BATTLE CREEK, MI – FireKeepers Casino recently hosted the Michigan State Poker Tournament (MSPT), held from October 12 through October 15 in the FireKeepers Event Center. The event broke records and showcased talented poker players.
After two intense days of competition, a newcomer to MSPT, Travis Young from Big Bend, WI, emerged as the champion, earning not only his first MSPT title, but also a career-best, first-place prize of $297,977.
Final Table Results:
1st place: Travis Young, Big Bend, WI – $297,977
2nd place: Brian Hou, Philadelphia, PA – $236,956
3rd place: Cobi Cobian, Mooresville, IN – $221,666
4th place: Brad Sailor, Lombard, IL – $175,281
5th place: James Tedrow, Pittsburg, PA – $153,928
6th place: Mark Stump, Grand Rapids, MI – $89,440
7th place: Jeffrey Kuc, Granger, IN – $69,875
8th place: Narimaan Ahmadi, Alpharetta, GA – $52,826
9th place: Richard Vebranz, Hudson, OH – $41,925
The top five players agreed to an independent chip model (ICM) chop with an additional bonus awarded to the first-place winner.
The $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event exceeded expectations with a final prize pool of $2,795,010. The record-breaking 2,883 entries marked a significant milestone, surpassing the previous record set in May by 412 entries. Compared to last October’s event, this year’s participation exceeded the previous record by 474 entries, representing a 19% growth from October 2022. In 2023, all events hosted by FireKeepers Casino have outperformed those of 2022 by 11.5%.
“The success of the MSPT at FireKeepers Casino is a testament to our dedicated team’s exceptional service and commitment to exceeding expectations,” said Steven Senk, Vice President of Gaming Operations. “We are proud to provide poker enthusiasts with an unmatched experience, and we look forward to continuing to offer exciting events that keep poker players coming back for more.”
