The Mid States Poker Tour fills the gap between the price points of the big national poker tours and the low-stakes local series that casinos host regularly. The main events of the MSPT are all $1,100 to buy into.
The MSPT started out in 2009 under the name Minnesota State Poker Tour. At the time it was confined to the one state. In the company's own words, "before long expansion saw the tour rebranded as the Mid-States Poker Tour [...], a series of affordable deepstack no-limit hold'em tournaments designed for 'weekend warriors.'"
The MSPT is one of the U.S.'s most widespread mid-stakes poker tours, catering to players who are bankrolled for a serious gamble, but not so high as the mid-four-figure events and up.
The MSPT advertises itself strongly as being for the players. The series often invites big-name players to enter, giving the other entrants the chance to play with poker royalty. WSOP bracelet winners Carlos Mortensen, Greg Raymer, Jamie Gold, Jerry Yang, Joe Cada, and Ryan Riess have all stopped by. Chance Kornuth even won one of the $1,100 main events this year.
Event the tournament structure was put together for them not by a tournament director, but by Allen Kessler, a poker pro.
This structure allows players to enjoy deep-stacked play with starting chips set at 25,000 and blinds at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. The ante switches to a distributed ante on Day 2. Blind levels are 40 minutes, changing to 30 minutes when heads-up play begins.
Each $1,100 Main Event is accompanied by a range of smaller side events and satellites.
The series takes place in casinos across the U.S. with 30 or more events per year — when there's not a pandemic on.
As poker rooms began to reopen in the U.S. after COVID, MSPT's location in the middle of the market allowed it to be one of the leaders returning to poker. In particular, its enormously successful partnership with the Venetian in Las Vegas has produced several record-breaking events.
The 2021 schedule is dominated by these Venetian events. However, players in South Dakota and the series' home state of Minnesota will get additional events before the year is out.
There will be multiple series in October and December, though the MSPT will be hibernating through November as the WSOP Main Event closes in.
The final tables are frequently live-streamed, allowing amateurs a chance at enjoying the thrill of a TV final table.
Mid States Poker Tour (MSPT) full 2021 season schedule
| Date | Event # | Event | Start Time | Prize Pool | Levels | Chips | Prize |
| 9/27/21 | 1 | $400 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $25,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 2 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 9/28/21 | 3 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 4 | $600 Limit Omaha 8/B Day 1A (2Day) | 15:10 | $50,000 | 40 | 15,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |
| 9/29/21 | 3 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 4 | $600 Limit Omaha 8/B Day 1B (2Day) | 15:10 | $50,000 | 40 | 15,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |
| 9/30/21 | 3 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 1C (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 4 | $600 Limit Omaha 8/B Day 2 Restart | 15:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | ||||
| 10/1/21 | 3 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 5 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 10/2/21 | 6 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 7 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha 8/B (1Day) | 15:10 | $40,000 | 30 | 25,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/3/21 | 8 | $600 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $200,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 9 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/4/21 | 8 | $600 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $200,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 10 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/5/21 | 8 | $600 NLH UltimateStack Day 1C (2Day) | 11:10 | $200,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 10/6/21 | 8 | $600 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |||
| 11 | $800 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $75,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/7/21 | 12 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 13 | $800 BIG O Day 1A (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 10/8/21 | 14 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 13 | $800 BIG O Day 1B (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 10/9/21 | 15 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 16 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 13 | $800 BIG O Day 2 Restart | 15:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | ||||
| 10/10/21 | 16 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 10/11/21 | 16 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 17 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 12:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 18 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 19:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/12/21 | 19 | $1,100 NLH MSPT Day 1A (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 20 | $600 Pot Limit Omaha (1Day) | 15:10 | $40,000 | 30 | 25,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 10/13/21 | 19 | $1,100 NLH MSPT Day 1B (3Day | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 10/14/21 | 19 | $1,100 NLH MSPT Day 1C (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 10/15/21 | 19 | $1,100 NLH MSPT Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 21 | $1,100 NLH DoubleStack (1Day) | 14:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/16/21 | 19 | $1,100 NLH MSPT Day 3 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 22 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 23 | $1,100 Pot Limit Omaha (1Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/17/21 | 24 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 25 | $800 NLH UltimateStack (2Day) | 11:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 26 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 19:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/18/21 | 25 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 27 | $1,600 NLH MSPT Day 1A (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 30,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |
| 28 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 19:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/19/21 | 27 | $1,600 NLH MSPT Day 1B (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 30,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy |
| 10/20/21 | 27 | $1,600 NLH MSPT Day 1C (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 30,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy |
| 10/21/21 | 27 | $1,600 NLH MSPT Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |||
| 29 | $1,100 NLH DoubleStack (1Day) | 14:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/22/21 | 27 | $1,600 NLH MSPT Day 3 Restart | 11:00 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |||
| 30 | $600 NLH MonsterStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 30\40 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |
| 31 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/23/21 | 30 | $600 NLH MonsterStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 30\40 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 10/24/21 | 30 | $600 NLH MonsterStack Day 1C (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 30\40 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 32 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha 8/B Day 1A (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 10/25/21 | 33 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin |
| 30 | $600 NLH MonsterStack Day 2 Restart | 12:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | ||||
