BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (October 13, 2025) — FireKeepers Casino Hotel once again proved why it stands as the Midwest’s premier poker destination, with the successful completion of the Fall 2025 Major Series of Poker (MSPT) Spade Poker Championship. The tournament was held from October 9–12 in the FireKeepers Event Center and drew players from across the country eager to take part in one of the most anticipated events on the poker calendar.
Renowned for hosting some of the largest MSPT events outside of Las Vegas, FireKeepers continued to raise the bar in 2025. The $1,110 buy-in Spade Poker Championship Main Event carried a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool but far surpassed expectations, generating 2,773 total entries and an impressive $2,688,310 prize pool.
After days of competitive play, the field narrowed to the final table where players battled for the MSPT title, trophy, and top prize. Merritt Kuhn emerged victorious, capturing the championship and earning $339,115. The win marked the first MSPT Major title of Kuhn’s career, a milestone he described as especially meaningful after several close finishes in past events.
The final table was stacked with talented players, and the action moved quickly as eliminations came in succession. Kuhn’s late surge secured key knockouts, including Roger Khoury in fifth place, Michael McFadden in fourth, and Brian Jones in third, before defeating runner-up Raymond Mancini to claim the inaugural Spade Poker Championship trophy.
“FireKeepers continues to be identified as the Midwest’s home for poker,” stated Steve Senk, Vice President of Gaming Operation at FireKeepers. “Our monthly calendar of tournaments and promotions are elite and you can always find a great game in our new poker room.”
The full final table results are as follows:
1st Place: Merritt Kuhn – $339,115
2nd Place: Raymond Mancini – $268,049
3rd Place: Brian Jones – $172,720
4th Place: Michael McFadden – $134,711
5th Place: Roger Khoury – $102,343
6th Place: Robert Mitchell – $80,853
7th Place: Ben Luber – $61,782
8th Place: Tony Tran – $47,679
9th Place: Anthony Babic – $39,218
10th Place: Greg Sessler – $32,368
This year’s MSPT weekend was elevated with additional events designed to heighten the excitement and give players more ways to compete. FireKeepers hosted exclusive Gold Card events on October 7 and 8, followed by Monster Stack tournaments on October 11 and 12, offering expanded opportunities for poker enthusiasts to showcase their skills and share in the electric tournament atmosphere that defines FireKeepers’ poker scene.
In addition to hosting some of the nation’s most competitive tournaments, FireKeepers offers a robust year-round schedule of poker events and promotions. Looking ahead, poker players can mark their calendars for the next Major Series of Poker stop, returning to FireKeepers May 12-17, 2026, for another weekend of championship-level action.