MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Returns to Ameristar East Chicago Aug. 25-30
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The MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Returns to Ameristar East Chicago Aug. 25-30
The 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship is one week away, with Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago set to host six days of tournament poker from August 25-30.
The series features 11 Gold Card events and is built around a $1,110 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event carrying a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool. The Main Event champion will also receive a $3,500 seat into the MSPT Championship in addition to the tournament’s first-place payout. MSPT lists the stop as a 21-and-older event.
Players planning to make the trip can find more event information in the Angry Aces Poker 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Tournament Guide.
Six Days of Poker at Ameristar East Chicago
Tournament action begins Tuesday, August 25, with a $300 Epic Stack Kickoff at noon, followed by a $300 Pot-Limit Omaha event and a $265 Main Event milestone satellite.
Wednesday continues with a $300 Ultimate Stack, a $300 mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha tournament and another Main Event satellite. The remainder of the series includes a Seniors event for players 50 and older, additional Monster Stack tournaments and more opportunities to qualify for the championship event.
The variety gives players several options outside the Main Event while keeping most side-event buy-ins in the $250-$300 range.
Players looking for the complete event-by-event lineup can view the official MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship schedule.
$300,000 Guaranteed Main Event Takes Center Stage
The $1,110 Indiana Poker State Championship Main Event features three starting flights.
Day 1A begins Thursday, August 27 at 2 p.m., followed by Day 1B at 2 p.m. Friday. The final starting flight, Day 1C, gets underway Saturday, August 29 at noon. Players who advance return Sunday for the conclusion of the tournament.
The $300,000 guarantee gives the championship a clear centerpiece, but recent history suggests the final prize pool can move well beyond that number.
Last year’s Indiana Poker State Championship attracted 534 entries and generated a $516,480 prize pool. John “Farmboy” Kurfman emerged as the champion following the three starting flights and Sunday finale, earning $90,324 for what MSPT reported as his first career title.
That 2025 turnout provides a useful benchmark as the tour prepares to return to East Chicago.
More Than the Main Event Title Is on the Line
Along with the Indiana Poker State Championship title and the tournament payout, MSPT is adding a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat to the Main Event winner’s prize package.
The tour is also offering a $25 match-play coupon with each Main Event entry, according to its current event listing.
For tournament players following MSPT throughout the season, the added championship seat gives the East Chicago Main Event additional value beyond the immediate prize pool.
Satellites throughout the week also give players several ways to qualify for the $1,110 championship rather than buying in directly.
Ameristar East Chicago Hosts Another Major MSPT Stop
Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago has become a regular destination on the MSPT calendar, including multiple tour stops in recent seasons.
Located in East Chicago, Indiana, the property gives players from the greater Chicago area and surrounding Midwest markets another regional championship opportunity without traveling to Las Vegas or one of poker’s other major tournament destinations.
Players unfamiliar with the property can also read the Angry Aces Poker Ameristar East Chicago Poker Room Guide before making the trip.
What to Watch at the 2026 Indiana Poker State Championship
The biggest question will be how large the Main Event becomes.
With a $300,000 guarantee and three starting flights, the tournament has several days to build its field. The 534-entry field in 2025 pushed the prize pool beyond half a million dollars, giving this year’s event a meaningful recent benchmark.
The championship also arrives during a busy stretch of Midwest tournament poker, making East Chicago another destination for players looking for a regional title and a four-figure Main Event without leaving the area.
Cards go in the air Tuesday, August 25, with the new Indiana Poker State Champion scheduled to be determined when the series concludes Sunday, August 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship?
The series runs August 25-30, 2026, at Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago in East Chicago, Indiana.
How much is the MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Main Event?
The Main Event has a $1,110 buy-in and a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool.
How many Main Event starting flights are there?
The Main Event has three starting flights, with Day 1A on August 27, Day 1B on August 28 and Day 1C on August 29.
What does the Main Event winner receive?
In addition to the tournament payout and Indiana Poker State Championship title, MSPT is adding a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat to first place.
Who won the 2025 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship?
John “Farmboy” Kurfman won the 2025 championship for $90,324. The tournament attracted 534 entries and generated a $516,480 prize pool.
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