Greg Shuda Captures 2025 MSPT Wisconsin State Championship
Table Of Contents
The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the 2025 Wisconsin State Poker Championship, and it turned out to be a historic event. The $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 GTD 100 GRAND STACK Main Event drew a massive field of 1,698 entries, making it the largest poker tournament ever held in Wisconsin, and generating a total prize pool of $1,645,560.
When the dust finally settled on Day 2, Greg Shuda emerged victorious, claiming $232,955 and his first-ever MSPT trophy. The Wisconsin native overcame a slight chip deficit in heads-up play against Mykle Robble, with the two agreeing to adjust the prize pool prior to the start of heads-up play. Robble, holding the chip lead, locked up $202,000, while Shuda took $190,000, leaving $42,955 for the winner, and Shuda ultimately earning the top spot.
Shuda’s triumph marked a career-best score for the part-time live tournament player, who only participates in a handful of events each year. “It feels great to be honest,” Shuda said after his win. “The last tournament I played was this one in February, so to come back and win it means a lot.”
100 GRAND STACK Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | POY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Shuda | $232,955* | 1,700 |
| 2 | Mykle Robble | $202,000* | 1,700 |
| 3 | Andy Loomis | $125,419 | 1,600 |
| 4 | Arlo Strozewski | $94,868 | 1,500 |
| 5 | Kyle Gahan | $72,357 | 1,400 |
| 6 | Loki Abboud | $54,670 | 1,300 |
| 7 | Frank Lagodich | $43,414 | 1,200 |
| 8 | Doug Timmer | $33,767 | 1,100 |
| 9 | Maurice Hawkins | $27,335 | 1,000 |
Final Day Action
Day 2 of the 2025 MSPT Wisconsin State Championship kicked off with 189 players returning, all already in the money, having bagged chips from one of the three Day 1 starting flights. The knockouts came fast, as some notable names fell early, including MSPT Hall of Famers Josh Reichard and Gerald Cunniff. Two-time MSPT champions John Sun and Angela Jordison also exited before making a serious run at the title. Meanwhile, 2025 MSPT State Champions Corey Wick (Michigan) and Antonio Vargas (Colorado) saw their campaigns end early, leaving the field wide open for a fresh champion to emerge.
Final Table
The first casualty at the final table was a familiar face in the mid-stakes turf, all-time WSOPC ring leader Maurice Hawkins. The controversial figure entered the final nine as the second shortest stack but looked poised to double up after calling an all-in with pocket tens on a 9♣6♠Q♥ board against his opponents ace-jack. The 7♥ on the turn kept Hawkins in the lead, but the J♥ on the river sealed his fate, making him the first knockout of the final table.
Shortly after, Doug Timmer and Frank Lagodich followed Hawkins to the rail. The eventual champion, Shuda, then found himself in a precarious spot. Holding pocket tens, Shuda called an all-in from Loki Abboud for the majority of his chips, only to see Abboud turning over jacks. Fate, however, was on Shuda’s side, as the river delivered a magical ten, giving him a set, and sending Abboud to the exits in sixth place.
Eventually, it came down to the final two players, Shuda and Robble. Despite starting with a slight chip deficit, Shuda quickly turned things around after the two agreed to adjust the remaining prize pool. Shuda first doubled up, winning a crucial flip with ace-five against Robble’s pocket deuces, which catapulted him into the chip lead.
Shortly after, Shuda found himself in a dominating position holding A♥J♥ against Robble’s A♠10♦. The 7♥10♥7♠ flop temporarily gave Robble the lead, though it also offered Shuda a flush draw. The 9♣ on the turn added a straight draw, but the 9♥ on the river completed the flush, securing Shuda the Wisconsin State Poker Championship title and the $232,955 top prize.
"Farmboy" Claims Third Gold Card
Outside of the Main Event, ten other side events took place as part of the 2025 MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Championship. One of the standout stories was John "Farmboy" Kurfman capturing his third Gold Card, by winning Event #10: $300 Black Chip Bounty NLH for $10,738, giving him the second-most Gold Cards in MSPT history, trailing only Michael Starek with four. Other notable victories included Spiro Lempesis, who earned $64,313 by taking down Event #1: $400 100 Grand Stack NLH, and Lee Rzentkowski, who won Event #9: $400 Seniors (50+) NLH for $21,746.
MSPT Wisconsin Side Event Winners
| Tournament | Entries | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $400 100 Grand Stack NLH | 1,064 | Spiro Lempesis | $64,313 |
| Event #2: $400 PLO Monster Stack | 120 | Ellis Wong | $6,764 |
| Event #3: $200 Monster Stack NLH | 274 | Kyle Schwarten | $8,153 |
| Event #4: $400 Mixed PLO/NLH | 104 | Jake Long | $10,450 |
| Event #5: $1,110 Main Event | 1,698 | Greg Shuda | *232,955 |
| Event #6: $200 Monster Stack | 278 | Michael Kovach | $10,232 |
| Event #7: $200 Monster Stack NLH | 290 | Gregory Amrhein | $5,046 |
| Event #8 $200 Monster Stack NLH | 281 | Kyle Goebel | $10,337 |
| Event #9: $400 Seniors (50+) NLH | 265 | Lee Rzentkowski | $21,746 |
| Event #10: $300 Black Chip Bounty NLH | 322 | John "Farmboy" Kurfman | $10,738 |
| Event #11: $200 Last Chance Monster Stack NLH | 243 | Richard Yau | $7,860 |
