Eric Baldwin Goes Back-to-Back at MSPT Venetian; Umut Ozturk Wins Tight POY Race

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) wrapped up its 14th season over the weekend at the Venetian Las Vegas. It was there that the last mid-major tournament of the year a $1,100 buy-in Main Event took place and presented players their last opportunity to win points to both the GPI Mid-Major and MSPT Player of the Year races.
Both Preston McEwen and Nick Pupillo were there with the former trying to catch the latter in the GPI Mid-Major POY race, but ultimately failed to do so. Likewise, Rob Wazwaz and Umut Ozturk were jockeying for MSPT Season 14 POY points in one of the tightest races in tour history.
On top of it all, you had the actual tournament that attracted 550 runners and ended with a familiar face hoisting the trophy.
Eric Baldwin Goes Back-to-Back
At the end of November, poker pro Eric Baldwin topped a field of 274 entries to win the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event for $55,261. It marked the second time the two-time WSOP bracelet winner took down an MSPT Venetian title after having done so in 2019 to the tune of $80,872.
Amazingly, the former Wisconsinite went back-to-back to become a three-time MSPT Venetian champion, the latest score good for $90,692.
I love it when you guys here and that I run so well in MSPTs, Baldwin told MSPT officials after the win. This is such a great tour, and its just ran really well especially here at the Venetian, and being from Wisconsin, its just awesome to play with all the players who travel from all over the country that come here to play it.
He added: This is what I love doing and I always get excited when I see the MSPT on the Venetian schedule so Im looking forward to the next stop here in February.
The MSPT is slated to return to Las Vegas for two events the $1,100 Mystery Bounty Poker Bowl from Feb. 6-8 and the $1,600 Poker Bowl Main Event from Feb. 8-10.
MSPT Venetian Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Baldwin | Las Vegas, NV | $90,692 |
| 2 | Bogdan Chornyy | Paterson, NJ | $66,870 |
| 3 | Darren Rabinowitz | Las Vegas, NV | $49,861 |
| 4 | Victorino Torres | Boise, ID | $37,604 |
| 5 | Ankush Mandavia | Richmond, TX | $28,688 |
| 6 | Dung Ho | Stockton, CA | $22,142 |
| 7 | Bill Croft | Henderson, NV | $17,293 |
| 8 | Luke Wasikowski | Clearwater, FL | $13,667 |
| 9 | Ky Nguyen | Gardena, CA | $10,933 |
Others to cash the tournament were Shannon Shorr (10th - $8,853), Ben Moon (14th - $6,025), Stanley Lee (16th - $6,025), Ping Liu (19th - $5,066), Jack Salter (24th - $3,722), Jared Jaffee (28th - $3,254), Aaron Massey (33rd - $3,254), Hayley Hanna (36th - $2882), Stephen Song (42nd - $2,882), and Christina Read (44th - $2,882).
Check out the MSPT Hub on PokerNews here!
Ozturk Holds Off Wazwaz for POY Honors
Its been a great year for Umut Ozturk, who earlier in the year became just the 13th player to win their way into the MSPT Hall of Fame. He then amassed a record 17 cashes on the MSPT in 2023 including a record five Top 10 finishers which included a $101,336 win in Februarys MSPT Hollywood Casino.
However, with 16 cashes of his own, Rob Wazwaz was right up there with him, and the duo engaged in a back-and-forth race down the stretch.
After Wazwaz failed to find a Day 2 bag, Ozturk locked up the Season 14 POY title. He wasnt done, however, as the Minnesotan not only advanced to Day 2 but went on to finish in 23rd place for $4,314 and an additional 300 POY points.
All told, Ozturk has $327,507 in MSPT earnings, of which $244,620 came in 2014!
MSPT Season 14 POY Final Leaderboard
| Place | Player | Cashes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umut Ozturk | 17 | 9,070 |
| 2 | Rob Wazwaz | 16 | 8,625 |
| 3 | Blake Bohn | 8 | 5,425 |
| 4 | DJ Buckley | 15 | 4,624 |
| 5 | Jared Ingles | 4 | 3,950 |
| 6 | Kou Vang | 6 | 3,750 |
| 7 | Nick Barksdale | 3 | 3,650 |
| 8 | Max Havlish | 7 | 3,600 |
| 9 | Justin Lynch | 6 | 3,166 |
| 10 | Eric Baldwin | 2 | 3,100 |
Tags
Related Players
FAQ
What is the WPT bonus code?
What is the WPT bonus code? The WPT bonus code is NEWBONUS. Use this code at WPTglobal.com to get up to $1200 poker bonus. This code has been approved by WPT Global and gives new users the maximum new user offer.
Is WPT Global a good site?
Is WPT Global a good site? WPT Global has a reputation for being a generous online poker site, one that offers a substantial welcome bonuses and plentiful ongoing promotions. PokerNews’ relationship with WPT Global allows us to offer the best WPT Global welcome bonus, so always use our links when creating an online poker account.
Are there deposit or withdrawal fees?
Are there deposit or withdrawal fees? No, WPT Global does not charge fees for depositing or withdrawing.
What are some famous roulette scandals and controversies throughout history?
What are some famous roulette scandals and controversies throughout history? 1. The Eudaemons – In the 1970s, a group of physics students at the University of California Santa Cruz used a computer to predict the outcomes of roulette games in Nevada casinos. They called themselves “The Eudaemons” and made significant profits before their operation was shut down. 2. The Ritz-Carlton Scandal – In 2004, a team of Eastern European gamblers used a laser scanner and a computer to predict where the ball would land on the roulette wheel at the Ritz-Carlton casino in London.
How did the introduction of online casinos impact the game of roulette?
How did the introduction of online casinos impact the game of roulette? The introduction of online casinos has had a significant impact on the game of roulette. Online casinos made roulette and other casino games easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Players can now enjoy their favorite casino games from the comfort of their own homes, without having to travel to a land-based casino. Online casinos also introduced new variations of roulette, such as multi-wheel roulette and mini-roulette, which are not typically found in traditional casinos.
Poker Global App Download
This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Eric Baldwin Goes Back-to-Back at MSPT Venetian; Umut Ozturk Wins Tight POY Race













