Main Event Recap
The MSPT wrapped its stop at JACK Cleveland over the weekend, where the $1,110 buy-in, $750,000 GTD Main Event drew 892 entries and pushed the prize pool to $863,740. Ninety-nine players advanced from three opening flights to Sunday’s Day 2, and Day 1b chip leader James Anderson closed it out, securing the title and a $165,303 payday.
“It feels good,” Anderson told MSPT reporter Anthony Thompson after the win. “The final table was crazy, but the structure was really good and deep, so I just grinded it out as long as possible. This is originally my hometown, so it’s nice to be able to come back here and get a win.”
He added, “Joe runs really good tournaments, and I enjoy playing these ones. The guys who travel along with the tour are really good players and are very nice as well, so I’m very proud of the win.”
MSPT JACK Cleveland Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Anderson | $165,303 | 1,800 |
| 2 | Haroldo Perez | $101,704 | 1,600 |
| 3 | Umut Ozturk | $74,922 | 1,500 |
| 4 | Adam Durbin | $55,937 | 1,400 |
| 5 | Daniel Wolf | $42,377 | 1,300 |
| 6 | Cassidy Clark | $32,206 | 1,200 |
| 7 | Matthew Hamilton | $24,578 | 1,100 |
| 8 | Rodney Colson | $19,493 | 1,000 |
| 9 | Shiva Dudani | $15,255 | 900 |
Notable In-the-Money Finishers
- Chris Moon (11th) — $11,865
- Nick Lanzi (15th) — $10,170
- Bobby Noel (20th) — $7,119
- Austin Hanna (30th) — $3,729
- Mike Estes (38th) — $3,051
- DJ Buckley (39th) — $3,051
- Lee Rzentkowski (42nd) — $3,051
Defending Player of the Year Vaults to Lead
One week after both Jake Long and Umut Ozturk reached the final table at MSPT Hollywood St. Louis, Ozturk went back-to-back with a third-place finish in Cleveland for $74,922. The result delivered 1,500 POY points and moves the reigning back-to-back MSPT Player of the Year into the Season 16 lead with 7,667 points. Long now sits second with 6,944 points.
MSPT Season 16 POY Standings
| Place | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umut Ozturk | 7,667 |
| 2 | Jacob Long | 6,944 |
| 3 | Anthony Scarborough | 4,934 |
| 4 | Josh Reichard | 4,905 |
| 5 | DJ Buckley | 4,383 |
| 6 | Ryan Eamon | 3,700 |
| 7 | Timothy Thorp | 3,192 |
| 8 | Antonio Vargas | 3,167 |
| 9 | Jason Mendoza | 3,100 |
| 10 | Brett Reichard | 3,050 |
MSPT JACK Cleveland Side Event Winners
The festival opened with a five-event slate that produced the following champions:
| Tournament | Entries | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $400 Tag Team | 354 | Daniel Wolf & Kevin Trosky | $15,390 |
| Event #2: $300 Seniors (50+) NLH | 351 | Penelope Banhidy | $13,382 |
| Event #3: $300 Monster Stack NLH | 120 | Walter Fuge | $8,855 |
| Event #4: $1,110 Main Event | 892 | James Anderson | $165,303 |
| Event #5: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha | 102 | Eric Lea | $26,340 |
Next Up: MSPT 100 Grand Stack Series at Sycuan Casino Resort
Following Cleveland, the tour heads west to Sycuan Casino Resort in San Diego, California, for the 100 Grand Stack Series running August 28 through September 7. The schedule features 24 Gold Card Events, highlighted by:
- $400 buy-in, $100K GTD 100 GRAND STACK NLH
- $300 Seniors (50+) Monster Stack (part of the MSPT Senior Tour)
- $300 Pot-Limit Omaha
The series culminates with the $1,110 buy-in, $300K GTD 100 Grand Stack Main Event, which offers three starting flights. Day 1a starts at 2 p.m. PT on Thursday, September 4, with late registration open until approximately 10:40 p.m. Players begin with 100,000 chips and 40-minute levels. Days 1b and 1c run at the same time on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with survivors returning in the money on Sunday for Day 2 to play down to a champion.
Remaining MSPT Season 16 Schedule
| Date | Location | Event | GTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 28–Sept. 7 | Sycuan Casino Resort, San Diego | 100 Grand Stack Series | $400,000 |
| Sept. 25–28 | Venetian, Las Vegas | Nevada Poker State Championship | $300,000 |
| Sept. 30–Oct. 5 | Potawatomi Casino, Milwaukee | Wisconsin State Poker Championship | $1,000,000 |
| Oct. 7–12 | FireKeepers Casino, Battle Creek, MI | MSPT Spade Poker Championship | $1,500,000 |
| Oct. 9–19 | Playground, Montreal, Canada | Canadian Poker Championship | $1,000,000 |
| Oct. 28–Nov. 2 | Riverside Casino, Iowa | MSPT Festival | $500,000 |
| Dec. 4–14 | Running Aces Casino, Minnesota | Winter Poker Classic Series | $600,000 |
