2021 Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP)

Event #44: $250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $50K Gtd
Day: 1
Event Info

2021 Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP)

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a3
Prize
$12,749
Event Info
Buy-in
$250
Prize Pool
$64,308
Entries
276
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
276
Players Left
1

PokerNews MICOOP Updates Schedule

MICOOP 2021
MICOOP 2021

From February 20 through March 8, PokerStars and FOX Bet is hosting the inaugural Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP), which will be comprised of 60 tournaments ranging in buy-ins from $10-$500 and offer $1,000,000 in guaranteed prize pools.

What’s more, PokerNews will be offering live updates from eight of the premier events.

Things kicked off this past Saturday with the $100 buy-in, $30K GTD Event #1: Kick Off NLH, which will be reported here on PokerNews. The festival will conclude with a $300 buy-in, $125K GTD Main Event on March 7-8, which will also be reported.

Here’s a look at the remaining events PokerNews will live report over course of the series.

  • Event #18: $500 NLHE [6-Max, High Roller], $35K Gtd (February 24, 2021)
  • Event #31: $250 NLHE [Sunday Special SE], $50K Gtd (February 28, 2021)
  • Event #38: $250 NLHE [Super Tuesday SE], $35K Gtd (March 02, 2021)
  • Event #41: $250 PLO [6-Max, High Roller], $12.5K Gtd (March 03, 2021)
  • Event #44: $250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $35K Gtd (March 04, 2021)
  • Event #55: $300 NLHE [Main Event], $125K Gtd (March 07-08, 2021)

“Coming off the launch of our real-money gaming brands in Michigan, it is clear that players want the world-class offerings that only PokerStars can bring,” said FOX Bet CEO Kip Levin. “As the sole online and mobile poker product in Michigan, our commitment and investment in PokerStars is vital as we aim to bring all aspects of a great customer experience to the poker community. We are excited for Michiganders to join our most popular series and crown our first big winner who will join in the prestigious footsteps of other Championship Of Online Poker (COOP) champions.”

Satellites for the MICOOP are running now for as little as $2. Additionally, players can win their way via freeroll routes.

  • Main Event Depositor Freeroll: Deposit $30+ with code 'MICOOP' and get a ticket to a MICOOP Depositor Freeroll on March 7, where 35 Main Event seats will be up for grabs.
  • Second Chance Freerolls: Play a MICOOP event and fail to make the cash, and receive a ticket to a second chance freeroll, running daily.

To enjoy MICOOP, players need to register for PokerStars HERE.

"SpartanD7" Left With Dust

In Level 5 with blinds of 200/400 and an ante of 50, three players limped in before "SpartanD7" raised to 2,160 from the small blind, only "ChippewaBadger7" and

"SpartanD7" led out for 7,440 and got fold from "ChippewaBadger7" while "beethereone" raised all in for 19,278. Action was back on "SpartanD7" who called and both players revealed their hands.

"SpartanD7": {q-Spades}{q-Clubs}
"beethereone": {5-Hearts}{5-Clubs}

"beethereone" pulled ahead after flopping a set of fives and the {4-Diamonds} turn followed by the {8-Diamonds} river secured them the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of ChippewaBadger7 us
ChippewaBadger7
22,190
Profile photo of SpartanD7 us
SpartanD7
1,862

Cowboys Good for "Riverdog456"

In Level 4 with blinds of 150/300 and an ante of 40, "Batmanstein" and "hick2960" limped-in from early position only to call the 2,010 raise from "Riverdog456".

The {10-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{a-Diamonds} flop was checked to "hick2960" who fired out 6,840 and "Riverdog456" raised all in for 21,335. "Batmanstein" folded their hand while "hick2960" called off their 1,585 stack.