| 32 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha 8/B Day 1B (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 10/26/21 | 34 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 SEATS | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 35 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 32 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha 8/B Day 2 Restart | 15:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | ||||
| 10/27/21 | 35 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $400,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 10/28/21 | 35 | $1,100 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 36 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 10/29/21 | 37 | $800 NLH Seniors (50+) Day 1A (2Day) | 10:10 | $300,000 | 40 | 30,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 38 | $600 Pot Limit Omaha / Pot Limit Omaha 8/B (1Day) | 15:10 | $40,000 | 30 | 25,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 10/30/21 | 37 | $800 NLH Seniors (50+) Day 1B (2Day) | 10:10 | $300,000 | 40 | 30,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 39 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 18:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 10/31/21 | 37 | $800 NLH Seniors Day 2 Restart | 10:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 40 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 41 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 18:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/1/21 | 42 | $800 NLH Super Seniors (60+) (2Day) | 10:10 | $50,000 | 40 | 30,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 43 | $1,100 NLH Mini DeepStack Championship Day 1A (3Day | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/2/21 | 42 | $800 NLH Super Seniors Day 2 Restart | 10:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 43 | $1,100 NLH Mini DeepStack Championship Day 1B (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/3/21 | 43 | $1,100 NLH Mini DeepStack Championship Day 1C (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 11/4/21 | 43 | $1,100 NLH Mini DeepStack Championship Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 44 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $100,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/5/21 | 43 | $1,100 NLH Mini DeepStack Championship Day 3 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 45 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $100,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 46 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha Day 1A (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/6/21 | 47 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $100,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 46 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha Day 1B (2Day) | 15:10 | $75,000 | 40 | 25,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/7/21 | 48 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 49 | $1,600 NLH DeepStack Championship Day 1A (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |
| 46 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha Day 2 Restart | 15:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | ||||
| 50 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 19:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/8/21 | 51 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 49 | $1,600 NLH DeepStack Championship Day 1B (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/9/21 | 49 | $1,600 NLH DeepStack Championship Day 1C (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40 | 40,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy |
| 11/10/21 | 49 | $1,600 NLH DeepStack Championship Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |||
| 52 | $600 Pot Limit Omaha Bounty (1Day) | 13:10 | $30,000 | 30 | 25,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 53 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 18:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/11/21 | 54 | $300 NLH Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 5 Seats | 20 | 12,000 | |
| 55 | $2,500 NLH Card Player Poker Tour Day 1A (3Day | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40/60 | 40,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |
| 56 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/12/21 | 57 | $300 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (1Day) | 10:10 | 2 Seats | 15 | 12,000 | |
| 55 | $2,500 NLH Card Player Poker Tour Day 1B (3Day) | 11:10 | $1 Million | 40/60 | 40,000 | Gold Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/13/21 | 55 | $2,500 NLH Card Player Poker Tour Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | 60 | Gold Coin & Trophy | ||
| 58 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 11/14/21 | 55 | $2,500 NLH Card Player Poker Tour Day 3 Restart | 11:00 | 60 | Gold Coin & Trophy | ||
| 59 | $1,100 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 11:10 | $150,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 60 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/15/21 | 61 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $150,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 62 | $600 Limit Omaha 8/B (1Day) | 15:10 | $30,000 | 30 | 12,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/16/21 | 61 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $150,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Silver Coin & Trophy |
| 11/17/21 | 61 | $800 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Silver Coin & Trophy | |||
| 63 | $600 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 12:10 | $50,000 | 30 | 35,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 64 | $400 NLH Survivor (1Day) | 18:10 | $15,000 | 30 | 12,000 | ||
| 11/18/21 | 65 | $600 NLH EpicStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 40 | 50,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 66 | $800 Pot Limit Omaha (1Day) | 15:10 | $40,000 | 30 | 25,000 | Silver Coin | |
| 11/19/21 | 65 | $600 NLH EpicStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 40 | 50,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 11/20/21 | 65 | $600 NLH EpicStack Day 1C (2Day) | 11:10 | $250,000 | 40 | 50,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 11/21/21 | 65 | $600 NLH EpicStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |||
| 67 | $400 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 14:10 | $20,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |
| 11/22/21 | 68 | $400 NLH MonsterStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | $100,000 | 30/40 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 69 | $300 NLH Bounty (1Day) | 18:10 | $12,000 | 30 | 12,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/23/21 | 68 | $400 NLH MonsterStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $100,000 | 30/40 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 70 | $300 NLH Bounty (1Day) | 18:10 | $12,000 | 30 | 12,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/24/21 | 68 | $400 NLH MonsterStack Day 2 Restart | 12:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |||
| 71 | $400 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 12:10 | $25,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 72 | $300 NLH Bounty (1Day) | 18:10 | $12,000 | 30 | 12,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/25/21 | 73 | $300 NLH Turbo (1Day) | 18:10 | $10,000 | 20 | 20,000 | Bronze Coin |
| 74 | $300 NLH Bounty (1Day) | 18:10 | $12,000 | 30 | 12,000 | Bronze Coin | |
| 11/26/21 | 75 | $400 NLH UltimateStack Day 1A (2Day) | 11:10 | 100,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 11/27/21 | 75 | $400 NLH UltimateStack Day 1B (2Day) | 11:10 | $100,000 | 40 | 40,000 | Bronze Coin & Trophy |
| 11/28/21 | 75 | $400 NLH UltimateStack Day 2 Restart | 11:00 | Bronze Coin & Trophy | |||
| 76 | $400 NLH MonsterStack (1Day) | 13:10 | $20,000 | 30 | 30,000 | Bronze Coin |
TK table from: https://msptpoker.com/
Featured image source: Twitter
