2022 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

$1,110 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2022 MSPT Michigan State Poker Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
77
Prize
$344,446
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,110
Prize Pool
$2,336,730
Entries
2,409
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
303
Players Left
1

$1,110 Main Event

Day 2 Completed

Matthew Davis Wins First MSPT at FireKeepers For $344,446

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Matthew Davis Wins MSPT Firekeepers
Matthew Davis Wins MSPT Firekeepers

Day 2 of The $1,100 MSPT Main Event at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan, saw 303 players return for Day 2, all looking for their piece of the $2,336,730 and for the first place prize of $344,446. After 17 hours of play, it was Michigan’s own Matthew Davis who took down his first MSPT title.

“I feel like I played really well today,” the newly crowned MSPT champion stated. “I got lucky in a few key spots.” Davis held just over $200,000 in lifetime live earnings on Hendon mob with a previous best score of $98k. He now over doubles his live tournament earnings and over triples his best live score to get onto Michigan’s top 100 of all time. A supportive rail stood by his side throughout the final table, rooting for him when he raked in a pot.

“I’m absolutely going to be playing other MSPTs,” the newest champion said “100%, and I’m looking forward too it.”

Day 2 Action

A few players were not able to make it through to the money. Timothy Mulroy and Zinoviy Pelekh from last spring’s final table fell short of cashing. The last player to fall on the wrong side of the money bubble was Michigan pro Mario Arribas, who lost a flip to Brekstyn Schutten when his ace-king could not catch up to the pocket queens in Schutten’s hand.

More players fell after the money was reached including, Pat Steele (219th-$2,569), Ralph Massey (206th-$2,802), Aaron Massey (136th-$3,269), Jason “Clozer” Kapoor (106th-$3,503), and Rich Alsup (48th-$5,838). Defending champion Dan Bekavac did not see a second Firkeepers title claimed as his run ended in 44th place for $6,772.

It took well over an hour to reach the final table when the tournament reached 10 players, but ultimately it was Jerry Miller who’s ace-jack could not hold up against Rinaldo Teodoro’s king-five. Miller finished the tournament as the tenth place finisher, just outside the final table bubble, and collected $28,023 for his efforts.

Final Table Results

PlaceNamePrizeCountry
1Matthew Davis$344,446United States
2Rinaldo Teodoro$212,511United States
3Jason Zarlenga$158,796United States
4Adam Williams(MI)$123,767United States
5Justin Pimpedly$94,810United States
6Chris Moon$74,727United States
7Alex "TheOrca" Farcas$58,381United States
8Ron Puleo$45,537United States
9Alec Magdan$36,196United States

Final Table Recap

The short stacked Alec Magdan was the first to go. Being down to just one big blind with eleven players left, Magdan managed an impressive spin up to get back to over 10 big blinds by the time the final table started. Magdan found himself involved in a three-way all-in where both Ron Puleo’s ace-queen and Alex “TheOrca” Farcas’ ace-jack. A jack-high board saw the pot go in the direction of Farcas and Magdan exited in ninth place for $36,196.

Following him out the door was Ron Puleo who ended his tournament in eighth place when he moved his short stack in from the small blind jack-eight suited, only for Justin Pimpedly to call in the big blind with ace-ten suited. The board ran out ten high and Puleo collected $45,537 for his efforts.

Alex “TheOrca” Farcas found himself on the bad end of many big pots and saw his early final table gains disappearing. He moved in his final three million over Pimpedly’s raise, only to see Jason Zarlenga four-bet on his immediate left. Pimpedly got out of the way and Zarlenga turned over two aces which were ahead and held against Farcas’ jacks. Farcas collected $58,381 for his first MSPT cash.

Chris Moon began the final table as the chip leader, but after doubling up Zarlenga when his queens could not beat Zarlenga’s ace-jack, and doubling up Davis, when his king-jack could not hold against Davis’ king-ten, he found himself in the bottom half of the chip counts. He moved in his remaining chips from the button with ace-three, only to get called by Zarlenga’s ace-king and failed to find any improvement on the runout. The 2019 MSPT Firekeepers champion found his deep run coming to an end in sixth place for $74,727.

Justin Pimpedly ended his deep run in fifth place for $94,810. He raised in first position and was faced with an all in from Davis. After some thinking he called with his nines, only to see Davis holding a pair of tens. The board ran out as no help to Pimpedly and he wished his tablemates good luck as he exited the tournament.

Adam Williams(MI) started the final table as one of the short stacks, but managed to find several ladders to ensure himself $123,676. His deep run ended in fourth place when his jack-nine ran into the pocket sevens of Davis and no improvement was possible after the sevens hit a set on the turn.

2014 MSPT Firekeepers champion Jason Zarlenga seemed to be poised to get heads up with Davis, but a double to Rinaldo Teodoro when his ace-nine could not improve against pocket queens saw him fall down to the bottom of the counts three handed. He got in his remaining chips with king-queen up against Davis’ ace-nine and could not improve. Zarlenga ends his deep run in third place for $158,796.

