$1,100 Main Event ($150K GTD)
Day 2 Completed
2020 Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls
$1,100 Main Event ($150K GTD)
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2020 Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$500,960
Entries
518
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Entries
518
Players Left
1
Mark Collins Wins MSPT Grand Falls for Second Title and a $107,706 Payday
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante
To say the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Grand Falls Casino $1,100 buy-in, $150K GTD Main Event crushed it would be an understatement. The first live mid-major poker tournament in the United States in nearly six months attracted 518 entries (226 from Day 1a; 292 from 1b), which not only surpassed the venue’s previous best field of 238 entries in 2015, but also became the largest major ($1,000+ buy-in) in Iowa history.
While Grand Falls Casino is situated just outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it is technically located just across the border in Larchwood, Iowa. Despite being a bit remote, players flocked from the Midwest as well as Colorado, Florida, and Vegas. The turnout was evidence that, despite the current pandemic, there is a big demand for live tournament poker.
On Sunday, 67 players returned for Day 2 action, and after it was 47-year-old Mark Collins, a systems administrator from the St. Louis area, coming out on top to win the $107,706 top prize and his second MSPT title. He previously won the MSPT Season 9 Canterbury Park for $102,076.
It was a triumphant return to live poker for Collins, who hadn’t played since January. He rarely travels to play to the game, but like so many others had the itch.
MSPT Grand Falls Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Collins | $107,706 |
| 2 | Steve Wilkie | $66,180 |
| 3 | Kevin Berthelsen | $47,691 |
| 4 | Jason Reisdorfer | $36,069 |
| 5 | Tom Sundling | $27,052 |
| 6 | Ricardo Eyzaguirre | $20,539 |
| 7 | Max Havlish | $16,031 |
| 8 | Jimmie Lucero | $12,524 |
| 9 | Stephen Cleghorn | $9,518 |
With 54 slated to get paid, more than a dozen players needed to exit before the money was made. Among those to leave empty-handed were Howard Hankin, Michael Berk, and Ben Keeline, just to name a few.
Once Mike Cordell bubbled in 55th place, the march to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Blake Whittington (11th - $7,514), MSPT Hall of Famer Pat Steele (13th - $6,012), Day 1b chip leader Ryan Dodson (14th - $6,012), Donnie Phan (21st - $4,559), three-time MSPT champ Matt Kirby (29th - $2,705), MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup (31st - $2,705), and Kyna England (40th - $2,455).
At the final table, Steve Wilkie and Mark Collins, both former MSPT champs, navigated their way to heads-up play after beginning fourth and eighth in chips respectively. Wilkie added to his stack by using aces to dispatch Jimmie Lucero, who had ace-seven, in eighth place, while Collins busted former MSPT champ Max Havlish in seventh in a blind-versus-blind short-stack hand.
Collins then doubled into the chip lead when his ace-king held against the ace-queen of Tom Sundling, who exited a short time later in fifth place.
Kevin Berthelsen then eliminated Jason Reisdorfer in fourth before following him out the door in third place, the result of losing a flip with pocket eights to Wilkie’s ace-queen. Heads-up play began with Collins holding a very narrow lead over Wilkie, and the duo battled back and forth for awhile.
Eventually, Collins was able to pull out to a decent lead before the two played the final hand. Wilkie three-bet jammed holding queen-jack only to have Collins call with king-jack. Wilkie, who last November won the MSPT Golden Gates for $85,149, failed to get lucky and had to settle for second place and $66,180 in prize money.
Future stops for the MSPT’s Season 11 are to be determined, but hopes are high there will be more live tournaments on tap in 2020. Be sure to check msptpoker.com regularly for up-to-date news.
Steve Wilkie Eliminated in 2nd Place ($66,180)
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante
In what would be the final hand of the tournament Mark Collins raised the button to 700,000 and Steve Wilkie three-bet jammed for 3.39 million from the big blind. Collins thought for about 45 seconds and then made the call.
Steve Wilkie: 
Mark Collins: 
Wilkie was dominated and wasn't able to get lucky as the board ran out 
to give Collins his second MSPT title while at the same time denying Wilkie a second of his own.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
12,950,000 | 3,700,000 |
|
Busted |
Slow Going
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante
There hasn't been too much action as of late with the final two players mainly taking turn swiping small pots and blinds. There have been a couple of bigger pots, but both ended in chops.
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 30,000
Here We Go Again on a Break
Level 30
: 100,000/150,000, 30,000 ante
The final two players are now on a scheduled break.
Collins Opens Up Lead After Wilkie Folds a Straight
Level 30
: 100,000/150,000, 30,000 ante
Steve Wilkie raised the button to 350,000 and Mark Collins called to see a 
flop.
Collins led out for 250,000, Wilkie called, and the 
appeared on the turn. Collins bet another 250,000 and called when Wilkie raised to 1 million.
When the 
put three diamonds on board, Collins moved all in and Wilkie, who had 3.7 behind, said, "I'm going to lay down a straight to you, brother."
Indeed he did fold and showed the 
. Collins simply sent his own two cards to the muck and pulled in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,250,000 | 2,460,000 |
|
|
3,700,000 | -2,470,000 |
Level: 30
Blinds: 100,000/150,000
Ante: 30,000
Current Heads-Up Chip Counts
Level 29
: 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,790,000 | -10,000 |
|
|
6,170,000 | 20,000 |
Break Time
Level 29
: 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
The final two players are now on a quick break.