Antonio Vargas captured the MSPT Season 16 Colorado Poker State Championship at Bally’s Black Hawk Casino. He outlasted a massive field of 875 entries. The prize pool totaled $847,250, and Vargas earned $141,255 for his first MSPT title.
The event ran July 23 through August 3, 2025. Starting flights drew 167, 284, and 424 entrants. That broke the guaranteed half-a-million dollars.
Vargas led early on. He topped Day 1A with 840,000 in chips. He held a strong final-day stack as 98 survivors returned.
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MSPT Season 16 – Day 2 Highlights
Day 2 spanned nearly 12 hours. Vargas remained focused as the table shrank. He faced strong players including Zack Whitney and Rich Dixon.
The final table crashed under pressure. Former champions Matt Maier and John Schroer exited before heads-up. Rahul Lal and Thomas Fuller also bowed out deep.
In a key hand, Vargas flopped a flush against Dixon. That move propelled him into the chip lead. Dixon finished third for $73,371, while Whitney secured $120,190 for second place.
After the fierce heads-up battle, Vargas and Whitney agreed to an ICM chop, locking in their prizes. Vargas finished with the MSPT title and Gold Card.
Vargas said, “It’s truly amazing. I came very close in this event last year… words can’t describe it.” His first career title comes after a painful third-place finish in January’s MSPT Main Event.
Winnings from the Final Table
After the dust settled, the Final payouts see Antonio Vargas going first, winning $141,255. Meanwhile, Zack Whitney settled at second place, with ~$120,190 (ICM deal). Lastly, Rich Dixon lands in third place, pocketing $73,371.
The victory solidified Vargas’ standing. This finish earned him 1,800 MSPT Player of the Year points.
Season 16 continues August 6-10 in Grand Falls, Iowa. The next stop features a $300K GTD $1,110 Main Event.