"hick2960": {k-Hearts}{3-Hearts}
"Riverdog456": {k-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}

"Riverdog456" was well ahead of his opponent and neither the {5-Diamonds} turn nor the {q-Clubs} river changed a thing.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Riverdog456
Riverdog456
36,601
Profile photo of Batmanstein
Batmanstein
19,205
Profile photo of hick2960
hick2960
Busted

Level 3 Chip Leaders

In Level 3 with blinds of 125/250 and an ante of 30, 141 entries have already been recorded. Here's a look at some players who have chipped up early.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of D_Ultamus
D_Ultamus
89,655
Profile photo of LawernceTaylor
LawernceTaylor
68,580
43,580
43,580
Profile photo of John St0ckton
John St0ckton
55,909
Profile photo of BackdoorFILTH us
BackdoorFILTH
54,842
Profile photo of onetimeAA166
onetimeAA166
53,682
Profile photo of StatPadford us
StatPadford
52,228
Profile photo of YouLoselGiggle
YouLoselGiggle
50,989
Profile photo of Drago25785
Drago25785
49,667
Profile photo of gabpoker_cc us
gabpoker_cc
49,225
24,225
24,225
Profile photo of cwinner1984
cwinner1984
47,298
22,298
22,298

Riky "RikyOneTime" Lara Looking for MICOOP Success in His First Foray Into Online Play

Riky "RikyOneTime" Lara
Riky "RikyOneTime" Lara

One player who recently jumped into the field is 42-year-old Riky "RikyOneTime" Lara, a father of four girls and married to "a super supportive" wife.

Hailing from southwest Detroit, Lara is a $1/$2 and $2/$5 no-limit hold'em live grinder who started to play more tournaments before the pandemic hit.

"I play most of my cash game poker sessions at Motorcity casino in Detroit," he told PokerNews. "I also like hit up MGM Grand poker room when I’m trying to change things up. I do travel to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) every year to grind cash games. I usually stay three weeks to a month each year to grind these juicy cash games."

In addition, Lara is a regular at mid-major tour stops such as the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), Heartland Poker Tour (HPT), and WSOP Circuit in the Ohio, Chicago, and Indiana areas.

"I do most of my traveling alone but I usually link up with friends from the felt at the WSOP," he said. "From time to time, I’ll take my wife with me on a road trip to a poker tournament."

It's an enjoyable experience for Lara, who grew up in what he called a "bad neighborhood" in Detroit, one rife with gangs, drugs, peer pressure, and a ton of violence. Poker has been a vehicle away from all of that.

"Poker for me all began at a very young age. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my grandmother, my mother, and my Aunt Carmen, who’s probably the reason for me being a poker player. We’d stay up playing Mexican bingo for nickels, dimes, and quarters all night, and every time I won a bowl of change, I remember thinking it was the greatest thing ever.

He continued: "It wasn’t just about the quarters for me though. For me, it was more about the win. After that, I started playing five-card draw and some seven-card stud with the grown-ups. Even when I got to the age of 15 I found a way to go play poker at other people’s houses. There would be a table full of grown-ups drinking smoking cussing and then there would be me.

When he and his wife first got married 20 years ago, they were barely making ends meet, but that didn't stop him from playing a weekly $25 buy-in tournament.

"We’d get around 8-10 people and somehow I always would win or chop. That money helped us out in so many ways. We even almost depended on it every week to help out with everything. That’s where my wife’s strong support came from when it comes to playing poker for me. She really enjoyed watching me play poker. So when it comes to any games even if there out of town she’s the first one getting me out the door to go grind."

Prior to PokerStars coming to Michigan, Lara had never played online.

"I know it’s going to be such a big change for me," he said. "I’m looking forward to the challenge and trying to see the positives in online poker. Instead of having to buy airfare or lodging or renting a car, I can try to makes some money in the comfort of my own home in my PJs. I look forward to putting a lot of time and energy into online tournaments since I’m mainly a cash game player."

In addition to MICOOP, Lara has been dabbling in $0.50-$1 and $1-$2 NLH.

"I don’t want to just dive in and make mistakes so I’m taking it slow and getting used to things. I do love how much faster the game is and how much bigger the game plays compared to live. I’m just paying way more attention to betting patterns and the timing of each bet."

PokerNews will be keeping an eye on Lara as he competes for MICOOP glory.

"0AndrewNeeme0" Rivers Lucky Lady and Claims

In Level 2 with blinds of 100/200 and an ante of 25, four players limped in before "0AndrewNeeme0" raised to 1,500 from the big blind. Only "HeyLookItsTez" and "MiPharoah11" called.

The {j-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{j-Hearts} flop saw "0AndrewNeeme0" continue for 1,683 and only "MiPharoah11" called to see the {6-Clubs} appear on the turn.

Both players checked and the {q-Clubs} completed the board on the river. "0AndrewNeeme0" led out for 4,233 and then called the 8,762 all in raise from "MiPharoah11".

