Faces From the Field
MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event ($2M GTD)
MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event ($2M GTD)
Day: 1b
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/300
Ante: 0
Two Pair For Baldwin
Level 3
: 100/300, 0 ante
A player under-the-gun opened to 800 and was called by the player in the small blind and Eric Baldwin in the big blind.
All three players proceeded to check on the 
flop and 
turn, however, when the 
completed the board, the small blind led out for 1,200 and was called by Baldwin. The small blind showed 
for tens, but it was no good against the 
of Baldwin for two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
||
Heimiller Lets it go
Level 3
: 100/300, 0 ante
A player on the button opened to 700 and was called by Dan Heimiller in the big blind.
Heimiller proceeded to lead and get called, first for 1,100 on the 
flop and again for 3,000 on the 
turn.
The 
landed on the river and Heimiller once again led out for 3,000. This time, his opponent raised to 13,500 and Heimiller quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,500 | |
|
|
||
Assorted Chip Counts Before Break
Level 3
: 100/300, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
||
|
45,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
||
|
43,000 | |
|
|
40,000 | |
|
|
||
|
33,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
|
||
|
32,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
30,000 | |
|
26,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
|
||
|
24,500
-5,500
|
-5,500 |
|
24,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
|
||
|
22,000
-8,000
|
-8,000 |
|
21,000
-9,000
|
-9,000 |
|
|
||
|
18,000
-12,000
|
-12,000 |
|
12,500
-17,500
|
-17,500 |
Level: 4
Blinds: 200/300
Ante: 300
Pupillo Gets Straightened Out
Level 4
: 200/300, 300 ante
Three players from middle position, the lojack, and cutoff all limped and Nick Pupillo raised to 1,800 from the small blind. The big blind and all the limpers called for a five-way raised pot.
Everyone checked on the 
flop, but Pupillo led out for 5,400 on the 
turn. Only the initial preflop limper called.
The completed the board and Pupillo shoved for 9,600. His opponent quickly called and Pupillo motioned like his opponent had won. Pupillo's opponent revealed 
for a straight and Pupillo mucked.
Pulpillo re-entered shortly after busting.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000
9,000
|
9,000 |
|
|
||
Konnikova Picks Off Bluff
Level 4
: 200/300, 300 ante
A player under-the-gun opened to 700 and was called by Maria Konnikova in middle position. Everyone else folded.
Both players checked on the flop, but the initial raiser bet 1,200 when the 
came on the turn. Konnikova called.
The 
completed the board and Konnikova's opponent fired again — this time for 2,100. Konnikova stuck a single chip into the middle to indicate a call and her opponent mucked without showing. Konnikova also mucked without showing and scooped the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
44,000
-1,000
|
-1,000 |
|
|
||
Over 400 Entries
Level 4
: 200/300, 300 ante
Day 1b has already garnered 423 entries and that number is expected to grow considerably throughout the day.
MSPT Headed Back to Grand Falls Casino August 20-22
Level 4
: 200/300, 300 ante
From August 20-22, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) will head back to Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa, which is actually situated just across the border from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a $1,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed Main Event. PokerNews will be offering live updates from the stop.
A series of $70 and $260 satellites starting at the end of July will feed into the Main Event, which will feature two starting flights. Day 1a will take place at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 20 with Day 1b taking place at the same time on Saturday, August 21. The surviving players from both flights will then return for Day 2 at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 22 to play down to a winner.
In August 2020, a record-breaking MSPT Main Event was held at Grand Falls. That $1,100 buy-in tournament was the first mid-major poker tournament in the United States in nearly six months due to the pandemic, and the 518 entrants not only surpassed the venue’s previous best field of 238 runners in 2015 but also became the largest major ($1,000+ buy-in) in Iowa history. In the end, 47-year-old Mark Collins, a systems administrator from the St. Louis area, came out on top to win a $107,706 top prize and his second MSPT title. He previously won the MSPT Season 9 Canterbury Park for $102,076.
More recently, the MSPT hosted a $1,100 Main Event at Grand Falls back in January, which is when Chad Bjorkman bested a 488-entry field to win a $101,450 top prize. Then in March, Eric Atchison topped a 794-entry field to win the MSPT $360 Regional Event for $46,020 and his second title in two years.
Click here for more details including upcoming hotel rates.
MSPT Grand Falls Schedule
| Date | Time | Event | Starting Stack inc. add-on | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 7/28 | 1 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Thursday, 7/29 | 6 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Wednesday, 8/4 | 1 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Thursday, 8/5 | 6 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Wednesday, 8/11 | 1 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Thursday, 8/12 | 6 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Saturday, 8/14 | Noon | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Poker Room |
| Sunday, 8/15 | 1 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Sunday, 8/15 | 4 p.m. | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Poker Room |
| Wednesday, 8/18 | 1 p.m. | $70 Satellite – 1/5 advance to $260 satellite | 12,000 | Poker Room |
| Wednesday, 8/18 | 6 p.m. | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Poker Room |
| Thursday, 8/19 | Noon | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Poker Room |
| Thursday, 8/19 | 6 p.m. | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Poker Room |
| Friday, 8/20 | 10:00 AM | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Event Center |
| Friday, 8/20 | 3:00 PM | $1,100 Main Event Day 1A (2-Day Trophy Event) | 25,000 | Event Center |
| Saturday, 8/21 | 9:00 AM | $260 Satellite - 1/5 advance to $200K GTD Main Event | 15,000 | Event Center |
| Saturday, 8/21 | 3:00 PM | $1,100 Main Event Day 1B (2-Day Trophy Event) | 25,000 | Event Center |
| Sunday, 8/22 | 11:00 AM | $1,100 Main Event Day 2 Restart (2-Day Trophy Event) | N/A | Event Center |
| Sunday, 8/22 | Noon | $250 Last Chance Showdown NLH | 12,000 | Event Center |
For more on the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), including the upcoming schedule, a comprehensive database, player profiles, and more, visit msptpoker.com.