Matthew Davis' Rail
Matthew Davis had a supportive rail that followed him through the final table.

Heads up between Teodoro and Davis saw little mobility in either direction, with stacks remaining the same throughout their heads up match. That all came to a head when Matthew Davis called on the button, only to see Teodoro raise then call an all in bet with ace-six. Davis held pocket sevens and a seven on the flop and blank on the turn sealed Teodoro’s fate. He collects $212,511 for his impressive runner-up finish.

Congratulations to Matthew Davis for winning the biggest Mid-States Poker Tour in the midwest for his first trophy. Thank you to all who participated and thank you for reading along at PokerNews. Stay tuned for all updates regarding all of the updates on all of the biggest poker tours around the country.

Rinaldo Teodoro Eliminated In 2nd Place ($212,511)

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Rinaldo Teodoro
Rinaldo Teodoro

Matthew Davis called on the button and Rinaldo Teodoro raised to 3,000,000. Matthew Davis moved all in for 20,000,000 effective and Teodoro called.

Rinaldo Teodoro: {a-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}
Matthew Davis: {7-Clubs}{7-Spades}

The board ran out {q-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{2-Spades}{6-Clubs}{9-Hearts} and the set of sevens held for the best hand. Teodoro exited the tournament in second place and Matthew Davis was crowned the newest MSPT champion.

Stay tuned for a full recap.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Davis us
Matthew Davis
60,225,000
20,000,000
20,000,000
Profile photo of Rinaldo Teodoro us
Rinaldo Teodoro
Busted

Tags: Matthew DavisRinaldo Teodoro

Level: 37

Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000

Ante: 1,000,000

Jason Zarlenga Eliminated In 3rd Place ($158,796)

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Jason Zarlenga
Jason Zarlenga

Jason Zarlenga moved in his final 4,000,000 from the button and in the big blind, Matthew Davis called to put him at risk.

Jason Zarlenga: {k-Spades}{q-Diamonds}
Matthew Davis: {a-Clubs}{9-Spades}

The board ran out {a-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{q-Clubs}{4-Hearts} and Davis flopped a pair of aces to take and maintain the lead on the runout, leaving the 2014 MSPT Firekeepers champion to depart in third place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Davis us
Matthew Davis
41,225,000
9,975,000
9,975,000
Profile photo of Rinaldo Teodoro us
Rinaldo Teodoro
19,000,000
3,350,000
3,350,000
Profile photo of Jason Zarlenga us
Jason Zarlenga
Busted

Tags: Jason ZarlengaMatthew Davis

Adam Williams(MI) Eliminated In 4th Place ($123,767)

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Adam Williams (MI)
Adam Williams (MI)

Adam Williams (MI) moved his last 3,400,000 into the center and was called by Matthew Davis from the button.

Adam Williams (MI): {j-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}
Matthew Davis: {7-Diamonds}{7-Spades}

The board ran out {a-Hearts}{3-Spades}{4-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{10-Diamonds} and Williams could not improve against the pocket sevens of Davis and he exited the tournament in fourth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Davis us
Matthew Davis
31,250,000
3,750,000
3,750,000
Profile photo of Adam Williams (MI) us
Adam Williams (MI)
Busted

Tags: Adam WilliamsMatthew Davis

Justin Pimpedly Eliminated In 5th Place ($94,810)

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Justin Pimpedly
Justin Pimpedly

Justin Pimpedly raised to 2,000,000 in first position and from one seat over, Matthew Davis moved all in for 17,000,000. Action folded back to Pimpedly who called after deliberating for some time.

Justin Pimpedly: {9-Hearts}{9-Clubs}
Matthew Davis: {10-Hearts}{10-Clubs}

The board ran out {a-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{3-Spades}{4-Hearts}{j-Hearts} and the pocket tens held as the best hand while Pimpedly exited the tournament in fifth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Davis us
Matthew Davis
27,500,000
21,600,000
21,600,000
Profile photo of Justin Pimpedly us
Justin Pimpedly
Busted

Tags: Justin PimpedlyMatthew Davis

Level: 36

Blinds: 400,000/800,000

Ante: 800,000

Chris Moon Eliminated In 6th Place ($74,727)

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Chris Moon
Chris Moon

Chris Moon moved all in for 5,900,000 on the button and Jason Zarlenga moved all in for more and the other players folded.

Chris Moon: {a-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}
Jason Zarlenga: {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}

The board ran out {4-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{q-Spades}{k-Diamonds} and Moon could not improve against the ace-king and he exited the tournament in sixth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jason Zarlenga us
Jason Zarlenga
17,350,000
3,150,000
3,150,000
Profile photo of Chris Moon us
Chris Moon
Busted

Tags: Chris MoonJason Zarlenga