MID-STATES POKER TOUR AT FIREKEEPERS CASINO CROWNS MICHIGAN NATIVE AS CHAMPION
(Battle Creek, Mich.) May 20, 2024 — Once more, FireKeepers Casino demonstrates its dedication to presenting top-tier poker events that rival those of Las Vegas. The recent Mid-States Poker Tour, held from May 16 through May 19 in the FireKeepers Event Center, was a remarkable success. As the largest poker tournament in the Midwest, it continues to attract extraordinary poker talent and affirms FireKeepers' status as a premier destination for poker enthusiasts.The $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event attracted 2,717 entrants, creating a total prize pool of $2,633,990, making it the second-largest field at the venue, just behind the previous record of 2,883 entries set last October.
Action at the tables was intense from the start. At the final table, Nick Davidson was the first to exit after calling off his stack with tens against Curtis Vierstraete’s kings. Following him, Buck Bucceri found his nines couldn't hold against Oswald’s queens. Daniel Schill faced Oswald again in a race situation and was eliminated when the turn favored Oswald. Vierstraete’s turn came next as his hand fell short against Steve Wangler’s eights. Rob Mitchell, a WSOP bracelet winner, exited in fifth after failing to connect against Wangler, leaving four players remaining.
After two intense days of competition, Michigan native Kevin Oswald emerged as the MSPT Champion, earning his first MSPT title along with an impressive first-place prize of $234,422. The top four players made a chop agreement, each receiving $234,422. As the chip leader, Kevin Oswald not only took home the prize money but also claimed the trophy.
Final Table Results:
1st place: Kevin Oswald $234,422
2nd place: Brad Sailor $234,422
3rd place: Steve Wangler $234,422
4th place: Anton Vucinaj $234,422
5th place: Rob Mitchell $106,677
6th place: Curtis Vierstraete $84,288
7th place: Daniel Schill $66,113
8th place: Buck Bucceri $51,626
9th place: Nick Davidson $41,090
Steven Senk, Vice President of Gaming Operations, emphasized the invaluable contribution of FireKeepers' exceptional dealers and poker room leadership in elevating the MSPT experience, stating, "Our dealers are the backbone of our poker events, providing unparalleled service and expertise that enhance the overall experience for our guests. FireKeepers would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to them for their dedication and hard work, as well as to our outstanding poker room leadership for their guidance and support. We are committed to maintaining this standard of excellence and will continue to deliver exciting and captivating events, both at the MSPT and throughout our lineup of poker events at FireKeepers, ensuring that poker enthusiasts are always eager to return for more."
The FireKeepers Casino continues to be the ultimate poker room destination, with an array of daily and special poker events. Upcoming highlights include the Memorial Day $1,000 Hourly High Hands on Monday, May 27; $10,000 Second Quarter Tournament of Champions on Sunday, July 6 with the $60,000 Grand Finale Event on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
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FireKeepers Casino Hotel, conveniently located just off Interstate 94 at Exit 104 in Battle Creek, MI, has been acclaimed as the Best Casino by audiences in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana. Furthermore, it has garnered over 30 awards in the Casino Player Magazine's Best of Gaming 2023 Native Midwest category, including the esteemed title of Best Overall Gaming Resort, affirming its status as a premier gaming destination. FireKeepers has been recognized as a Best-in-State Employer by Forbes and Employer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association. Additionally, it was chosen as one of the Best Casinos to Work For by Casino Player Magazine. FireKeepers' signature restaurant, Nibi, is a multiple recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and was awarded a AAA Four Diamond designation in 2023. The property features 2,900 slot machines, 63 table games, and a 26-table live poker room. FireKeepers’ resort-style hotel has been rated AAA Four Diamond for nine consecutive years and offers 446 rooms, a functional multi-purpose event center, six distinctive dining destinations, and multiple lounges. FireKeepers is the title sponsor of the FireKeepers Casino 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, and a host of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, an EPSON Tour-Road to the LPGA golf event. For more information, visit www.firekeeperscasino.com.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. For more information on the NHBP, visit nhbp-nsn.gov