"MiPharoah11" rolled over {k-Clubs}{j-Diamonds} for jacks full but "0AndrewNeeme0" rolled over {q-Hearts}{q-Diamonds} to win the pot with a better full house.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of 0AndrewNeeme0 us
0AndrewNeeme0
38,580
Profile photo of HeyLookItsTez
HeyLookItsTez
23,199
Profile photo of MiPharoah11
MiPharoah11
Busted

"nldoublej" Claims Early Bounty

Level 1 with blinds at 80/160 and an ante of 20, "Gotzillions" limped in from under the gun as did "nldoublej" from the hijack. Action folded to "corykapoot" who raised to 800 from the big blind and both limpers called to see a {4-Spades}{10-Hearts}{4-Clubs} flop appear.

"corykapoot" continued for 1,280 and only "nldoublej" called, bringing the {j-Diamonds} turn. "corykapoot" fired out 3,200
and "nldoublej" called to see the {k-Spades} complete the board on the river.

"corykapoot" moved all in for 12,582 and "nldoublej" snap-called.

"corykapoot" showed {5-Spades}{3-Clubs} for air while "nldoublej" rolled over broadway {a-Clubs}{q-Spades} and collected "corykapoot's" bounty.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of nldoublej
nldoublej
43,082
18,082
18,082
Profile photo of Gotzillions us
Gotzillions
24,180
Profile photo of corykapoot
corykapoot
Busted

Play is Underway

The virtual cards are in the air with action starting in Level 1 ( 80/160 and an ante of 20), with 77 bounty hunters in their seats.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of 1WINATATIME us
1WINATATIME
25,000
Profile photo of LawernceTaylor
LawernceTaylor
25,000
Profile photo of TY_GOVWHITMER
TY_GOVWHITMER
25,000
Profile photo of TrappermanBlaz3
TrappermanBlaz3
25,000
Profile photo of Surge_Ibaka us
Surge_Ibaka
25,000
Profile photo of smftt us
smftt
25,000
Profile photo of Slothbear22
Slothbear22
25,000
Profile photo of santasworkshop us
santasworkshop
25,000
Profile photo of rich2579 us
rich2579
25,000
Profile photo of Orlaan425
Orlaan425
25,000
Profile photo of nldoublej
nldoublej
25,000
Profile photo of Marv.lllis
Marv.lllis
25,000
Profile photo of LouisD60 us
LouisD60
25,000
Profile photo of KCspencey us
KCspencey
25,000
Profile photo of 9NINENINE us
9NINENINE
25,000
Profile photo of gabpoker_cc us
gabpoker_cc
25,000
Profile photo of FireUpMIPS
FireUpMIPS
25,000
Profile photo of fineOdakineO
fineOdakineO
25,000
Profile photo of DoubleDab22 us
DoubleDab22
25,000
Profile photo of deerfield195
deerfield195
25,000
Profile photo of D-Cronk0126 us
D-Cronk0126
25,000
Profile photo of cwinner1984
cwinner1984
25,000
Profile photo of Coolriver84 us
Coolriver84
25,000
Profile photo of ChipzNCheese
ChipzNCheese
25,000
Profile photo of BlackNBlueReign us
BlackNBlueReign
25,000

Read full

Welcome To MICOOP Event #44: $250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE] $50K GTD

The inaugural PokerStars Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) continues tonight with three events on the schedule and PokerNews coverage of Event #44: $250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $50K GTD starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Given the success of the inaugural MICOOP upon legalization of online poker in Michigan, the original $35K guaranteed prize pool was upped to $50K, with the new figure likely to be surpassed.

Featuring a buy-in of $250 with a Progressive Knockout format, $116.50 of each player's buy-in will go towards the prize pool while bounties will start at $58.25 and increase with each elimination.

Starting stacks are 25,000 with blinds beginning at 80/160 and an ante of 20. Levels are set to last 10 minutes in length throughout the tournament.

Late registration will remain open for two hours and 40 minutes, likely closing midway through Level 15 (1,250/2,500/325). Up to five re-entries (six total bullets) are available during this period.

Registration is already open for all within the state of Michigan. Players need not be Michigan residents; they simply must be within state lines to compete.

PokerNews will be on hand to the finish line, so be sure to follow along and see who comes out on top.

Event #44: $250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $50K Gtd

Day 1 Started