Get Ready for Michigan's Mid-States Poker Tour FireKeepers Casino from May 9-17
There are only two Mid-States Poker Tour $1,100 buy-in Main Events left between now and July. The first is the MSPT Venetian in Las Vegas from June 1-5, which of course coincides with the 2015 World Series of Poker. The other, which is happening sooner, is MSPT FireKeepers in Battle Creek, Michigan.
From May 9-17, 2015, the MSPT will return to FireKeepers Casino for a series of qualifiers and a $200,000 guaranteed Main Event (May 14-17) that will feature three separate starting flights.
"Time and again FireKeepers has proven a popular stop on the MSPT Schedule," said MSPT owner and operator Bryan Mileski. "Not only is it Michigan's premiere poker event, it's also launched several poker careers including that of Season 4 MSPT Player of the Year Pat Steele and Jason Zarlenga, who sits atop the tour's all-time money list."
Indeed, last year Zarlenga topped a field of 411 entrants to win the MSPT FireKeepers for $101,482. Amazingly, he went on to win the MSPT Potawatomi in Wisconsin later in the year to make him one three two-time champions alongside Matt Kirby and Dan Sun.
The last time the MSPT visited Battle Creek, it was Ryan Dykhouse who outlasted 516 other entrants to win the MSPT FireKeepers for $124,500, which was also branded as the Michigan State Poker Championship. That title won't be contested until the tour stops by the venue for a second time in October.
Still, look for an increase in attendance.
"With each MSPT tournament series we have experienced an increase in player participation as well as notoriety for being a stop on the tour," Kelley Bailey, Poker Manager at FireKeepers, previously told PokerNews. "MSPT has done a wonderful job in expanding their product and establishing their brand in the premier tournament arena. We are pleased to continue to offer players in Michigan and surrounding areas the opportunity to play in this tournament series."
Finally, the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be on hand to capture all the action from the MSPT FireKeepers Main Event, and of course players will have the opportunity to use the My Stack app to update their hands and chip counts straight into the live blog.
To download the My Stack app absolutely free on either Apple or Android, click here.
Here's a look at the upcoming MSPT FireKeepers schedule:
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, May 9 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 9 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 10 | Super Satellite | $65 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 10 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Monday, May 11 | Super Satellite | $65 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Monday, May 11 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, May 12 | Super Satellite | $65 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, May 12 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 13 | Super Satellite | $65 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 13 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, May 14 | Main Event Qualifier | $250 | 9:30 a.m. |
| Thursday, May 14 | Main Event Day 1a | $1,100 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Friday, May 15 | Main Event Day 1b | $1,100 | Noon |
| Friday, May 15 | Main Event Turbo Qualifier | $250 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 16 | Main Event Day 1c | $1,100 | Noon |
| Sunday, May 17 | Main Event Day 2 | - | 10:30 a.m. |
The Main Event will be held over four days beginning Thursday evening with Day 1a at 4 p.m. Day 1a will play 14 levels. Friday and Saturday's Day 1b & 1c will start at Noon and also play 14 levels. Players who advance from a Main Event flight to Day 2 are not eligible to play in a future flight. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned. The Main Event final table will be broadcast LIVE (15-minute delay) worldwide on Twitch, msptpoker.com, and PokerNews using RFID technology allowing all viewers to see the hole cards.
For more information, visit msptpoker.com.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
