2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

$1,100 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j2
Prize
$262,145
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$1,565,066
Entries
1,615
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
50,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
596
Players Left
73

Ferkalyuk Pips Opponent to Win Massive Pot

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Oleh Ferkalyuk
Oleh Ferkalyuk

A player in the hijack opened to 1,500 and all the players behind called, including Oleh Ferkalyuk in the cutoff.

The five players saw a flop of {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} and the preflop raiser put out a continuation bet of 10,000. Ferkalyuk was next to act and moved all in for 29,400. After a few minutes in the tank the button called and the remaining players folded.

Oleh Ferkalyuk: {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}
Opponent: {a-Spades}{j-Spades}

Ferkalyuk was in good shape to ship this almost 80,000 chip pot but still needed to fade a jack as well as chop outs. He was able to do just that as the board completed {6-Diamonds} and {2-Hearts}.

Player Chips Progress
Oleh Ferkalyuk us
Oleh Ferkalyuk
76,900

Tags: Oleh Ferkalyuk

Check Out Issues of MSPT Magazine

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
MSPT Magazine Michael Esquivel
MSPT Magazine Michael Esquivel

Did you know the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) publishes its own monthly magazine?

Print copies are distributed to host venues across the country, while anyone from around the world can read it online for free. Click here to check out the MSPT’s full library, including the most recent issue featuring Michael Esquivel’s win in the MSPT Canterbury Park.

Other stories in the latest issue include John Sun winning his second MSPT title, Frank Covich becoming the 2019 MSPT Indiana State Poker Champion, and a preview of the upcoming 2019 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Championship at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee.

Click here to view the October issue digital copy for free.

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

Keeline Three-Bet Jams the Flop

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante
Ben Keeline
Ben Keeline

The under-the-gun player limped and WSOP bracelet winner Ben Keeline did the same next to act. Action folded around to the player in the small blind who raised to 2,200. Both the UTG player and Keeline called and the trio watched the flop come down {k-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}.

The small blind continued for 3,000 and the UTG player popped it to 7,000.

Keeline, who had the big stack, paused for a few beats and then announced a reraise before spiking in a big stack of T5,000 chips.

The player in the small blind quickly released while the UTG player, who had 9,300 back, shook his head and released his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Keeline us
Ben Keeline
80,000
60,000
60,000

Parrott Finds the Ace He was Looking for

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante
Mike Parrott
Mike Parrott

Mike Parrott opened the action with a raise to 1,500. The player in the hijack three-bet to 6,000 and Parrott four-bet jammed. His opponent called off for his last 17,200 and the players turned their cards over.

Mike Parrott: {a-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}
Opponent: {q-Spades}{q-Clubs}

Parrott got what he was looking for as he paired his ace on the {a-Spades}{8-Spades}{9-Spades} flop. But he would now need the fade a spade along with the case queen.

The {2-Diamonds} turn was a brick and the {j-Diamonds} on the river changed nothing as Parrott sent his opponent to the rail. Parrott now sits near the top of the chip counts with over 80,000.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Parrott us
Mike Parrott
81,000

Tags: Mike Parrott

Brown Sets the Trap

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante
Barry Brown
Barry Brown

Four players limped in and the big blind moved all in for 10,000, Barry Brown was one of the limpers in middle position and was the only one who called.

Barry Brown: {q-Clubs}{q-Diamonds}
Opponent: {4-Clubs}{4-Hearts}

Brown didn't have to sweat any additional outs as the flop came {9-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{8-Spades}. The {a-Diamonds} turn changed nothing and the {10-Spades} river completed the board as Brown sent his opponent to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Barry Brown us
Barry Brown
24,700

Tags: Barry Brown

Most MSPT Main Event Cashes in History

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante

Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 10 years on they have one of the best player databases in the industry.

On their "Leaderboards" page, the MSPT tracks such things as Career Earnings, Main Event Cashes, Main Event Final Tables, Main Event Titles, Total Cashes, Most Cashes/Final Tables in a Season, Most Final Tables All-Time, and much more.

Two players in today's field, Aaron Johnson and Kou Vang, currently sit atop the list for most Main Event cashes in tour history. The MSPT FireKeepers is the 159th Main Event for the MSPT, and incredibly Johnson has cashed in 35 of them while Vang isn't far behind with 32.

Here's a look at the top ten MSPT Main Event cashers:

PlacePlayerHometownMain Event Cashes
1Aaron JohnsonRed Wing, Minnesota35
2Kou VangMaplewood, Minnesota32
3Richard AlsupNew Hope, Minnesota27
4Mark HodgeFernandina Beach, Florida25
5Patrick SteeleChelsea, Michigan24
6DJ BuckleyEden Prairie, Minnesota24
7Blake BohnEden Prairie, Minnesota23
8Jason SeitzShakopee, Minnesota21
9Rob WazWazMinneapolis, Minnesota20
10Matt KirbyBemidji, Minnesota19

Garrod Flips Opponent Out of the Tournament

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante
Mark Garrod
Mark Garrod

A short-stacked player got his last 6,325 all in preflop and was racing for his tournament life against Mark Garrod.

Mark Garrod: {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}
Opponent: {5-Hearts}{5-Spades}

The {10-Spades}{2-Clubs}{4-Hearts} flop was safe for the at-risk player but disaster struck after the dealer burned and turned the {a-Diamonds} to give Garrod the lead.

The {4-Clubs} river failed to change anything and Garrod collected the pot and sent a player to the rail.

Tags: Mark Garrod

Level: 6

Blinds: 250/500

Ante: 500