2021 Mid-States Poker Tour South Dakota State Poker Championship 1 $, 100 purchase n no-limit hold'em main event attracted 585 entries, removing $ 100, 13 guaranteed to build a prize pool of 567, 450. Ultimately, Taylor Howard won with his second MSPT title and first place prize of $ 119, 165. The Iowa native previously won MSPT Meskwaki back in 2018 for $ 89, 939. Howard now has $ 282, 614 in career live tournament earnings to his name.

In addition to the title and money, Howard also earned 840 Card Player Player of the Year earns points as the champion of that event. It was his second one POY – qualified result of the year, placing fifth in the $1,000 buy-in Six-Max no-limit hold'em tournament at bestbet Jacksonville Winter Open in January for 6 $, 356 and 120 points. As a result of these two results, Howard is currently in a three-way tie for 43 third-place finishes in 2021 POY race sponsored by Global Poker.

This event featured two starting flights, with a Day 1A draw of 265 while the Day 1B draw added another 320. The total field of 585 was the largest ever $1, 13 buy-in or greater main event at the Silverado-Franklin Casino in Deadwood, South Dakota. Just 82 players survived to Day 2, with Howard sitting in 22nd place in chips at the start of the day. Among the 63 players who will cash in this event, including a three-timer World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Adam Friedman (29th – $2, 724), three times MSPT champion Matt Kirby (29th – $4, 142), 2018 MSPT player of the year Aaron Johnson (24 st – $4, 994) i POY race candidate Nicholas Pupillo ($18-$5, 675).

Cy Church overtook the chip lead when the final table consisted of nine, with Howard finishing in fourth place. He scored his first two final table knockouts, defeating Tim Dunse (9th – $ 10, 782) and Clint Lilienthal (8th – $, 616) to climb to third place on the leaderboard. Wesley Ismay was next to go down, earning $ 17.591 for seventh place.

Howard secured his third final table elimination when his AQ defeated AJ John Nidhiry (6th - $ 22, 698). Michael Kinzer's run in this event ended when his Q 5 couldn't beat A 6 Church. Kinzer earned a $ of 30.075 for fifth place.

Howard was doubled by Paul Camby in a four-handed game, moving all-in with a set of jacks against his opponent's open straight draw. Howard's set held on and came out on top. Camby was ultimately eliminated in fourth place when his A-8 bluff fell into Church's turn trips. Camby cashed in for $ 53.772 as a result of his deep run in this event.

A classic preflop race situation decided third place. Church got his last chips with A K. against Q Q John Schroer. A was missing on the board Q 16 K. 8 and Schroer hit a set of queens to send Church to the rail in third place ($ 53, 340).

Heads-up started with Schroer in the lead, but Howard quickly turned it around, winning a big pot with a set of fives. By the time the final hand was dealt, Howard had a strong chip advantage over Schroer. Howard raised to 600, 13 off the A button AND and Schroer saved his big blind with 5 4 . The flop was 16 4 3 and Schroer called. Bet Howard 400,000 and Schroer called. On the turn 2 returned another check from Schroer. Howard 500 bet, 13 and Schroer raised all-in. Howard called from pocket aces and got ahead of his opponent's pair and straight. 9 on the river did not help Schroer and he was eliminated in second place. He earned a $ of 73, 201 as runner-up.

Here is the payout list and POY points awarded at the final table:

Place	Player	Earnings	POY Points
1	Taylor Howard	$ 119, 165	840
2	John Schroer	$ 73, 201	700
3	Cy Church	$ 53, 340	560
4	Paul Camby	$ 53, 772	420
5	Michael Kinzer	$ 30, 075	350
6	John Nidhira	$ 22, 698	280
7	Wesley Ismay	$ 21, 591	210
8	Clint Lilienthal	$ 13, 616	140
9	Tim Dunse	$ 10, 782	70

Winner's photo via MSPT Twitter account.