The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is returning to Iowa once again. The MSPT will soon visit the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, just across the state line from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
That’s where, from Aug. 20-22, the MSPT will host a $1,100 buy-in Main Event with a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Satellites running for MSPT Trophy Event featuring two Day 1 flights
Satellites are already running for the two-day MSPT Trophy Event. Two Day 1 flights will play out Friday, Aug. 20, and Saturday, Aug. 21. The field will then combine for a final day on Sunday, Aug. 22, to play down to a winner.
Here is the $200,000 guaranteed Mid-States Main Event schedule:
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Aug. 20 | 3 p.m. | $1,100 Main Event Day 1A (Trophy Event) |
| Saturday, Aug. 21 | 3 p.m. | $1,100 Main Event Day 1B (Trophy Event) |
| Sunday, Aug. 22 | 11 a.m. | $1,100 Main Event Day 2 Restart (Trophy Event) |
Players will start deep-stacked with 25,000 chips (250 big blinds). Levels last 40 minutes until heads-up when they will play half-hour levels. The tournament will use a big blind ante until 27 players remain, then will use standard antes thereafter.
Players will be able to re-enter one time per starting flight during the late registration period, meaning each player can theoretically enter a maximum of four times. Those who bag chips at the end of Friday’s first Day 1 flight cannot play the second Day 1 flight on Saturday without forfeiting their stack.
Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort is currently running $70 satellites awarding seats into the $260 satellites that will run daily until Aug. 22. All satellites are in the casino’s poker room through Thursday, Aug. 19, then all the action will move over to the Event Center for Aug. 20-22.
With each of those satellites, the top 20% of entrants advance with the $260 satellites awarding entries into the Main Event. There will also be an added $250 Last Chance Showdown no-limit hold’em tournament on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Grand Falls Mid-States event follows huge Iowa State Poker Championship at Riverside
The MSPT just visited Iowa last month for the Iowa State Poker Championship at Riverside Casino. That $1,100 event drew a huge field of 928 entries, thereby building a prize pool of almost $900,000. Timothy Gundrum took the title, earning $170,769 for the effort.
Meanwhile the Grand Falls Casino Resort has been a frequent stop for the MSPT dating all of the way back to 2012.
The tour most recently came to Grand Falls in January 2021 for a similarly structured $1,100 event with a $200,000 guarantee. With 488 total entries, the prize pool of $471,860 more than doubled that guarantee. Chad Bjorkman won that event, earning $101,450 for his first-place finish.
Grand Falls was also the first stop for the MSPT following its pandemic-caused hiatus in 2020. In August 2020, the $1,100 event drew 518 total entries, the most ever at Grand Falls, creating a prize pool of just over $500,000. Mark Collins won that event for a $107,706 score.
For more info on poker in Iowa, visit PlayIA.com.
