Main Event
Day 2 Completed
Main Event
Day 2 Completed
Fitchburg, Wisconsin's Jason Mirza won the 2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Potawatomi Casino Main Event in the early morning hours Monday, besting a record field for a poker tournament in his home state.
Despite coming into heads-up play a little behind in chips, Mirza got the best of veteran grinder Leon Morford to collect a $147,529 first-place prize and the coveted MSPT title.
The event's two starting flights drew a grand total of 635 entries to Milwaukee, also becoming the MSPT's second biggest tournament and largest ever held outside of Las Vegas. The event's final day began Sunday morning with 135 players and quickly moved past the 63-player money bubble.
Mirza began to assert himself soon after and found a spot among the leaders after busting Mike Ross at the final three tables.
Although he lost a massive hand versus Morford as they inched closer to the final table, missing with an open-ended straight-flush draw, he was able to settle down and right the ship.
Mirza entered the final 10 in the middle of the pack with Morford holding the lead, but it was fourth-place finisher Richard Bai who took control early and moved into a commanding lead at one point.
Bai had a chance to get up and above five million chips during seven-handed action before third-place finisher Andreas Wagner went runner-runner to make a flush and crack his queens.
It was Mirza himself who ended up being the first player past that post when he took most of sixth-place finisher James Kasputis' chips, holding with queens versus nines all in preflop.
Morford did all the heavy lifting after that, busting all the shorter stacks to take a lead into heads-up play.
The two then traded a number of jabs heads-up with Mirza taking the lead twice before eventually getting it in ahead with two pair versus Morford's top pair.
Morford turned a bigger two pair, but Mirza rivered a full house to take the title and the home-state glory.
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Leon Morford bet 500,000 into a flop and Jason Mirza responded with a raise to 1.8 million.
Morford shoved and Mirza snap-called having him barely covered with for two pair. Morford had for one pair, but made two bigger pair on the turn to take the lead.
However, the river was the right one for Mirza, making him a boat and the 2015 MSPT Potawatomi Champion. Morfrod was forced to settle for $82,956 and a second-place finish.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Leon Morford | Busted |
Through a series of aggressive plays Jason Mirza has once again pulled into the lead.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jason Mirza |
6,690,000
2,290,000
|
2,290,000 |
Leon Morford |
5,860,000
-2,340,000
|
-2,340,000 |
Level: 32
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 20,000
Jason Mirza made it 290,000 from the button and Leon Morfrod called. The flop came down and after Morfrod checked, Mirza led for 320,000.
Morford made it 820,000 and Mirza fired back, making it 1.9 million total.
Morford shoved and Mirza insta-mucked, handing the lead back to Morford.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Leon Morford |
8,200,000
2,000,000
|
2,000,000 |
Jason Mirza |
4,400,000
-2,000,000
|
-2,000,000 |
As they jab back and forth heads-up there has yet to be any massive confrontations.
However, Jason Mirza has just pulled slightly ahead of Leon Morford. Mirza opened to 290,000 and Morford called.
The flop came down and after a check, Mirza continued for 310,000. Morford called and the turn came the . Both players checked and the river was the . Morford led out for 500,000 and Mirza snap-called showing for two pair.
Morford mucked and it's now advantage Mirza in the chip counts.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jason Mirza |
6,400,000
1,240,000
|
1,240,000 |
Leon Morford |
6,200,000
-1,195,000
|
-1,195,000 |
Andreas Wagner pushed in with , but once again, Leon Morford woke up with a hand, calling with .
The board ran out and Wagner exited third.
Morford now begins heads up with a lead over Jason Mirza.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Leon Morford |
7,395,000
2,395,000
|
2,395,000 |
Jason Mirza |
5,160,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
Andreas Wagner | Busted |
Richard Bai open-shoved his last 1.6 million and Leon Morford made the call with .
Bai had pocket nines, but could not hold on a board, saying his goodbyes in fourth.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Leon Morford |
5,000,000
1,400,000
|
1,400,000 |
Richard Bai | Busted |