In Dec. 2009, the Minnesota State Poker Tour (MSPT) was launched at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. A year and a half later, the MSPT crossed the state border into Iowa, and before long expansion saw the tour rebranded as the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), a series of affordable deepstack no-limit hold'em tournaments designed for "weekend warriors."
PokerNews brings you all the latest in MSPT action. You can find MSPT news, photos, videos, schedules, live reporting, and see results all on PokerNews.com.
As of January 2024, the MSPT has awarded more than $176 million in prize money since its inception in 2009.
The MSPT is one of the world’s premier mid-major tours. It has grown to 30+ events throughout the country each year. These tournaments include both $1,110 Main Events and $360 Regional Events, as well as other side events as certain festival stops.
"The MSPT is a well-run event with a good price range. You're going to get a lot of local amateurs that want to take a shot at a big event when it comes to town," said 2004 WSOP Main Event champ Greg Raymer. "With the satellites, it's an event literally anyone who visits a poker room can afford to play. You get a great cross-section of players from the traveling pros to local pros. You also get a large number of recreational players who're there to take their shot and have some fun."
The MSPT offers $65 super satellites and $250 satellites at all stops, giving everyone a chance at big money. As the MSPT motto goes, they are “Suited for Players.”
When is the MSPT?
Each new season of the MSPT runs a calendar year. So, a new season kicks off every January and will end in December.
MSPT Main and Regional Events are either three or four-day affairs that run either Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Sunday. The goal is to allow players the opportunity at some great poker action over the weekend with the ability to get back to work come Monday morning.
PokerNews and the MSPT
Over the years, PokerNews and the MSPT have enjoyed a long relationship. Not only do we feature MSPT-specific content such as stop previews, player profiles, and winner recaps, but we have also provided live updates from each MSPT Main and Regional Event.
History of the MSPT
In Dec. 2009, the Minnesota State Poker Tour (MSPT) was launched at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. A year and a half later, the MSPT crossed the state border into Iowa, and before long expansion saw the tour rebranded as the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), a series of affordable deepstack no-limit hold'em tournaments designed for "weekend warriors."
While the MSPT operates primarily in the Midwest, they’ve expanded to become a countrywide tour. Among the states in which the MSPT regularly operates are Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, and California, among others.
Among the long-time venues the MSPT has worked with are Running Aces, FireKeepers Casino, Silverado Deadwood, Grand Falls Casino, Bally’s Black Hawk, and The Venetian.
Interestingly, only one player has cashed every season of the MSPT – Dan “DQ” Hendrickson.
Dan "DQ" Hendrickson
MSPT Hall of Fame
The MSPT Hall of Fame, established in 2017, is proud to recognize those individuals who have shown superior skill and achieved specific long-term accomplishments.
The criteria to earn a spot on the MSPT Hall of Fame is as follows:
Achieve a minimum of 25 MSPT Main Event Cashes and 1 MSPT Win OR 1 MSPT Player of the Year; or
Achieve a minimum of 10 MSPT Main Event Final Tables and 1 MSPT Win OR 1 MSPT Player of the Year
As of today, 13 players are currently enshrined in the MSPT Hall of Fame – Kou Vang, Rich Alsup, Aaron Johnson, Mark Hodge, Patrick Steele, Jason Seitz, Blake Bohn, Rob Wazwaz, Matt Kirby, Josh Reichard, Aaron Massey, Dan "DQ" Hendrickson, and Umut Ozturk.
MSPT Hall of Fame
FAQs
Where does the MSPT take place?
The MSPT regularly operates are Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, and California, among others.
Bryan Mileski, who in 2017 was inducted into the Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame, is the founder and president of the MSPT.
Who is the greatest player in MSPT history?
There’s no easy answer. Dan “DQ” Hendrickson is the only player to cash every season of the MSPT, but when it comes to the MSPT Hall of Fame, there are 13 members – Hendrickson, Kou Vang, Rich Alsup, Aaron Johnson, Mark Hodge, Patrick Steele, Jason Seitz, Blake Bohn, Matt Kirby, Rob Wazwaz, Josh Reichard, Aaron Massey, and Umut Ozturk.
What is the buy-in for an MSPT tournament?
The buy-in for most MSPT Main Events is $1,110 while the Regional Events are more moderately priced at $360. Buy-ins for other side event tournaments vary.
