The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) was born in December 2009 as the Minnesota State Poker Tour. In 2011, the tournament crossed into Iowa, and more expansion led to the tour’s rebranding.
Now in its 11th season, the MSPT hosts more than 30 events each year across the United States. Whereas the majority of stops remain in the Midwest, the Mid-States Poker Tour has crept into other states such as Colorado, South Dakota, and Nevada; however, this tour remains among the premier poker tournaments in the Midwest.
The Mid-States Poker Tour is known for its affordable, regionally-based, deep stack, no-limit hold’em (NLHE) tournaments designed for recreational players or, as MSPT calls them, “weekend warriors.” However, this tour also attracts many well-known poker pros including World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Series of Poker (WSOP) champions.
Each regional Mid-States Poker Tour tournament is Chainsaw approved poker as the structures were personally designed and approved by poker structure authority Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler.
At each location, the MSPT offers a number of satellite tournaments with various low-level buy-ins which give local amateurs a chance to participate in a big event when it comes to town. There are also various super satellites, turbo satellites, and other qualifiers at each stop, in addition to bounty and PLO tournaments at select locations. Satellites are single- and multi-table with various buy-ins and guaranteed seats. The top two players from $60 single-table satellites and top three players from $90 single-table satellites advance to the $250 multi-table satellites in which the top 20% of players advance to the $1,100 Main Event. There are also $250 single-table satellites where the top two players advance to the Main Event and $120 multi-table satellites with the top 10% advancing to the Main Event. MSPT Main Event payouts range from $50,000 to $500,000 in guarantees.
Main Event tournaments begin with a 15,000-chip stack with an optional $10 dealer appreciation add-on of 5,000 chips for a total of 20,000. As Main Events are multi-day, Day 1a ends at Level 14 or when 12% or fewer of the starting field remains. Subsequent flights will end at the exact same time as Day 1a. Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event tournaments offer an attractive 40-minutes-per-level blind structure with antes starting at Level 4.
$250 multi-table satellites provide an initial 10,000 chips plus a $10 add-on for an additional 2,000, 30-minute levels, and antes commencing at Level 3. Late registration and one re-entry are also available. The $120 multi-table satellite events have the same structure but blinds are only 20 minutes.
Players may re-enter an Mid-States Poker Tour event once during the standard registration process, subject to location variability, and players who register late receive a full starting stack.
Additionally, MSPT Main Events are broadcast live on msptpoker.com so anyone can watch.
Note: All MSPT events for 2020 are currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following list is the original 2020 schedule, which is subject to change.
3/17-3/21
Grand Falls Casino—Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Regional Event #3 offers a $50,000 guarantee.
3/26-3/28
Riverside Casino, Riverside, Iowa
The $1,100 Main Event guarantees $200,000.
4/29-5/9
Sycuan Casino – San Diego, California
The tour makes it’s first stop in San Diego with a major 10-day series. The $1,100 buy-in Main Event runs May 6-9.
5/14-5/16
Silverado Franklin—Deadwood, South Dakota
Players will enjoy the Silverado Franklin’s recently renovated poker room for the South Dakota State Poker Championship where MSPT’s Main Event carries with it a $100,000 guarantee.
6/1-6/30
The Venetian—Las Vegas, Nevada
The MSPT returns to Sin City for another Las Vegas series. Exact dates and other details are TBD.
7/23-7/25
Riverside Casino, Riverside, Iowa
Details for this summer stop at Riverside are TBA.
8/11-8/15
Canterbury Park—Shakopee, Minnesota
Satellites abound at Canterbury Park all toward the $100,000 guarantee, 18-and-over Main Event. While at Canterbury Park, players can visit the Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame.
8/20-8/22
Grand Falls Casino—Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The Main Event here will feature a $200,000 guarantee.
Andy Rubinberg wins $179,776 at the MSPT Season 9 Main Event at Cantebury Park.
9/1-9/30
The Venetian—Las Vegas, Nevada
MSPT series at the Venetian generally draw big attendance. Details for this September stop are TBA.
9/16-9/27
Sycuan Casino – San Diego, California
The tour’s second stop in San Diego this year features a $2,500 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed Main Event.
9/17-9/19
Canterbury Park—Shakopee, Minnesota
The Mid-States Poker Tour returns to Minnesota for another Main Event tournament and a cushy $200,000 guarantee for players 18 and over.
10/14-10/17
FireKeepers Casino—Battle Creek, Michigan
The tour heads to Michigan and the FireKeepers Poker Room—home of the largest MSPT event outside of Las Vegas. Its newly renovated, 22-table poker room will host its Main Event with a highly coveted $1,000,000 guarantee.
10/22-10/24
Silverado Franklin—Deadwood, South Dakota
A second 2021 stop at Silverado Franklin’s recently renovated poker room for the South Dakota State Poker Championship where MSPT’s Main Event carries with it a $100,000 guarantee.
11/11-11/14
Riverside Casino, Riverside, Iowa
The $1,100 Main Event guarantees $200,000
12/9-12/12
Canterbury Park—Shakopee, Minnesota
This second stop at Cantebury Park revolves around a $500,000 guaranteed Main Event.
Be sure to visit the MSPT Facebook page or MSPT Twitter feed for more information on the MSPT poker schedule, live updates, and breaking news. The Mid-States Poker Tour also provides a detailed list of hotels and other accommodations for each stop as well as flight information. In fact, Delta Airlines is offering discounted airfare for each of these events.
Have you played in any MSPT tournaments? Are you planning on going this year? Please comment below.
Until next time.
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