Battle Creek, Mich. (October 14, 2024) — FireKeepers Casino continued its reign as the premier Midwest poker destination with the successful completion of the Fall 2024 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Michigan State Poker Championship, held from October 10-13 in the FireKeepers Event Center. This year, the MSPT partnered with the World Poker Tour (WPT), offering players a unique opportunity to compete in two satellites for a chance to earn a seat in the WPT World Championship at WYNN Las Vegas in December.
Already known for hosting the largest MSPT events outside of Las Vegas, FireKeepers Casino lived up to its reputation. The $1,110 buy-in Main Event boasted an impressive total prize pool of $2,732,930, significantly surpassing the $1,000,000 guarantee and marking the second-largest field for MSPT events held at FireKeepers. The tournament drew 2,819 entries from across the country, each bringing their best to claim the prestigious MSPT title.
After days of intense action and skillful play, the final three players reached an Independent Chip Model (ICM) chop deal, which determines prize distribution based on each player’s remaining chip count rather than continuing with standard payouts. This arrangement, commonly used in high-stakes tournaments, allows players to secure payouts proportionate to their chips while still competing for the title. Once the deal was in place, the players wasted no time, with chips flying across the table as they fought for the trophy. Ultimately, David Evans finished in third place, taking home $212,849, while Nic DiTrapani claimed the runner-up position and $295,492. Michigan native Nick Murray emerged victorious, capturing his first MSPT title and a career-best first-place prize of $295,494.
The full final table results are as follows:
1st Place:
Nickolas Murray
$295,494
2nd Place:
Nicola DiTrapani
$295,492
3rd Place:
David Evans
$212,849
4th Place:
Amir Kamari
$140,739
5th Place:
Dapreesch Scates
$108,261
6th Place:
Joshua Reichard
$86,609
7th Place:
Timothy Capretta
$67,663
8th Place:
Michele Iacovone
$51,153
9th Place:
Rajai Wazwaz
$40,598
10th Place:
Angela Jordison
$32,478
“We’re incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to delivering world-class poker experiences,” said Steven Senk, Vice President of Gaming Operations at FireKeepers Casino. “Bringing large-scale tournaments like the MSPT and World Poker Tour satellites to Michigan is a testament to our commitment to being one of the Midwest’s top poker destinations. Our exceptional dealers and staff work tirelessly to create a welcoming and exciting atmosphere that keeps players coming back. Thanks to their hard work, FireKeepers has truly earned its reputation as a premier destination for poker enthusiasts from across the country.”
In addition to regularly hosting large-scale poker tournaments, FireKeepers offers a diverse array of daily and special poker events year-round. Poker players can look forward to FireKeepers’ upcoming $60,000 Grand Finale Event in January 2025. Looking further ahead, mark your calendars for the next Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) event, scheduled for May 15-18, 2025, where even more thrilling poker action awaits!