Umut Ozturk wins the MSPT Spade Poker Championship

The 2026 MSPT Spade Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan drew 2,442 entries. The $1,100 main event comfortably cleared its $1 million guarantee. A total of about $2.4 million in prize money was paid out to 266 players.

The champion was Umut Ozturk. A heads-up deal was made with Gregory Wiggins, who was in second place at the final table. Ozturk went into the deal with a small chip lead, and both players received $280,290. It was the biggest payout of Ozturk's career.

Ozturk, a member of the MSPT Hall of Fame, now has three main event titles, two of them in 2026. Earlier in the year he won the Ohio Poker State Championship for $89,638. He took his first MSPT win in 2023 at Hollywood Casino near St. Louis. His total earnings have passed $1.6 million, of which $1.3 million came from this tour. Moving past Josh Reichard ($1.2 million), Ozturk took the top spot on the MSPT all-time earnings list.

In the tournament, Brian Altman finished 152nd, Kou Vang 49th, Jacob Long 8th, Frank Lagodich 7th and Scott Bohlman 6th. Daniel Sepiol placed fourth for $123,028, bringing his career earnings close to $10.7 million.

Ozturk said that last May, while he was in Michigan, his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he had to leave the tournament and return home. He lost his mother a few months later and dedicated this victory to her. The win earned 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points. Ozturk moved up to just outside the top 150 in the 2026 standings.