Rich Bai Wins 2017 MSPT Wisconsin for $139k
November 21, 2017 3:51 pmLast Friday, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Wisconsin got underway at the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, the Badger State’s largest city, with 701 entries helping to create a prize pool $478,470 above its $200,000 guarantee. By Sunday night, Richard Bai subsequently defeated his last remaining opponent, David Kowal, heads-up to claim the title, and a top prize of $139,086.
Just a month earlier, Rich Bai took down the $1,125 WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond in Indiana for $38,919, and at the same series entered the $5,300 High Roller, eventually finishing in 6th place for another $16,250 payday. Following his biggest score to date in Wisconsin, which now takes his career earnings to $610,430, Bai commented:
“This is cooler than a ring. I’ve been running so good lately. Feeling great. It’s nice to final table four times and finally win one. You hear it all the time, but it just rings true, you just win flips and run good when it counts. That’s really it.”
The MSPT Wisconsin main event attracted a number of notable pros, and amongst those finishing in a money spot was Andy Rubinberg in 51st ($2,510), Nick Jivkov in 22nd ($4,885), and Ravi Raghavan in 11th ($10,177). At the final table, WSOPC Harveys Lake Tahoe Main Event champion Max Young then bowed out in 6th for $26,460, followed by Paul “Big Daddy” Elfelt in 4th ($46,814), and Richard Rosas in 3rd ($63,098), leaving Rich Bai and David Kowal to battle it out for the title.
As the final battle commenced, Bai was at an almost 2 to 1 chip disadvantage against his last opponent, but quickly managed to reverse positions holding pockets aces to Kowal’s pocket jacks. Soon after, Bai (Ad-Kd) and Kowal (10s-10h) were both all-in preflop. The board subsequently ran out 7h-8d-6d-9s-10d to give Bai a flush, and earn him the MSPT title.
Final Table Results:
1: Rich Bai $139,086
2: David Kowal $84,809
3: Richard Rosas $63,098
4: Pau Elfelt $46,814
5: Paul Flynn $35,280
6: Max Young $26,460
7: Ahmed Taleb $20,354
8: Adam Westell $16,283
9: Adam Dembowski $12,214
10: David Harth $10,177