JACK Cleveland Casino

Renmei Liu Wins MSPT Season 16 JACK Cleveland Ohio Poker State Championship!

The MSPT traveled across country to JACK Cleveland Casino for the Season 16 Ohio Poker State Championship, and it was another one for the memory books.

A total of 824 entries (219 from Day 1a; 224 from 1b; 381 from 1c) were tallied and on Sunday, 88 players returned to Day 2 action to take their stab at the $797,780 prize pool.

Of those 88 players, it was Ontario native Renmei Liu who navigated his way through the tough field to claim the $156,414 first place prize along with his first MSPT title!

Liu has multiple deep runs on his Hendon mob profile, which includes a two third place finishes in WSOP bracelet events, with a career best score of $339,366 in last year’s WSOP Seniors event.

While also having a Circuit ring under his resume, Liu has never taken down a tournament for six-figure score until now, and that is something he is very proud of.

“I never ran like this before,” Liu stated after his win, “this is really nice.”

Liu was referring to dropping down to less than one big blind to start the final table but was able to go on an incredible run eliminating multiple tough opponents on his way to claiming his first six-figure score title!

MSPT Season 16 JACK Cleveland Ohio Poker State Championship Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 88 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with Ian Winkler being the elimination of the day while short stack Nicole Bartko found a pair of ladies to try and double with only to run into a pair of aces.

Bartko’s departure, a flurry of “payouts” could be heard throughout the room, as handfuls of players were walking to the payout table which included the likes of Brad Sailor (76^th Place – $2,165), Patrick Coughlin 69^th Place - $2,245), Mike Suggs (48^th Place – $2,566), and Frank Lagodich (41^st Place - $2,887).

Two-time MSPT champ Chris Meyers took an early exit than had hoped (36^th Place - $3,528) but it notched his 24^th Main Event cash inching his way closer into the coveted MSPT Hall of Fame while Vinny Giuliano (27^th Place - $4,651), Dave Gutfreund (24^th Place - $5,693), two-time MSPT champ Bobby Noel (16^th Place - $8,019), fellow former JACK Cleveland champ Jon Lewis (15^th Place - $9,623), and Daniel Wolf (10^th Place – $11,227), all hit the rail to set the stage for the final table.

Final Table Action

Once the final table was set, Liu sat down with less than a big blind after jamming his pocket sevens into Mike Valore’s pocket kings but was able to get a second crack at them to find a quick double and received a triple-up to find some breathing room for his final table run.

After short-stack Liu climbed the ranks, Nick Barile found himself in a cooler against MSPT Poker Bowl IX champ Anthony Scarborough to become the first final table elimination while Joseph Distasio lost a flip to Liu and followed him to the payout table in eighth place.

Brian Springman was able to make back-to-back final table appearances her at JACK Cleveland and this one ended just like the last as he ran into a cooler for another seventh place finish.

Play then took a brief halt from eliminations until Scarborough out-kicked Tim Fleenor with Big Slick for a sixth place finish ($30,474), while Liu picked up the same hand to send Daniel Finley home in fifth place ($40,097).

Liu’s elimination spree would then continue as he sent home three-time bracelet winner Sean Troha in fourth place for 52,928 and then won a massive flip against Scarborough to end his tournament in third place ($70,892), setting up the heads-up match with his nemesis Valore.

The duel didn't last very long as Liu began the match with a 2:1 chip advantage and continually won pots until he collected them all by sending Valore home in second-place for $96,234 while Liu took home the title, along the six-figure payday!

This wraps up our coverage of another eventful tournament, so make sure you join us when we make our way to The Hollywood Casino in St. Louis for the Season 16 Missouri State Poker Championship Series February 18^th - 23^rd and as always, the MSPT live reporting team will be on hand providing updates for that event so make sure to come back!

Mike Valore Eliminated in 2nd Place ($96,234)

Renmei Liu opened for 600,000 and then called Mike Valore’s three-bet jam.

Mike Valore:
Renmei Liu:

Liu rolled over another strong hand and only needed ace-high to send Valore home with a runner-up finish after the board ran out.

A full recap of the day will follow.

Renmei Liu - 24,720,000
Mike Valore - Eliminated

Anthony Scarborough Eliminated in 3rd Place ($70,892)

MSPT champ Anthony Scarborough raised to 600,000 from the small blind only to have Renmei Liu three-bet jam from the big blind.

