For the second time in Season 8 the MSPT is headed to Meskwaki Casino in Tama, Iowa, this time for the 3rd Annual Iowa State Poker Championship!
From July 22-30, the MSPT will host a series of satellites feeding into the $1,100 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed Main Event, which will run the weekend of July 28-30. The event is coming off a record-breaking March event, which saw 466 entrants – the most in MSPT Meskwaki history – turn out for #MSPT100, the 100th Main Event in tour history.
The tournament, which requires players be just 18 years old to play, will kick off with Day 1A at 4 p.m. on Friday July 28 with the plan of playing 14 levels. Day 1B will then take place at the same time on Saturday, July 29. Players who advance from Main Event Flight 1A to Day 2 are not eligible to play in Flight 1B without forfeiting their chips. The remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned.
Click here for a look at the schedule.
The MSPT has visited Meskwaki, which won “Best of Iowa” in Casino Player’s 2016 Best of Gaming awards, 16 times over the years (three times each season). Last year, John Sun topped a field of 451 entries to win the 2nd Annual Iowa State Poker Championship for $104,627.
Other recent winners of the MSPT Meskwaki include Sun’s good friend, Ken Komberec, who bested a field of 405 to win last November’s event for $93,922; Keith Heine topped 409 entries back in March 2016 to win $100,981; and most recently Jason Ramos, who won the aforementioned #MSPT100 for $108,120.
Among the past winners of the MSPT Meskwaki are Season 7 Player of the Year Rich Alsup (November 2015 for $101,229), MSPT Pro Blake Bohn (July 2015 for $101,229), and Chad Willett (March 2015 for $96,760 prize, just to name a few.
The Main Event final table will be broadcast LIVE (15-minute delay) worldwide on msptpoker.com using RFID technology allowing all viewers to see the hole cards. In addition, the entirety of the Main Event will be live reported in the MSPT live blog, which can be found on msptpoker.com once the tournament begins. Simply look for the neon green button that reads "Live Updates."
Located in Tama, Iowa — between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids on Highway 30 — Meskwaki Casino, which was constructed in 1992, features a huge bingo hall, nine different types of table games, off-track betting, active craps tables, more than 1,350 slots, good blackjack games, horse book, indoor pool, exercise room, spa, and 404 hotel rooms.
The property also features the newly constructed Lucky’s Grill & Taproom, which served hearty breakfast entrees in the morning and their famous Shredded Chicken Nachos Grande (and more) in the evening. Other favorites include the 100% Iowa Angus Beef Lucky’s Steak Burger, handmade buttermilk dipped onion rings, Signature Pizzas, hot subs, and Fried Oreos. You can also enjoy a variety of 20 beers on tap (with 10 craft beers that are brewed in Iowa) all while watching your favorite team on one of 13 HDTVs.
Finally, for history buffs out there, the casino lobby features many museum-quality displays of Meskwaki artifacts and photos, showing guests a long and proud Native American heritage.
For players looking to fly to the stop, the airport in Des Moines is the closest option.
For the MSPT hotel rate, click here. Act fast as rooms will sell out.