$1,100 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship
$1,100 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$1,565,066
Entries
1,615
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
50,000
Entries
210
Players Left
1
Bobby Noel Wins 2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship for $262,145
Level 36
: 300,000/600,000, 50,000 ante
The 2019 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino proved to be a record-setting affair by attracting 1,615 entries over three flights. That made it the largest poker tournament in Michigan state history, as was the $1,565,066 prize pool on tap.
In the end, 31-year-old Bobby Noel finished as the last player standing to claim the title and $262,145 first-place prize. Prior to the career-high score, Noel had $305,584 in lifetime earnings including a prior best $136,625 for finishing runner-up to Josh Reichard in the 2018 HPT Championship.
“My first time here, I’ll probably come back now I guess. I’m feeling good,” Noel said after the win. “I haven’t been playing a ton this year. I had some success last year. Things just seem to be working out pretty well for me.”
On his way to victory, Noel had to defeat a former champ and a World Poker Tour champion.
“I would say it was the hardest final I’ve played by far,” he added.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby Noel | $262,145 |
| 2 | Ralph Massey | $161,200 |
| 3 | Keven Stammen | $122,074 |
| 4 | Elliott Hebden | $92,337 |
| 5 | Isaac Kratchman | $70,427 |
| 6 | Justin Pease | $53,212 |
| 7 | Hyung Cho | $42,256 |
| 8 | Erik Koch | $32,866 |
| 9 | Dapreesch Scates | $26,606 |
| 10 | Aaron Massey | $20,345 |
Day 2 Action
The start of Day 2 saw 211 players return to action, and of those 171 were slated to get paid. Among those to fall short of the money was MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang, WSOP Main Event finalist Nick Manion, and bubble boy Brandon Sinawi, who lost ace-king to ace-queen all in preflop when a lady spiked on the river.
Among those to cash but fall short of making the final table were bracelet winner Ben Keeline (55th - $3,913), Minnesota Hall of Famer Blake Bohn (67th - $3,443), Nick Pupillo (68th - $3,443), MSPT FireKeepers champ Chris Moon (74th - $3,287), three-time MSPT champ Matt Kirby (87th - $3,130), and current MSPT Season 10 points leader Mike Shin (95th - $2,817).
Making his fourth appearance at a MSPT FireKeepers final table was poker pro Aaron Massey, who was joined by his brother Ralph Massey. It marked the first time the two had made a major final table together, but their shared experienced didn’t last long as Aaron was the first to fall after losing a flip with king-jack to the pocket tens of Noel.
Dapreesch Scates was the next to go after his ace-queen fell to king-jack blind on blind against Noel, and Erik Koch followed him out the door in eighth place losing queen-ten suited to Noel’s kings all in preflop.
At that point a rare double elimination took place when Hyung Cho got it in with nine-ten suited, Justin Pease with Big Slick, and Keven Stammen holding ace-eight. Stammen, who had both players covered, spiked a runner-runner straight to send them both to the rail and bring the field down to five players.
Day 1c chip leader Isaac Kratchman, who finished third in the 2018 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship, was the next to go after shoving the small blind with queen-ten only to have Noel wake up with ace-jack suited in the big. The better hand held and Kratchman had to settle for fifth place and $70,427 in prize money.
Massey then cracked the pocket aces of Elliott Hebden holding ten-nine thanks to a ten on the flop – which is when the chips went in – and another on the river. Not long after, the short-stacked Stammen, brother to 2018 MSPT Michigan State Poker Champ Matt Stammen, also fell to Massey, who took a nearly 2-1 chip lead into heads-up play.
Despite that, it was Noel coming out on top to send Massey to the rail in second place for a career-high $161,200.
Season 10 of the MSPT will continue November 1-3 at Iowa’s Meskwaki Casino. PokerNews will be on hand to live report the $1,100 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event.
Ralph Massey Eliminated in 2nd place ($161,200)
Level 36
: 300,000/600,000, 50,000 ante
Bobby Noel moved all in on the button for 17,000,000. Ralph Massey had less chips and called.
Ralph Massey: 
Bobby Noel: 
The flop came 
and jack-high remained in the lead. The 
turn paired Noel but changed nothing as Massey would still need a three, four or five on the river to avoid elimination. The 
was the final river of the tournament and Massey was eliminated in 2nd place for $161,200.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
32,300,000 | 21,000,000 |
|
Busted |
Slow Going
Level 36
: 300,000/600,000, 50,000 ante
Both Ralph Massey and Bobby Noel have swapped blinds back and forth as of late with no game-changing pots... yet!
Level: 36
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 50,000
Heads-Up Chip Counts
Level 35
: 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
|
|
11,300,000 | 300,000 |
Keven Stammen Eliminated in 3rd Place ($122,074)
Level 35
: 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Ralph Massey moved all in from the small blind and put the pressure on Keven Stammen, who only had around 600,000 behind. Stammen didn't seem excited about it but called off nonetheless.
Keven Stammen: 
Ralph Massey: 
The board ran out 
and that was all she wrote for the World Poker Tour champ.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Elliott Hebden Eliminated in 4th Place ($92,337)
Level 35
: 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Elliott Hebden raised to 1 million from the small blind and Ralph Massey called from the big to see a 
flop. Hebden continued for 1 million and Massey raised enough to put him all in.
"I don't think I can fold," Hebden said before calling off the 4 million or so behind.
Elliott Hebden: 
Ralph Massey: 
Hebden was ahead and held on the 
turn. Unfortunately for him, the 
spiked on the river to give Massey trips and the win.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
19,000,000 | 17,750,000 |
|
Busted |
Massey Bombs River and Gets Paid
Level 35
: 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Ralph Massey raised 700,000 in the cutoff and Elliott Hebden defended his big blind.
Both players checked the flop when it came 
. Hebden led for 700,000 on the 
turn card. Massey called and they went to a river.
Hebden checked the 
and Massey bet big, 2,000,000. After a minute in the tank, Hebden put in a stack to call.
Ralph Massey: 
Massey had trip queens with an ace kicker which was good enough to send him the 7,000,000 chip pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,000,000 | -4,500,000 |
|
|
1,250,000 | -6,650,000 |
Level: 35
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 50,000