MSPT Poker events take place all across the Midwest and give participants a chance to compete for significant prize pools at affordable buy-ins with well-structured tournaments.
In 2022, the tour will make an appearance at Riverside Casino in Iowa with three starting flights and an entry fee of $1,100 for their main event. Players may qualify by buying in directly or winning one or more satellite tournaments.
The History of the MSPT Poker
The Mid-States Poker Tour began as the Minnesota State Poker Tour and quickly expanded across its borders and into Iowa – prompting its rebranding as the Mid States Poker Tour.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan was home to the latest stop in MSPT history and featured 2,471 entries which generated a prize pool worth $2,395,370 – MSPT Hall-of-Famer Kou Vang emerged victorious, taking home an unprecedented $314,145 first place prize!
Bekavac also earned three MSPT titles during his longtime tournament career and amassed numerous high-stakes cashes – winning several WPT and WSOP titles and bracelets along the way. Furthermore, Bekavac is honored by having earned 25 Main Event cashes plus earning Player of the Year status on MSPT tournament circuit.
The Annual Championship Event
The MSPT holds an annual championship event at a different casino each year and offers an enormous prize pool. This year’s $1,600 buy-in, $2 Million GTD Venetian main event begins Thursday June 10, with Day 1a beginning Thursday afternoon; Day 2 and the final table are set to commence Sunday with winners announced Monday morning.
While designed as a recreational tour, many notable professionals including World Poker Tour Season 11 Player of the Year Matt Salsberg, as well as bracelet winners such as Jeremy Ausmus, Dan Heimiller, and Keven Stammen, have participated.
The Prize Pool
The MSPT stands apart from other poker tour formats in that its Main Events have reasonable buy-ins and blind structures designed to maximize player skill – creating massive prize pools that often surpass even its initial guarantee.
MSPT Main Event #195 at FireKeepers generated a prize pool of nearly $2.2 million with 2,330 participants at $1,110 buy-in tournament. Dan Bekavac won his fourth MSPT title and pocketed $252,020 as winner of Main Event #195.
While the MSPT caters mainly to recreational players, it has attracted several acclaimed pros such as World Poker Tour Season 11 and 12 Player of the Year Mukul Pahuja and 2009 Caribbean Poker Champion Poorya Nazari.
The Structure of the Tournaments
The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is a tournament series tailored specifically to poker players, featuring low buy-ins, reasonable prize pools and an aggressive-versus-passive structure that promotes patient play over aggression. Renowned for its top-of-the-line venues and friendly staff, MSPT tournaments provide casual players as well as professionals alike an enjoyable poker tournament experience.
Taking place March 17-20th in Iowa City’s Riverside Casino this spring series of MSPT will feature a $500,000 guarantee main event starting March 17-20th; registration will close after level 13 when 12 percent remain. Registration closes late based on MSPT standard structure with 30 minute blind levels before closing registration at the end of level 13 or when 12 percent remain.
The MSPT Main Event structure will remain unchanged, featuring 30 minute blind levels over three starting flights before late registration closes late at level 13 or 12 percent remains.
The MSPT Hall of Fame
The MSPT Hall of Fame honors only the best players in poker. Individuals become eligible to enter once they’ve reached 25 Main Event cashes and either an MSPT victory or Player of the Year title; Josh Reichard from Wisconsin became only the fifth individual ever inducted.
The tournament took place at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, drawing 456 entries for a prize pool totaling $440,820. Blake Bohn from Minnesota claimed victory as it marked his third time winning this event on tour.
At the final table, there was plenty of action, with Kou Vang going all-in on a flop against Miller before Brazis came out ahead with queens against Miller’s ace-queen combination.