Ameristar East Chicago

Photo: Nino Papava

There was three-way action after a flop between Nino Papava from middle position, the cutoff, and WSOP bracelet winner Jean “Prince” Gaspard from the button.

Papava checked to the cutoff, who fired out a 13,000 bet, only to have Gaspard raise all-in for 21,500. Only Papava called, and the two players tabled their hands.

Jean “Prince” Gaspard:
Nino Papava:

Gaspard was ahead after flopping two pair, but the board completed with running deuces on the turn and river, giving Papava a better two pair to secure the pot.

Nino Papava - 103,000
Jean “Price” Gaspard - 0

: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

: September 10-13, 2026

: Nevada Poker State Championship

: $1,100 Main Event / $300,000 GTD
$3,500 MSPT CHAMPIONSHIP SEAT ADDED TO MAIN EVENT 1ST PLACE

: Gold Card Tournament

Event Schedule: https://msptpoker.com/showpdf.ashx?eventID=523

: https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/.../poker/suite-rates.html

Hear from the Poker Room Manager, Tommy LaRosa HERE.

Photo: Shreyas Venkatasubram

There was all-in action preflop between Kirby Rogers and Shreyas Venkatasubram, with Venkatasubram holding the effective.

Shreyas Venkatasubram:
Kirby Rogers:

Venkatasubram was at risk holding two live cards, but the flop left him needing running help to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Venkatasubram, the turn left him drawing dead to the river.

Kirby Rogers - 60,000
Venkatasubram - 0

Photo: Allen Pritchett

The player under the gun opened with a raise and then called Allen Pritchett’s 22,000 three-bet jam from the hijack.

Allen Pritchett:
Opponent:

Pritchett found himself in a race, and was able to maintain the lead after the runout, securing his double up.

Allen Pritchett - 45,000

Photo: Richard Crooks

Richard Crooks raised from the hijack, and the big blind defended to see a flop.

Action was checked to Crooks, who fired out a continuation bet, and his opponent check-raised to 6,500.

Crooks called, and the dealer turned the .

This time, Crooks opponent check-called his 5,000 bet, and the completed the board on the river.

Another knock on the table then saw Crooks move his remaining 22,500 into the middle, and it did the trick as his opponent released their hand into the muck.

Richard Crooks - 47,800

For the second time this season, the MSPT made its way to East Chicago for the 2026 Indiana Poker State Championship, and players have been duking it out over the past week inside the Ameristar Casino for its 11-Gold Card Event Series!

Event #1: $300 Epic Stack NLH kicked things off, with 224 epic players taking to the trenches and creating a $54,880 prize pool for the top 24.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Edward Akers (10^th Place - $1,001), defending Indiana Poker State Champion John "Farmboy" Kurfman (14^th Place - $834), Frank Hodits (17^th Place - $723), Jennifer Mandel (21^st Place - $623), and Tan Nguyen (24^th Place - $556).

In the end, it was Jorge Galarza who walked away with the epic victory to take down the lion's share of the prize pool along with his first Gold Card to start the series!

Final Table Results

Photo: Nathan Rivera

There was all-in action preflop between Travia McGirt and Nathan Rivera, with Rivera holding the effective stack.

Nathan Rivera:
Travia McGirt:

Rivera was behind needing help, but wasn’t able to find a lucky lady on the runout, securing McGirt the knockout.

Travia McGirt - 45,600
Nathan Rivera - 0