Get to Know the Reigning MSPT Player of the Year
Before 2013, the name Pat Steele wasn’t mentioned much in the poker world; however, thanks to a stellar performance by the family man from Chelsea, Michigan, it's now found its place in poker history. That’s because Steele, who is married with three children, won the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 4 Player of the Year title — not to mention amassing $261,941 in winnings including a $155,636 win in the Heartland Poker Tour Soaring Eagle Main Event.
Steele, who attended Northwood University in Midland, Michigan where he played Division II football, owns Steele Heating & Cooling, Inc. — a third-generation family business — but has been supplementing his income through poker. Steele previously spoke to PokerNews about his success.
PokerNews: How does it feel like to win the MSPT POY for Season 4?
Steele: It is a great honor to be POY for a tour with so many talented players.
Was this a goal you had at the beginning of the season? If not, when did you decide to go for it?
My first MSPT event was at FireKeepers in March where I placed fourth. I wasn't sure if I just got lucky, so I wanted to play the next event in Wisconsin. I took third, which gave me the confidence to continue on the tour. When it came back to FireKeepers, I placed fourth again and took over the POY lead. That was when I decided I wanted to hold on to POY, and fend off all of the other great players on the tour.
Can you describe your history with the game a little bit?
I started playing poker when I was 12. I would use my allowance and play with my dad and his friends in our basement. I have played since that time, mostly cash games, with a few tournaments. It wasn't until the fourth-place finish at FireKeepers that I gained the confidence required to be competitive.
On top of being the MSPT POY, you also won an HPT title. What was it like to claim your first victory?
Winning my first title with the likes of Joe Cada and my close friend Tom Midena was a thrill. It was nice taking home the cash to my family.
You also made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event. Was that a positive experience?
It was a great experience to play with some of the big name professionals like Phil Hellmuth and Shaun Deeb, who I played with on Day 1. It was also fun to play in the biggest poker tournament in the world.
What do you like about the MSPT? What does the tour have that other tours may not?
I really like the fact that the MSPT offers a good mix of professional and amateur players. It also has a good structure with good prize pools.
Here’s a look at Steele’s 2013 accomplishments:
| Date | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 7 | MSPT $1,100 FireKeepers Main Event | 4th | $18,364 |
| March 22 | MSPT $1,100 Ho-Chunk Main Event | 3rd | $27,773 |
| May 17 | HPT $1,650 Soaring Eagle Main Event | 1st | $155,636 |
| June 17 | Wynn Summer Classic $550 NLHE | 81st | $1,174 |
| July 6 | 2013 WSOP Main Event | 362nd | $28,063 |
| August 16 | HPT $1,650 Gary, Indiana Main Event | 41st | $3,505 |
| August 22 | MSPT $1,100 FireKeepers Main Event | 4th | $18,880 |
| November 8, 2013 | MSPT $1,100 Ho-Chunk Main Event | 34th | $1,472 |
| December 6 | MSPT $1,100 Canterbury Park Main Event | 10th | $7,074 |
Steele is in action today looking to punch his ticket to Day 2.