With action back on Scarborough, he decided to risk his shorter stack, and the two hands were tabled.

Anthony Scarborough:
Renmei Liu:

Scarborough was hoping to win one last flip to take a three-way chip leap but didn’t find any help one the runout ended his run in third place for $70,892.

Renmei Liu - 18,720,000
Mike Valore - 6,000,000
Anthony Scarborough - Eliminated

Sean Troha Eliminated in 4th Place ($52,928)

Renmei Liu raised the button and then called three-time bracelet winner Sean Troha’s 1,925,000 three-bet jam from the big blind.

Sean Troha:
Renmei Liu:

Troha was behind holding live cards with nothing changing after the flop hit the felt.

The turn, however, fell the giving Liu top pair and left Troha drawing dead to the needle river,

Renmei Liu - 11,920,000
Anthony Scarborough - 6,800,000
Mike Valore - 8,000,000

The MSPT Returns to Hollywood Casino for the Missouri Poker State Championship Series February 18th - 23rd!!

For the first time this season, the MSPT is headed to Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, MO, to host the Missouri State Poker Championship Series February 18^th - 23^rd!

A total of 9 trophy events will take place over the six-day span which includes three trophy events kicking things off on Tuesday, February 18^th.

A series of events will then feed into the headlined $1,110 Season 16 Missouri State Poker Championship Main Event running from Thursday, February 20^th, through Sunday, February 23^rd, which features a $300K Guarantee for its three starting flights.

All three starting flights for the Main Event will have a 2:00 p.m. start time with the survivors from those flights returning for Day 2 action at 11:00 a.m. Sunday February 23^rd.

The MSPT made three stops to Hollywood St. Louis three times last season with Andrew Pichee claiming his first MSPT title last February after outlasting 713 runners en route to a $141,780 payday,

Fellow St. Louis native Chris Audrain then navigated his way through a competitive 631-player field earning a $125,604 top prize along with his first title last August while local hero Jeff Copeland became the defending champ after he battled through a 404-player field to win the $85,871 top prize, along with his first MSPT title!

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.

Daniel Finley Eliminated in 5th Place ($40,097)

Daniel Finley open-jammed from the hijack and Renmei Liu isolated with a 2,000,000 three-bet from the hijack.

Daniel Finley:
Renmei Liu:

Finley was behind holding suited connectors and saw a king in the window on the flop which also gave him a straight flush draw.

While Finley was hoping to find some help, neither the turn nor the river improved his hand, as he mad his exit in fifth place for $40,097.

Renmei Liu - 6,100,000
Daniel Finley - Eliminated

Tim Fleenor Eliminated in 6th Place ($30,474)

MSPT champ Anthony Scarborough raised from the hijack and then called Tim Fleenor’s 1,275,000 three-bet jam from the cutoff.

Tim Fleenor:
Anthony Scarborough:

Fleenor rolled over a dominated ace, but the dealer kept things interesting with the flop.

The turn left Fleenor needing a king on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his run.

Anthony Scarborough - 5,600,000
Tim Fleenor - Eliminated

Liu Climbing the Ranks

MSPT champ Anthony Scarborough raised all in from the cutoff and Renmei Liu called off his 2,285,000 stack from the big blind.

Renmei Liu:
Anthony Scarborough:

Liu rolled over a dominating ace and faded the runout to get back over chip average.

Renmei Liu - 4,650,000
Anthony Scarborough - 3,615,000

Troha Doubles Through Scarborough with Ladies

Three-time bracelet winner Sean Troha was all in preflop for 2,075,000 from the button and was called by MSPT champ Anthony Scarborough from the small blind.

Sean Troha:
Anthony Scarborough:

Troha rolled over a pair of ladies, and they haled strong as the runout secured his double-up.

Anthony Scarborough - 5,500,000
Sean Troha - 4,300,000

Brian Springman Eliminated in 7th Place ($23,256)

A series of preflop raises led to Brian Springman getting his 2,000,000 stack in the middle from late position and he was called by Mike Valore from the hijack.

Brian Springman:
Mike Valore:

It was a cooler situation for Springman as his premium hand of kings came up short on the runout to end his run.

Mike Valore - 9,400,000
Brian Springman - Eliminated