A deep run in the MSPT Iowa Poker State Championship gave Long a boost in the race
Jake Long has moved into the top spot in the Season 16 MSPT Player of the Year (POY) race following a deep run in the MSPT Iowa Poker State Championship. Long’s second-place finish earned him $94,499 and 1,600 POY points, pushing him ahead of previous frontrunners like Anthony Scarborough, Umut Ozturk, and Josh Reichard. With several events still to come in 2025, Long will need to stay consistent if he wants to hold onto his lead through the rest of the season.
The event was held at Riverside Casino near Iowa City and featured a $1,110 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event. It drew 815 entries and generated a prize pool just shy of $790,000. After three starting flights and a marathon Day 2 session, it was Mike Estes who claimed the title and a career-best payday of $153,551.
Long’s road to second place included several pivotal moments, including a crucial hand against PokerNews Podcast host Chad Holloway. With three players left, Holloway shoved from the small blind with ace-jack suited, and Long called in the big blind holding ace-three of hearts. Although Holloway was ahead after the flop, running cards gave Long a heart flush, sending Holloway to the rail in third.
That win propelled Long into heads-up play with nearly equal chips against Estes. In the final stretch, Estes moved all in with ace-five of hearts, and Long looked him up with pocket nines. The turn gave Long a set, but it also gave Estes a flush draw, which he completed on the river with the three of spades. Long was left with only a few chips and was eliminated on the following hand.
Despite the heartbreak, Long’s runner-up finish was enough to give him the current edge in the race for Player of the Year.
