Running Aces Casino

Buzhyew “BK” Ansha Wins MSPT Season 16 Winter Poker Classic Main Event for First Career Title!

The MSPT traveled back home to Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minnesota, to host its annual Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event for the Season 16 Finale!

A total of three starting flights combined to produce an 838-entry field, which was enough to blast the $500k guarantee and generate a $811,360 prize pool.

On Sunday, only 94 players returned for Day 2 action, and after a hefty 13 hours of play, it was local Buzhyew “BK” Ansha who out-dueled MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang for the 2025 MSPT Winter Poker Classic Main Event Title!

“It feels amazing,” Ansha said after his big win, “I played this event last year, and it didn’t go so well, but this is my home casino, so I made sure to play it again, and I’m extremely happy I did.”

The ecstatic Ansha was at a loss for words after his win. Still, it was a significant win for the hometown hero, who took home a career payday of $138,953, along with the rights of being called the MSPT Season 16 Winter Poker Classic Champion.

MSPT Season 16 Winter Poker Classic Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 94 players already in the money, and action kicked right into gear with Natan Lidukhover becoming the first elimination of the day, while WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway followed to the payout desk after his flopped set was second-best to a flopped flush.

After Holloway’s elimination, a spark was lit in the field as players started to follow him to the payout desk, as MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson, MSPT champ Curtis Vierstraete, and fellow champ Derek McMaster, all fell in the first batches of knockouts.

With former champs and Hall of Famers making their way to the payout desk, back-to-back Player of the Year Umut Ozturk was looking to make a deep run to close the gap between him and Jacob Long in the POY race, only to run his pocket jacks into the pocket aces of Chris Jones, ending his run in 78^th place for $2,168, and 75 points.

After Ozturk’s elimination, the march to the final table was on as MSPT Hall of Famer Rob WazWaz (34^th Place - $3,533), MSPT champ Jeff Copeland (24^th Place - $5,701), fellow champ Jason Sell (20^th Place - $6,745), Brett “Pops” Reichard (14^th Place - $9,636), and MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard (11^th Place - $7,040) all fell short of making final table of nine.

Final Table Action

The final table started with Leo Pinamonti sitting at the bottom of the chip counts, and it was only fitting for him to depart as the first final table elimination after he lost a race to MSPT Hall of Famer Vang.

After the first knockout, Vang’s climb to the top of the chip counts began, only to take a tumble after he found himself in a three-way all-in against soon-to-be champ Ansha and fellow Hall of Famer Blake Bohn.

The massive cooler hand saw Ansha river a full house with pocket nines to double through Vang, while also cracking Bohn’s pocket aces to end his run in eighth place.

Final table bodies would continue to drop after Chris Potenza was out-kicked by Ansha in seventh place, while both Dan Kennedy and start-of-day chip leader Shane Stegora fell quickly after in sixth and fifth place to Cam Leibfried, respectively.

The back-to-back eliminations for Leibfried sent him to the middle of the chip counts, only to lose a few more swings before ultimately being ousted by Ansha in fourth place for $52,999 holding live cards.

Three-handed action started with Wes Cannon needing to make some moves sitting at the bottom of the chip counts, and he was able to find a double through Vang before ultimately losing a race to him the very next hand, ending his tournament in third place for $70,986.

The heads-up match began with the two players agreeing to an ICM deal, with Ansha holding a slight chip advantage over Vang.

Vang would then assume the chip lead until Ansha turned a lucky three to take a commanding chip lead, which ultimately led to Vang taking a runner-up finish for $114,000, making him the second player in tour history to eclipse the $1,000,000 mark in lifetime earnings, while Ansha secured the $138,953, along with the 2025 Winter Poker Classic Main Event Trophy!

MSPT Season 16 ICON & Player of the Year Race

Back-to-back Player of the Year Umut Ozturk came into Day 2 of the Main Event 440 points behind Jake Long in this season’s Player of the Year race, and was looking to close that gap, but wasn’t able to put much of a dent into that number as he’s still 425 points behind Long.

So far, both have been on another incredible tear this year, as Ozturk has racked up 18 Main Event cashes this season, putting him just one behind his record 19 times from last season, and has also made five final table appearances.

The impressive feats put Ozturk in contention for the POY race once again this year, and also atop the 2025 ICON standings once again, as he holds a sizeable lead over fellow Hall of Famer Josh Reichard, as he looks to win that title in back-to-back seasons as well.

While Long, on the other hand, has put some damage in himself, racking up 15 Main Event cashes with two final table appearances, but where he’s strived the most is in the side events.

Just a few short months ago, Long had obtained only two Gold Cards, but fast-forward to now, and he has amassed a record eight Gold Cards, totalling 2,806 POY points from just side events alone.

Now, with the Main Event out of the way, just nine more side events remain on the season, and you can expect them both to be putting in max effort during the final stretch.

This wraps up our coverage of the 2025 Winter Poker Classic Main Event, but there are still nine events to go for the rest of the series, leaving the Season 16 Player of the Year up for grabs.

Make sure you stay locked into MSPTpoker.com to find out who will come out on top, and don’t forget to join us for the January 1^st - 4^th, as we will be making our way to the beautiful Venetian Las Vegas, the Season 17 $1,600 New Year's Poker Open, being reported by our MSPT live reporting team!

MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang Eliminated in 2nd Place ($114,000)

Buzhyew Ansha raised all-in, and MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang called off his 1,000,000 stack.

Kou Vang:
Buzhyew Ansha:

Vang was ahead, holding an ace, until a jack appeared in the window on the flop to pair Ansha.

The turn then left Vang needing any ace or queen to fall on the river to stay alive, but the paired the board and sent him hom runner-up for $114,000.

Buzhyew Ansha - 25,140,000
Kou Vang - Eliminated

Ansha Turns Vang to Take Commanding Chip Lead

Photo: Buzhyew “BK” Ansha

MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang raised, and Buzhyew “BK” Ansha defended to see a flop.

Ansha then check-jammed for 11,150,000 after Vang fired out a 375,000 and was called.

Buzhyew “BK” Ansha:
Kou Vang:

Both players flopped top pair with Vang holding the better kicker until the dealer peeled off the on the turn, improving Ansha to two-pair to take the lead.

Vang was hoping to find a lucky lady on the river, but the completed the board and secured Ansha his double-up to take a commanding lead.

Buzhyew “BK” Ansha - 23,740,000
Kou Vang - 1,400,000

Wes Cannon Eliminated in 3rd Place ($70,968)

Wes Cannon limped in from the small blind and then called off his stack after MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang raised all-in for more from the big blind.

Wes Cannon:
Kou Vang:

Cannon was racing for his tournament life only to fall behind after the flop paired Vang’s ten.

The turn then left Cannon needing a nine on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board on the river and ended his run in third place for $70,986.

Buzhyew Ansha - 15,115,000
Kou Vang - 10,025,000
Wes Cannon - Eliminated

Cam Leibfried Eliminated in 4th Place ($52,999)

Cam Leibfried open-jammed his 900,000 from the hijack, and Buzhyew Ansha looked him up from the small blind.

Cam Leibfried:
Buzhyew Ansha:

Leibfried was behind holding two live cards, but couldn’t find either on the runout, ending his Main Event.

Buzhyew Ansha - 11,000,000
Cam Leibfried - Eliminated

Day 2 Winter Poker Classic Photos

Playing Day 2 of the MSPT Season 16 Winter Poker Classic $1,110 Main Event at Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minnesota?

Have family or friends in action?

Click here to have a look through our NEW photo gallery tab to see if you can find their photo, courtesy of the official MSPT event photographer, Tyler Abrams.

Shane Stegora Eliminated in 5th Place ($40,150)

Cam Leibfried was all in preflop for 1,700,000 from the small blind, and start-of-day chip leader Shane Stegora looked him up from the big blind.

Cam Leibfried:
Shane Stegora:

It was a cooler for Stegora as Leibfried rolled over the better premium made hand in the blinds, and the runout secured his double-up.

An orbit later, Stegora moved his 875,000 stack into the middle from under the gun and received isolation from Wes Cannon after he went over the top from the small blind.

Shane Stegora:
Wes Cannon:

Stegora was behind needing help, but the runout didn’t get the job done as it ended his Main Event run.

Cameron Leibfried - 3,800,000
Wes Cannon - 2,500,000
Shane Stegora - Eliminated

Dan Kennedy Eliminated in 6th Place ($30,514)

Action on the table folded to Dan Kennedy, who moved his 900,000 stack into the middle from the small blind, and Cam Leibfried looked him up from the big blind.

Dan Kennedy:
Cam Leibfried:

Kennedy was at risk needing help, but the flop paired Leibfried’s ace, leaving him needing running help.

Unfortunately for Kennedy, the fell on the turn pairing the board and left him drawing dead to the river.

Came Leibfried - 2,000,000
Dan Kennedy - Eliminated

Chris Potenza Eliminated in 7th Place ($23,287)

Chris Potenza moved his 700,000 stack into the middle from the hijack, and Buzhyew Ansha looked him up from the button.

Chris Potenza:
Buzhyew Ansha:

Potenza rolled over a dominated hand, with the not providing much help to his hand.

The then fell on the turn bringing possible chop outs if another were to fall on the river, but the completed the board and ended Potenza’s run.

Buzhyew Ansha - 5,300,000
Chris Potenza - Eliminated

MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn Eliminated in 8th Place ($18,469)

Three-time MSPT champ and Hall of Famer Kou Vang opened for 240,000 from middle position, only to have Buzhyew Ansha three-bet jam for 1,615,000 next to act.

Action then folded to fellow Hall of Famer and five-time MSPT champ Blake Bohn, who called off his 770,000 stack from the big blind, and Vang called to put both players at risk.

Blake Bohn:
Buzhyew Ansha:
Kou Vang:

Bohn was ahead, holding a pair of aces, but the flop came with a sweat as it gave Vang a diamond flush draw.

The then paired the board on the turn, keeping Bohn in the lead, but unfortunately for him, the dealer then followed with the on the river, improving Ansha to a full house for him to collect the pot and end Bohn’s Main event run.

Kou Vang - 5,700,000
Buzhyew Ansha - 4,000,000
Blake Bohn - Eliminated