Jacob Long Leads Season 16 Player of the Year, Earns Icon of the Year Spot
Jacob Long has made a splash in the poker world, winning Event #4 at the 2025 Wisconsin Poker State Championship and moving into the lead for the Season 16 Player of the Year title. His victory has also earned him a spot in the Top 64, making him eligible for the 2027 Icon of the Year race and a $20K Freeroll Heads-Up Tournament in December 2026.
Long's impressive performance has put him in second place in the MSPT World Ranking, with a score of 125.55. The ranking system, newly debuted by the Major Series of Poker: The Tour (MSPT), rates players based on their position in MSPT Main Events over a 50-event period. Points earned for a specific Main Event decrease in value by 1/40 each time a new event takes place, with points earned 51 events back being valued at 0.
Currently leading the ranking is Umut Ozturk, with a score of 196.51. Meanwhile, Joshua Reichard is holding steady at 15th place. Long's recent win has not only boosted his ranking but also secured him a seat in the $20K Freeroll Heads-Up Tournament at Minnesota's Running Aces Casino. The Top 64 ranked players will compete in this event, with the winner of the 2027 Icon of the Year race earning a $10K Main Event seat.
Jacob Long's victory in Event #4 has catapulted him into the spotlight, leading the Season 16 Player of the Year race and securing him a place among the Top 64. As the MSPT World Ranking continues to evolve, players like Long and Ozturk will continue to push the boundaries of poker excellence, with the ultimate prize of a $10K Main Event seat on the line.
