs as it gave him a gut shot straight draw.

The turn left Gibbons needing any six or five to fall on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his run in third place for $55,046.

Vladas Tamasauskas - 9,430,000
Sherman Wu - 8,750,000
Paul Gibbons - Eliminated

Thomas Fuller Eliminated in 4th Place ($40,974)

A series of preflop raises led to Thomas Fuller getting his 1,750,000 stack in the middle from the cutoff and Vladas Tamasauskas looked him up from the big blind.

Thomas Fuller:
Vladas Tamasauskas:

Tamasauskas woke-up with another made hand of kings and he put Fuller in a deeper hole after the flop gave him top set.

The then paired the board on the turn improving Tamasauskas to a full house, leaving Fuller drawing dead to the river.

Vladas Tamasauskas - 7,700,000
Thomas Fuller - Eliminated

Matthew Rice Eliminated in 5th Place ($31,007)

Action folded to Matthew Rice who raised all in for 405,000 from the small blind and Sherman Wu looked him up from the big blind.

Matthew Rice:
Sherman Wu:

Rice was behind holding two live connecting cards but the flop wasn’t a promising one as it paired Wu’s deuce.

The turn did give Rice some more outs with a gut shot straight draw, but the completed the board and ended his tournament.

Sherman Wu - 6,280,000
Matthew Rice - Eliminated

Sergio Martinez Eliminated in 6th Place ($23,385)

Sergio Martinez raised all in for 1,085,000 from the cutoff and Vladas Tamasauskas gave him isolation from the small blind.

Sergio Martinez:
Vladas Tamasauskas:

Martinez was at risk looking to connect with his ace, but the runout ended his Main Event.

Vladas Tamasauskas - 5,565,000
Sergio Martinez - Eliminated

Corey Dodd Eliminated in 7th Place ($18,108)

There was heads-up action between Corey Dodd from the button and Sherman Wu from the big blind with a board showing.

With over 1,500,000 already in the middle, Dodd check-jammed for 1,575,000 after Wu fired out a 510,000 bet and was called.

Corey Dodd:
Sherman Wu:

Dodd didn’t like seeing Wu roll over a pair of kings as it took away two of his outs holding an open-ended straight draw.

Dodd wanted to see either a king or eight fall on the river, but the completed the board and ended his Main Event run.

Sherman Wu - 6,280,000
Corey Dodd - Eliminated