FIREKEEPERS HOSTS RECORD-BREAKING MSPT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH NEARLY $3 MILLION PRIZE POOL

FIREKEEPERS HOSTS RECORD-BREAKING MSPT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH NEARLY $3 MILLION PRIZE POOL

(Battle Creek, Mich.) May 19, 2025 — FireKeepers Casino Hotel once again set a new standard for poker in the Midwest as the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) set records for entries and total prize pool for the Season 16 Michigan Poker State Championship. With packed tables, thrilling moments, and a Vegas-caliber atmosphere, FireKeepers delivered one of the biggest events anywhere on the national circuit.
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The $1,110 buy-in Main Event, backed by a $1,000,000 guarantee, smashed expectations with a record 3,040 entries—surpassing the venue’s previous high of 2,883 set in 2023. The massive turnout generated a $2,947,300 prize pool, cementing FireKeepers as one of the most electric stops on the MSPT schedule.


After a weekend of intense action, Wisconsin’s Corey Wick emerged victorious, capturing his first MSPT title and a career-best $397,587 top prize.


 

Wick entered Day 2 with a top-five chip stack and reached the final table second in chips. After doubling up two short stacks early, he found himself at the bottom, but clawed back—surviving two key all-ins with dominated hands and ultimately knocking out Ryan Brown with pocket kings.

 


“It was completely undeserved,” Wick joked. “Ryan was probably the best player at the table and should have won, but he caught the worst run of hands—all caused by me.”


 

With humility and grit, Wick secured his spot in the FireKeepers winner’s circle.

 


“It’d be nice to have the 2x next to my name, but if this is the only one I win, I won’t complain.”

 


Final Table Results:

1st – Corey Wick – $397,587 2nd – Ryan Eamon – $244,462 3rd – Travis McCullough – $182,448 4th – Ryan Brown – $142,248 5th – Jose Montes – $108,085 6th – Sung Pil Kim – $85,408 7th – DJ Buckley – $65,381 8th – Oliwer Sankiewicz – $50,656 9th – Dale Kirgis – $41,820


 

This historic tournament was one of the first held alongside the debut of FireKeepers’ brand-new poker room—a dynamic space featuring enhanced amenities and a player-focused layout. Early feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing FireKeepers’ reputation as the Midwest’s premier poker destination.

 


“Our dedicated dealers are the true MVPs of FireKeepers’ poker success,” said Steven Senk, VP of Gaming Operations. “Their skill, professionalism, and energy elevate every event and keep players coming back. We’re proud to be the place where poker players know they’ll find top-tier action and unmatched service.”

 


The action continues in May with Top 5 Hands competitions on Saturdays, May 24 and 31, where players can win up to $1,500 in cash. On Memorial Day, May 26, High Hands will pay out $250 every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Looking ahead, FireKeepers will keep the momentum going with its 2025 Tournament of Champions series. Quarterly $10,000 events will lead up to a $60,000 Grand Finale on January 24, 2026.


 

Whether you're chasing a title or playing a daily game, FireKeepers remains the place to play poker in the Midwest.


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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 Michigan and Indiana. Furthermore, it has garnered over 30 awards in the Casino Player Magazine's Best of Gaming 2024 Native Midwest category, including the esteemed title of Best Overall Gaming Resort, and has also been awarded Best Overall Dining by Casino Player Magazine’s Best of Dining & Nightlife, affirming its status as a premier destination for gaming and dining alike. FireKeepers has been recognized on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work list, as a Best-in-State Employer by Forbes, and Employer of the Year by the 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. The property features 2,900 slot machines, 63 table games, and a 21-table live poker room. FireKeepers’ resort-style hotel has been rated AAA Four Diamond for ten 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 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.
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