Wes Cannon grabbed his first Major Series of Poker Tour title in dramatic fashion. The Suited Kings Podcast host topped a field of 608 players to win the MSPT Season 17 $1,110 Main Event at Iowa’s Riverside Casino. He pocketed $83,869 after a five-way deal on Sunday. This victory tops his past runner-up finishes and marks a huge milestone.
Riverside Casino in Riverside, Iowa, hosted the MSPT Season 17 festival from March 17 to 22. The $1,110 Main Event kicked off with huge interest. Players filled three starting flights: 114 on Day 1A, 225 on 1B, and 269 on 1C.
The turnout created a prize pool of $589,148. That beat the $300,000 guarantee by a wide margin. A total of 66 players returned for Day 2 on Sunday. All were already in the money with at least $2,197.
Local talent shone early. Players from Iowa, Minnesota, and nearby states dominated the counts. The casino’s first MSPT stop this season drew grinders hungry for gold.
Day 2 Plays Out in Epic 12-Hour Grind
Action on Day 2 lasted nearly 12 hours. Eliminations came fast at first. Angela Jordison went out first in the money. Then Jake Long and Umut Ozturk followed.
MSPT Hall of Famer Aaron Johnson busted in 47th for $2,313. DJ Buckley fell 42nd at $2,486. Defending champion Anthony Kastelic from last year’s Riverside event exited 12th with $8,672.
Deeper runs included Merritt Kuhn in 26th for $3,469 and Brett Reichard in 21st at $4,972. Jesse Green and Bee Yang both grabbed $6,938 in 14th and 16th spots. The final 10 hit late, setting up a stacked table.
Chips flew as blinds rose. Short stacks doubled up or doubled out. Tension built toward the final nine.
Star-Studded Final Table Leads to Big Deal
The final table featured pros from the Midwest. Nick Barksdale from Lincoln, Nebraska, took ninth for $10,985. He lost a key hand to Michael Wilklow.
Josh Reichard from Janesville, Wisconsin, finished eighth at $13,876. His failed bluff against Cannon sent him to the rail. Kou Vang of Maplewood, Minnesota, earned $17,923 in seventh.
Zach Heiman from Madison, Wisconsin, got $23,127 in sixth after Jason Crews cracked his aces. Five players remained: Cannon, Crews, Wilklow, Wayne Tweeton, and Brett Slezak.
Talks led to a five-way ICM deal that locked in massive payouts. Cannon claimed the title and $83,869. The numbers reflected chip stacks and tour points.
Here are the top 10 finishers:
| Place | Player | City/State | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesley Cannon | Edina, MN | $83,869 |
| 2 | Jason Crews | Clive, IA | $64,880 |
| 3 | Michael Wilklow | Minneapolis, MN | $61,057 |
| 4 | Wayne Tweeton | Marion, IA | $57,010 |
| 5 | Brett Slezak | Omaha, NE | $54,810 |
| 6 | Zach Heiman | Madison, WI | $23,127 |
| 7 | Kou Vang | Maplewood, MN | $17,923 |
| 8 | Josh Reichard | Janesville, WI | $13,876 |
| 9 | Nick Barksdale | Lincoln, NE | $10,985 |
| 10 | Brent Phelps | West Liberty, IA | $8,672 |
Cannon’s Long Grind Pays Off Big Time
Wesley Cannon hails from Edina, Minnesota. This win marks his 21st MSPT cash and fifth top-10 finish. He now boasts over $400,000 in tour earnings. Lifetime live cashes top $990,000 per tracking sites.
Past results included second and third places. His biggest prior first-place check was around $23,000. Cannon co-hosts the Suited Kings Poker podcast with Max Havlish. They share strategy tips for mid-stakes players.
“Feels good,” Cannon said after the win. “All of my biggest scores have come from second and third place finishes… this is like my first big Main Event win, and it means a lot. Winning a tournament brings a certain type of joy that no amount of money can bring.”
As a bonus, Cannon snagged a $3,500 seat to the MSPT Championship. That event hits Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, from November 18 to December 2. It boasts a $2 million guaranteed Main Event.
Grinders like Cannon show persistence pays. Many players chase that first title for years. His story inspires locals hitting casino rooms.
This MSPT Riverside win caps a strong festival. Cannon’s breakthrough lifts him in Player of the Year race standings. Fans cheer as he eyes bigger fields ahead.
Poker dreams come true in moments like these. Wes Cannon turned years of close calls into a trophy and a payday. The joy of hoisting that hardware beats any bankroll boost.
