This was Estes’ seventh final table appearance on the MSPT and pushed his total earnings past $430,000
Mike Estes clinched the 2025 MSPT Iowa Poker State Championship title at Riverside Casino, securing a career-best $153,551 payday and adding a coveted MSPT trophy to his name. The $1,110 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event drew 815 entries, pushing the total prize pool to nearly $790,000—well over the $500,000 guarantee. It marked Estes’ seventh final table appearance on the tour and pushed his total MSPT earnings past $430,000.
After the win, Estes shared how meaningful the moment was, crediting his longtime supporter Jess Anderson, who’s attended every tournament he’s played since starting in 2012. He recalled a difficult stretch—eight years without a single cash—and noted that the time spent studying the game during the pandemic helped him improve significantly.
The tournament saw 91 players make the money, with notables like Dan Sun, Rich Alsup, and defending champion Jake Wilding all falling short of the final table. Estes began the final day second in chips and wasted little time making his presence felt. He eliminated Rob WazWaz in eighth place, then stayed active through the middle stages of the final table.
The key hand came during heads-up play against Jacob Long. Holding A♠5♥, Estes moved all-in and got called by Long’s pocket nines. A flush on the river gave Estes the pot and a commanding lead. Long was left with just over a big blind and busted the next hand, earning $98,000 for his runner-up finish.
Estes described the win as the best he’s felt in years and celebrated the culmination of over a decade of persistence. His victory not only brought a personal milestone but also reinforced the idea that perseverance and self-improvement can pay off on the tournament stage.
