Travis Young Wins Record-Setting MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship ($297,997)
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Travis Young came out victorious Sunday night as the champion of the $1,100 buy-in Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Michigan State Poker Championship for $297,997, defeating a record 2,883 entrants.
There's never before been a larger poker tournament in the Midwest than what took place this weekend at Firekeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek. Five players secured six-figure scores, and everyone at the final table took home at least $41,925. One year ago, this same event attracted 2,409 entries and Matthew Davis won it for $344,446.
Newcomer Controls Final Table
Young, a Wisconsin native, doesn't have much tournament experience. Entering the recently completed MSPT event, he only had eight prior The Hendon Mob cashes for a total of $36,480. But he played like a veteran against a more experienced field.
Early on at the final table it was the Brad Sailor show. Sailor, who eventually busted in fourth place ($175,281), eliminated the first two players — Richard Viebianz (ninth for $41,925) and Nick Ahmadi (eighth for $52,826).
Young and past MSPT champ Brian Hou, the eventual runner-up ($236,956), would rise to the top of the chip counts. After Hou busted Mark Stump in sixth place ($89,440), the remaining players agreed to an ICM chop. Due to Young having the largest stack at the time, he was crowned champion.
With this victory, Young earned his first Mid-States Poker Tour cash.
MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Young | $297,997* |
| 2 | Brian Hou | $236,956* |
| 3 | Cobi Cobian | $221,666* |
| 4 | Brad Sailor | $175,281* |
| 5 | James Tedrow | $153,928* |
| 6 | Mark Stump | $89,440 |
| 7 | Jeffrey Kuc | $69,875 |
| 8 | Nick Ahmadi | $52,826 |
| 9 | Richard Viebianz | $41,925 |
*Denotes five-way deal.
Others to cash the tournament were Maurice Hawkins (11th place - $33,540), Jose Montes (15th place - $26,553), Michael Berk (21st place - $20,124), David Gutfreund (25th place - $13,696), Keith Heine (30th place - $9,783), Missy Bartelme (36th place - $9,783), and Rob Wazwaz (38th place - $7,547).
The MSPT will head to Silverado Casino in the legendary poker town of Deadwood, South Dakota for the $200,000 guaranteed Deadwood Shootout October 20-22. Two days after that event concludes, the tour will travel to the Ameristar in East Chicago (Indiana) for a $300,000 guaranteed Main Event. The MSPT has seven stops remaining in 2023, including three at the Venetian in Las Vegas.
