Poker Champion Expresses Guilt After Winning $132,141 Tournament
The MSPT returned to Running Aces Casino in Minnesota this past weekend for a $1,110 Main Event. The tournament crowned a new poker champion who expressed guilt after winning $132,141.
Event overview
The Season 17 MSPT Minnesota Poker State Championship drew 882 entries. Players competed across three starting flights.
The entry pool created an $854,040 prize fund. That handily beat the $500,000 guarantee.
Ninety-six players reached Day 2 on Sunday. Payouts were awarded to the final finishers.
Champion and closing moments
Carson Chen, making his MSPT debut, took the title and the top prize. He also earned a seat to the $3,500 MSPT Championship Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open.
The RRPO runs Nov. 18–Dec. 2 at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. Its Main Event carries a $2,000,000 guarantee.
Chen told MSPT reporter Anthony Thompson he felt conflicted. He said he felt guilty because he traveled with a friend from that friend’s home state, but he was also happy.
Chen added he plans to play MSPT events more regularly. He aims to chase a second Gold Card.
Final table results
| Place | Player | Prize | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson Chen* | $132,141 | 1,500 |
| 2 | Gene Boyer* | $107,435 | 1,500 |
| 3 | Chris Jones* | $99,276 | 1,500 |
| 4 | Tanner Pray | $55,359 | 1,400 |
| 5 | Aaron Johnson | $41,939 | 1,300 |
| 6 | Paul Carney | $31,873 | 1,200 |
| 7 | Nick Kromschroeder | $24,324 | 1,100 |
| 8 | Wesley Cannon | $19,292 | 1,000 |
| 9 | Michael Williams | $15,098 | 900 |
*Denotes three-handed deal.
Other notable cashes
- Lee Rzentkowski — 11th, $11,743.
- Jacob Long (reigning POY) — 13th, $10,065.
- “Wild” Bill Romer — 15th, $10,065.
- Loki Abboud — 20th, $7,046.
- Blake Bohn — 28th, $3,691.
- Umut Ozturk (two-time POY) — 29th, $3,691.
- Gerald Cunniff — 42nd, $3,020.
What’s next on the MSPT schedule
The tour moves to Ameristar East Chicago next. That stop runs April 21–26 and features a $300,000 guarantee.
Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee follows from April 28 to May 3. That festival carries a $1,000,000 guarantee.
| Dates | Venue | State | Event | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21–26 | Ameristar East Chicago | Indiana | MSPT Festival | $300,000 |
| Apr 28–May 3 | Potawatomi Casino | Wisconsin | MSPT Festival | $1,000,000 |
| May 12–17 | FireKeepers Casino | Michigan | Michigan Poker State Championship | $1,000,000 |
| May 13–25 | Sycuan Casino | California | Showdown Series | TBD |
| June 2026 | The Venetian | Nevada | Diamond Poker Championship | TBD |
| July 21–26 | Riverside Casino | Iowa | Iowa Poker State Championship | $500,000 |
| July 22–Aug 2 | Bally’s Black Hawk | Colorado | Colorado Poker State Championship | $600,000 |
| Aug 4–9 | Rivers Casino | Illinois | MSPT Festival | $1,000,000 |
| Aug 18–23 | JACK Cleveland Casino | Ohio | MSPT Festival | $500,000 |
| Sept 22–27 | Potawatomi Casino | Wisconsin | Wisconsin Poker State Championship | $1,000,000 |
| Oct 1–12 | Playground | Montreal, Canada | Canadian Poker Championship | $1,000,000 |
| Oct 13–18 | FireKeepers Casino | Michigan | Major Spade Poker Championship | $1,500,000 |
| Nov 3–8 | Riverside Casino | Iowa | MSPT Festival | $500,000 |
| Nov 18–Dec 2 | Seminole Hard Rock | Florida | Major Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open (RRPO) | $2,000,000 |
| Dec 1–13 | Running Aces Casino | Minnesota | Winter Poker Classic | $700,000 |
For full stop details, visit Filmogaz.com.
MSPT Podcast
The MSPT Podcast is hosted by Chad Holloway and Kyna England. The show covers results, interviews, and previews.
Episodes stream on YouTube and are available in audio form. Find them on major podcast platforms via Filmogaz.com.
Images from the event were provided by MSPT and Tyler Abrams.
