Riverside Casino

Wes Cannon Wins MSPT Season 17 Riverside $1,110 Main Event for First Title!

For the first time this season, the MSPT traveled to Riverside Casino to host a five-Gold Card festival series, headlined by the $1,110 Main Event, and the turnouts did not disappoint.

A total of 608 entries were tallied across three starting flights, generating a $589,148 prize pool.

On Sunday, 66 players returned for Day 2 action, and after roughly 12 hours of action, it was Minnesota native and one-half of the Suited Kings Podcast host Wes Cannon, who battled his way through the tough final day field en route to his first career MSPT title!

“Feels good,” Cannon said after his big win, “All of my biggest scores have come from second and third place finishes, with my biggest first-place score being like $23k, so this is like my first big Main Event win, and it means a lot.”

With over $900,000 in career live earnings, according to The HendonMob, Cannon’s best career score came just three short years ago, when he finished in third place for $210,024 during a summer WSOP bracelet event, but he considers this win an even bigger success.

“It’s huge,” Cannon stated about becoming an MSPT Champion, “Apart from winning a bracelet, this was definitely next on my list. Winning a tournament brings a certain type of joy that no amount of money can bring, and being an MSPT Champion just means a lot.”

The victory marked Cannon’s 21^st cash on the tour, bringing his MSPT career earnings over $400,000, and with the win, Cannon has earned himself a seat into the $3,500 MSPT Championship Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open (RRPO), which will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, Nov. 18 – Dec. 2, boasting a $2,000,000 GTD Main Event!

MSPT Season 17 Riverside Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with 66 players already in the money, and action kicked right into gear with two-time MSPT Champ Angela Jordison being one of the first eliminations of the day, while Season 16 Player of the Year Jake Long and MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk followed her to the payout desk as part of the first batch of eliminations.

The elimintions would continue with players dropping like flies while other making moves to gain chips as Season 16 Iowa Poker State Champ Mike Estes (55^th Place - $2,197) MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup (50^th Place - $2,313), fellow Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson (47^th Place - $2,313), the MSPT’s top casher DJ Buckley (42^nd Place - $2,486), and inuagural Spade Poker Champion Merritt Kuhn (26^th Place - $3,469) all falling by the wayside in quick succession.

The fast-paced action would continue as Brett “Pops” Reichard (21^st Place - $4,972), Jon Hanner (18th Place - $5,782), MSPT Champ Bee Yang (16th Place - $5,782), Jesse Green (14^th Place - $6,938), and defending champ Anthony Kastelic (12^th Place - $8,672), all dropped from the field, setting the stage for the stacked final table.

Final Table Action

Once the player took their seats, a few levels of double-ups needed to happen before three-time MSPT Champ Nick Barksdale became the first body to drop after he was turned by WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow.

After Barksdale’s departure, only two former champs were left in the field, and both of them were also the two last MSPT Hall of Famers left as well.

Considered one of the most decorated players in the Midwest, Josh Reichard sat down at the final table with a sizable chip lead over the rest of the pack, but got into a tussle with soon-to-be champ Cannon, and a failed bluff for the ages saw him take an eighth-place exit.

While Reichard came into the final table with the most chips, fellow Hall of Famer and three-time Champ Kou Vang sat down with the least, but found a few pay jumps before eventually walking home with a seventh-place finish.

After Vang’s elimination, Zach Heiman would lose a battle of the blinds against Jason Crews to take a sixth-place exit, leaving five players remaining.

Five-way action started with the remaining players exchanging double-ups, and after a few levels went by, they agreed to an ICM deal, which saw Cannon take home the $83,869 top prize, along with his first MSPT title.

This wraps up our coverage of yet another exciting trip to Riverside, but Season 17 of the MSPT continues as we head to the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles for the first time to host the Missouir Poker State Championship (March 24^th - 29^th) and our reporting team will be on hand providing updates for the $300K GTD $1,110 Main Event so make sure to come back!

Jason Crews Eliminated in 2nd Place ($64,880)

Jason Crews finished runner-up for and will take hiome $64,880 for his efforts.

Mike Wilklow Eliminated in 3rd Place ($61,057)

WSOP Bracelet winner Mike Wilklow has secured himself $61,057 for his third-place efforts.

Wayne Tweeton Eliminated in 4th Place ($57,010)

After an ICM deal was made, Wayne Tweeton took home a career score of $57,010 for his fourth-place finish.

Brett Slezak Eliminated in 5th Place ($54,810)

After an ICM deal was made, Brett Slezak took home a career score of $54,810 for his fifth-place efforts.

ICM Chop Agreed Upon; Play Concluded

The final five players agreed on an ICM deal:

1) Wes Cannon - 7,775,000 - $83,869 - Trophy & $3,500 Seat

2) Jason Crews - 3,475,000 - $64,880

3) Mike Wilklow - 2,950,000 - $61,057

4) Wayne Tweeton - 2,450,000 - $57,010

5) Brett Slezak - 2,020,000 - $54,810

Tweeton Flops the Goods to Double Through Crews

Wayne Tweeton was all-in for 1,050,000 after a flop from the big blind, and Jason Crews check-called from the small blind.

Wayne Tweeton:
Jason Crews:

Tweeton rolled over a big blind special after flopping the goods, and the turn, followed by river secured his double-up.

Jason Crews - 3,475,000
Wayne Tweeton - 2,450,000

Slezak Finds a Pair of Aces to Double Through Crews

Brett Slezak raised all-in for 2,000,000 from under the gun, and Jason Crews called from the button.

Brett Slezak:
Jason Crews:

Slezak found a pair of aces at the perfect time, and the runout secured his double-up.

Brett Slezak - 4,000,000
Jason Crews - 2,800,000

Updated Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Wesley Cannon	7,425,000	7,400,000
Jason Crews	4,800,000	2,875,000
Michael Wilklow	2,000,000	3,000,000
Wayne Tweeton	1,700,000	3,040,000
Brett Slezak	1,575,000	1,450,000

Crews Put to the Test by Wilklow and Prevails

Jason Crews opened for 250,000 from the button, and WSOP bracelet winner Mike Wilklow defended his big blind to see a flop.

Wilklow then check-raised to 700,000 after Crews fired out a 300,000, and Crews called, bringing the turn.

An all-in bet was then announced by Wilklow and Crews called off his shorter 1,725,000 stack.

Jason Crews:
Mike Wilklow:

Crews was ahead holding top pair, and faded the river to collect a double-up.

Jason Crews - 4,800,000
Mike Wilklow - 2,000,000