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$400 Mississippi State Championship
Day 2 Completed
2026 Mississippi State Poker Championship
$400 Mississippi State Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 Mississippi State Poker Championship
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$400
Prize Pool
$128,700
Total Entries
390
Places Paid
45
Level
25
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Entries
46
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 390
Filter
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The inaugural Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event did not end in a conventional way. The final seven players chose to do an ICM chop that resulted in Michael Holland taking home the biggest prize of $17,570. However, it was not Holland who would get the belt buckle trophy and the winner’s photo, as the remaining seven players agreed to do a flip to decide who would get the glory. In the end, it was Amy Batson who won the flip and won the honor of becoming the first-ever winner in the Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event held at the Horseshoe Tunica Casino.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Holland | United States | $17,570* |
| 2 | Brandon Owens | United States | $15,162* |
| 3 | Jason Miller | United States | $12,120* |
| 4 | Jeff Manley | United States | $11,305* |
| 5 | Bill Onley | United States | $10,547* |
| 6 | Amy Batson | United States | $9,394* |
| 7 | Melinda Freeman | United States | $8,777* |
| 8 | Jesse Lott | United States | $3,393 |
| 9 | Anthony Graham | United States | $2,676 |
*Denotes Seven-Way ICM Chop
Batson has only been playing poker for a little over one year, but in a short amount of time, she has found a home on the felt. She explained that after her son went to university, she was searching for something to fill her time, and poker entered her life during this transitional period into a new phase at home.
It fit like a glove, and Batson got hooked on playing at her bar league named River Rat Rounders. She expanded her horizons to start playing outside of her league, and she has continued to find success in the poker tournament scene. Above all, Batson appreciates the sense of community that has been a huge driving force for her immersion in the poker world.
“They were super gracious and patient with me,” said Batson to PokerNews following the main event’s conclusion. “I have found such a beautiful community of super diverse, amazing people from all walks of life, all economic levels, all backgrounds, and they’re just super good people, and they’re giving, and they’re patient with me.”
Batson explained that she feels like she is still learning the game in so many ways, and she has leaned on her strengths thus far in her career to cover for the areas of poker that she feels she is still feeling out.
“I’m still just trying to make sure I see what’s on the board and put people on hands and such,” said Batson. “But my superpower, what my skill is, I see people, and I understand people and the human connection.”
Batson donned a crown all of Day 2 as she played, explaining that she uses it as an expression to feel empowered. In the end, it was a fitting headdress, because Batson will go home with the belt buckle and the title of champion.
Day 2 Action
15 players had hit the rail by the time Day 2 hit the first break of the day, including Andrea Hizer and Matt Vaughan, who entered the final day with top ten chip stacks.
The tournament reached the final 27 players within the first four levels of play as William Joyner continued to hold court as the top stack in the room with the only seven-figure stack in play.
Brandon Owens would be the next player to join the millionaire’s club when he bested Parker Williams for a second time when his aces held against Williams’ queens.
The tournament sped to the final 18 players before Robert Logan and Kenneth Stewart busted within five minutes of one another.
Jason Simon would hit the first of two four-of-a-kinds in the tournament, but in an even rarer twist of fate, the theme of quads would be something that haunted Simon later in the tournament. Simon would go down in 13th place when he fell to Holland’s quad jacks just over an hour later.
Baruch Biniaminov was next to go in 12th place when Jason “Mayhem” Miller cracked his pocket kings when he turned trip tens.
Once overall chip leader Joyner was making a splash earlier in the day, but he ran out of steam in 11th place when he ran into Holland’s ace-king. The final table would be set just minutes later when Phillip Rix exited in 10th place.
The final table started off tense, and it was Anthony Graham who was the first to blink when he failed to get there against Brandon Owens’ pair of aces to fall in ninth place.
Jesse Lott fell nearly an hour later in eighth place when he ran into the full house of Holland.
A deal had been floated when the players reached the final table, but after revisiting the subject again following Lott’s elimination. The table was able to reach an agreement for a seven-way ICM chop.
This concludes the coverage from PokerNews here at the Horseshoe Tunica Casino. Check back at PokerNews for all your poker updates and news from the poker world.
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Amy Batson won a flip to be declared the first-ever Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event winner. Stay tuned here at PokerNews for a reaction from the winner and a recap of today's action.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Holland | United States | $17,570* |
| 2 | Brandon Owens | United States | $15,162* |
| 3 | Jason Miller | United States | $12,120* |
| 4 | Jeff Manley | United States | $11,305* |
| 5 | Bill Onley | United States | $10,547* |
| 6 | Amy Batson | United States | $9,394* |
| 7 | Melinda Freeman | United States | $8,777* |
| 8 | Jesse Lott | United States | $3,393 |
| 9 | Anthony Graham | United States | $2,676 |
*Seven way ICM chop
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The remaining seven players agreed to an ICM chop. Stay tuned for details on the chop and a reaction from the first-ever champion of the Mississippi State Poker Championship $400 Main Event.
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
This hand was picked up on the turn with approximately 400,000 in the middle of a board that read 2♠9♦7♦6♣.
Jesse Lott led out for 150,000 before Michael Holland made it 450,000. Lott made the call.
The 2♥ river resulted in a shove for approximately 300,000 from Lott. Holland snap-called and put Lott at risk.
Lott showed 7♥5♥ for a pair of sevens. Holland had the goods with 9♠9♥ for a full house to eliminate Lott in eighth place.
Lott earned $3,393 for his finish.
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Melinda Freeman shoved for 455,000 from the cutoff and was called by Michael Holland from the small blind to be at risk.
Melinda Freeman: 8♠5♠
Michael Holland: A♠K♥
Freeman was a slight underdog, but the flop gave her a piece when it came 7♠3♦8♣, giving her the lead with a pair of eights.
The 2♣ turn kept Freeman in front.
Holland was unable to find his overcards on the 10♣ river as Freeman doubled.
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Amy Batson shoved for her final 410,000 from early position and was called by Jesse Lott from the cutoff as Batson was at risk.
Amy Batson: K♦J♦
Jesse Lott: K♣Q♣
Batson was in trouble as Lott had her hand dominated.
The 8♥3♥6♦ flop kept Lott in the lead.
Batson's prospects looked grim when the 5♠ turn kept her searching for a jack.
Just when it appeared she was out the door, the J♥ hit the river to give Batson a pair of jacks and the double up.
Level 25
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Level: 25
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 80,000
Level 24
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
The remaining eight players are on a 10-minute break. Action will resume at the 40,000/80,000 level.