Season 16 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) started with a bang at Bally’s Black Hawk Casino, wrapping up in an unforgettable showdown on Sunday night. This $1,110 buy-in Main Event drew an impressive 636 entries across three starting flights, generating a robust prize pool of $615,420. The star of the event? Poker pro-Faraz Jaka claimed his first-ever MSPT title and walked away with a hefty $127,849 top prize.
“It feels amazing to win here,” Jaka shared with MSPT officials. “I’ve played a few tournaments here before and won two of them, so this place is special to me. It’s even more meaningful since I live nearby and had students competing here too.”
Jaka’s victory wasn’t just about the money; it marked yet another milestone in his storied career. With over $8 million in lifetime tournament earnings, Jaka’s resume already sparkled with accolades like a 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and a recent $313,495 victory at the Seminole Hard Rock RRPO $10,000 NLH Deep Stack event.
MSPT Black Hawk Final Table Results
The MSPT final table was an intense competition with 9 talented players competing for the top prize. Here’s how the payments turned out:
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
| 1 | Faraz Jaka | San Jose, CA | $127,849 |
| 2 | Zach Gutierrez | Denver, CO | $77,952 |
| 3 | Michael Banducci | Traverse City, MI | $58,000 |
| 4 | Umut Ozturk | St. Paul, MN | $43,032 |
| 5 | Caden Coleman | Oxbow, ND | $32,430 |
| 6 | Kelly Mahana | Denver, CO | $24,322 |
| 7 | Ross Babel | Breckenridge, CO | $18,710 |
| 8 | Mike Wheeler | Aurora, CO | $11,226 |
| 9 | Dianwei Sun | Aurora, CO | $11,226 |
Other noteworthy finishers were Angela Jordison (23rd, $4,484) and Michael Giardina (13th, $7,484).
Sending A Poker Hall Of Famer
Jaka had a difficult road to triumph. Beginning the final table as the chip leader, he was up against intense rivalry from none other than two-time Player of the Year MSPT Hall of Famer Umut Ozturk. Ozturk pushed all-in with ace-jack against Jaka’s ace-king in a key hand at Level 26. With $43,032, the board sent Ozturk out in fourth place, leaving him without any hope.
Jaka overcame Michael Banducci in third place and engaged Denver’s Zach Gutierrez in an exciting heads-up fight after sending Ozturk. The two fought blows over two and a half hours before Jaka grabbed command. Gutierrez made a preflop shove with an ace-five but lost to Jaka’s commanding ace-ten in the final hand.
A Personal Victory For Jaka
This triumph went beyond simply adding another prize to his collection. For Jaka, who celebrated with his Jaka Coaching pupils, it was also a personal triumph. Three of his students qualified for the final table; Kaushik Kannan won a side event.
“This was quite an amazing moment,” Jaka said. “It is unique to see my pupils thrive when I am winning this personally. Since many of the folks I coach fall into this pricing category, I even find myself thinking about playing more MSPTs. A better understanding of the field will help me to guide them more precisely“.
What Is MSPT’s Next Direction?
After recording the Black Hawk stop, the MSPT is gearing up for an incredible return to Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Reopening its poker room following a pandemic-induced break, this location will host the $1,110 Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee from January 28 to February 2.
Following that, it is on to Las Vegas for the $1,000,000 GTD Poker Bowl IX at the Venetian, where the final table will be live-streamed in the state-of-the-art studio of the poker facility.
A Legacy Is Still Being Made.
The 2025 debut victory of Faraz Jaka is evidence of his tenacity, talent, and love of poker, not only another championship title. Jaka keeps proving he’s a force to be reckoned with in the poker scene, whether he’s coaching young poker players or demolishing seasoned pros.
Here’s a year of exciting wins and high-stakes showdowns on the MSPT circuit! Follow Pokerbol for more updates.
