Sycuan Casino Resort

Zilong Zhnag Wins Inaugural MSPT Golden State Poker Championship for First Career Title!

The second stop of Season 17 took the MSPT to the beautiful Sycuan Casino Resort in San Diego, California, for the inaugural Golden State Poker Championship!

A total of 265 entries were tallied after three starting flights, and on Sunday, 30 players returned to Day 2 action, with a fast-paced final day, during which California native Zilong Zhang rose to the top, securing his first MSPT title!

“It feels really great,” Zhang said after his victory, “ Starting off 2026 with a victory is always good, and I’m glad my friend Nan Chen told me to come here, as he won the side event and now I won the Main Event, I couldn’t be happier”.

The victory marked Zhang’s second-largest career score, and with his win, Zhang will also receive a $3,500 seat into the 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 Golden State Poker Championship Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final day came back with all 30 players already in the money, so action kicked right into gear with Minnesota’s Mark Bloomberg being the first body to drop, followed by 2021 Sycuan Regional champ Armando Mesina, starting a spree of eliminations.

The next batch of players who followed to the payout desk included the likes of reigning Sycuan regional champ Scott Aulds, Christopher Smith, and Josh Mok.

The fast-paced action continued as Michael Starek (19^th Place - $3,193), Rip Fritzer (18^th Place - $3,744), Bret Eberhart (13^th Place - $4,354), Steve Westberg (11^th Place - $5,224), and Mary Anne Madruga (10^th Place - $5,224) all fell on the way to the final table.

Final Table Action

Minnesota’s Clint Wolcyn went into the final table at the bottom of the chip counts and became the first elimination after he got rivered by Matt Salsberg, while fellow Minnesotan David Bashel fell to the same fate by Robert Fortuno to take an eighth-place finish.

Cody Blades came into the final day at the bottom of the chip counts but was able to make an impressive run to the final table, only to end up losing a race to John Terrill, as he made a heartbreaking seventh-place exit.

After getting a few ladder ups, Michael Bailund nearly blinded out before finally getting his chips in the middle with king-high, only to be hooked by Terrill in sixth place.

After making his sixth final table appearance here at Sycuan in the past three years, television writer and producer Salsberg was looking to secure his first MSPT title, but fell short after being out-kicked by Fortuno in fifth place for $17,415.

Following Salsberg to the payout desk was Sammy Weisman, whose Big Slick wasn’t able to crack soon-to-be champ Zhang’s pair of cowboys, as he departed in fourth-place for $23,220.

Three-handed action started with the players agreeing upon an ICM deal, with Terrill holding the most chips, but after his bluff didn’t scare off Fortuno, he took an unsatisfying third-place exit.

The heads-up duel started with Fortuno holding over 90% of the chips in play, but Zhang battled back to overcome the deficit to secure the first-ever Golden State Poker Championship.

This wraps up our coverage for this event, but Season 17 of the MSPT continues this week as we head to Bally’s Black Hawk next (January 22^nd - 25^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!

Robert Fortuno Eliminated in 2nd Place ($42,817)

Robert Fortuno raised all-in from the button for 450,000, and Zilong Zhang called.

Robert Fortuno:
Zilong Zhang:

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

The turn did give Fortuno more outs with a gutshot staright draw, but the paired the board on the river and ended his Main Event.

Zilong Zhang - 7,950,000
Robert Fortuno - Eliminated

Zhang Takes Chip Lead

Robert Fortuno raised the button, and Zilong Zhang defended to see a flop.

Action was then checked to the turn, where Zhang check-raised to 830,000 after Fortuno fired out a 250,000 bet, and Fortuno called.

Once the completed the board on the river, Zhang led out with a 1,300,000 bet, and Fortuno looked him up.

Zhang then proceeded to table for the wheel, and it was good as Fortuno released his hand into the muck.

Zilong Zhang - 5,750,000
Robert Fortuno - 2,200,000

John Terrill Eliminated in 3rd Place ($49,571)

Robert Fortuno raised the button, and John Terrill defended his big blind to see a flop.

Terrill then check-jammed for 1,965,000 after Fortuno fired out a 250,000 continuation bet and was called.

John Terrill:
Robert Fortuno:

Fortuno pulled ahead after pairing his six on the flop, and faded the turn and river to send Terill home with a runner-up finish.

Robert Fortuno - 6,570,000
Jilong Zhang - 1,600,000
John Terrill - Eliminated

Deal Agreed Upon

The final three players have agreed upon an ICM deal, which will see them play for an extra $14,000 and the first-ever MSPT Golden State Poker Championship trophy!

John Terrill - 3,695,000 - $49,571
Robert Fortuno - 2,320,000 - $42,817
Jilong Zhang - 1,915,000 - $40,344

MSPT Venetian Poker Bowl X Set for February 4th - 7th!

POKER BOWL X

$1,600 / $1,000,000 GTD

Feb. 4-7, 2026 / The Venetian Poker Room

$3,500 MSPT Championship Seat ADDED to 1st Place

BE THERE

Sammy Weisman Eliminated in 4th Place ($32,220)

Sammy Weisman raised all-in for 565,000 from the hijack, and Zilong Zhang called from the cutoff.

Sammy Weisman:
Zilong Zhang:

Weisman found a strong hand to roll with, only to run into a better one, and he wasn’t able to find an ace on the runout, ending his Main Event run.

Zilong Zhang - 1,915,000
Sammy Weisman - Eliminated

Matt Salsberg Eliminated in 5th Place ($17,415)

Matt Salsberg was all in after a flop from the big blind and was called by Robert Fortuno from the cutoff.

Matt Salsberg:
Robert Fortuno:

Salsberg flopped top pair with a diamond draw, but was still trailing Fortuno, and the turn left him needing some help from the river.

Unfortunately for Slasberg, another followed on the river, ending yet another impressive run here at Sycuan for the television writer.

Robert Fortuno - 2,320,000
Matt Salsberg - Eliminated

"Big Kev" Wins $3,500 MSPT Championship Freeroll!

Kevin Meyers, aka “Big Kev” is our lucky winner for the $3,500 flip & go freeroll!

Meyers won a set into the $3,500 MSPT Championship Main Event: The 2026 MSPT Championship Main Event holds a $2 MILLION guarantee, will take place Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, 2026, at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL.

$3,500 MSPT Championship Seat Winner: The $3,500 MSPT Championship Seat is NON-TRANSFERABLE, the winner is responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

Congratulations Big Kev! We will see you in Florida!

Michael Bailund Eliminated in 6th Place ($13,351)

Michael Bailund tossed out his last 80,000 from under the gun, only to have Matt Salsberg fire out a 200,000 three-bet from the hijack, and John Terrill four-bet to 500,000 from the cutoff.

Action quickly folded back to Salsberg, who followed suit, and the two hands were tabled.

Michael Bailund:
John Terrill:

Bailund was behind holding one over, but he couldn’t find a cowboy on the runout, ending his tournament.

John Terrill - 3,580,000
Michael Bailund - Eliminated