Level: 9
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
2020 Midway Poker Tour Chicago
Midway Poker Tour Chicago $1,100 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
2020 Midway Poker Tour Chicago
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$258,020
Entries
266
Level
22
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
20,000
Entries
164
Players Left
19
Brady Gets His Double
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
From early position, Dennis Brady moved all-in for 18,500 and was called by Nadya Magnus from the hijack. After all other players folded, Brady flipped over 
and was up against the 
of Magnus.
The flop was of no help as the dealer spread 
, but turn was true to its name as the board ran out 
to give Brady the double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
38,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
|
35,000
-12,000
|
-12,000 |
Q&A with Midway Poker Tour Founder Dan Bekavac
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
The Midway Poker Tour was conceived by Dan Bekavac, a Midwest poker player with more than $290K in lifetime tournament earnings. That includes two MSPT titles, one of which was the 2019 MSPT Potawatomi Main Event for a career-high $126,998.
PokerNews had the chance to catch up with Bekavac leading up to this introductory event.
PokerNews: When and how did the Midway Poker Tour come to be?
Bekavac: We’ve been developing an app that is basically Facebook for poker players since 2017, so the idea of the live tour has been being kicked around since then. We are getting closer to launching the app so now is the perfect time to get our live tour off the ground.
What sort of COVID-19 precautions will be taken during the event?
To help keep everyone safe, we are hosting the event in four separate banquet halls and we are limiting each room to five tables of nine players. All players will be required to wear a mask and hand sanitizing stations will be in each gaming room.
What sort of things have you had to do to prepare for this event?
We’ve had custom tables and chips made for the charity, as well as a custom RFID table, as we will be the first and only mid-major poker tour to stream their event live from the beginning to the end of the event. We’ve had to navigate through the Illinois charity gaming regulations to make sure we are 100% in compliance. As well as reach out to many marketing teams and companies to start getting the word out on our new tour.
What do you envision for the future of the Midway Poker Tour?
We created this tour with the concept of, “For Players, By Players”. Giving the players what they want, treating them well and offering them what doesn’t exist now with other tours. We will be the biggest mid-major poker tour by the end of 2021
Saleh Doubles Through Kook
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Amit "Kook" Kuckreja raised to 3,000 from early position only to have the player on the button three-bet to 8,500. Yousef Saleh then four-bet jammed for 34,100 from the small blind and Kook called. The button got out of the way and the hands were turned up.
Yousef Saleh: 
Amit "Kook" Kuckreja: 
Saleh had the best of it and improved to a full house on the 
flop. The 
turn left Kook drawing dead and Saleh was pushed the pot after the was run out on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
78,500
48,500
|
48,500 |
|
27,700 |
Brady Continues Chipping Up
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
We came upon the preflop action with Amit "Kook" Kuckreja all-in for 27,600 and at risk with against the of Dennis Brady.
The board was dealt 
eliminating Kuckreja and adding to Brady's stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
65,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 10
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
Maahs Eliminates Magnus
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Nadya Magnus raised from under-the-gun to 2,600 and was called by the player in the hijack and Kevin Maahs in the big blind.
Maahs checked the 
flop which was followed by a 6,000 chip bet from Magnus. The player in the hijack folded and Maahs made the call.
On the turn, Maahs again checked. Magnus decided to bet all-in for 17,000 which was quickly called by Maahs.
Magnus flipped over and was drawing dead against the 
of Maahs. The hand gave a nice boost to Maahs and sent Magnus to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Wagner Doubles Through Bryant
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Jared Wagner got his stack of 44,800 all in preflop and was at risk, but ahead, against Jill Bryant.
Jared Wagner:
Jill Bryant:
Wagner was looking to dodge an ace or other tomfoolery, and he did just that as the board ran out a clean 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000
67,000
|
67,000 |
|
40,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
Costa Flops a Boat and Gets Paid
Level 10
: 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
A player limped from under-the-gun before Denian Costa raised to 3,400 from the hijack. The action folded back around to the player in the hijack who made the call.
The action checked around on both the flop 
and turn 
.
The fireworks started on the river as the player in the hijack bet 5,100 before Costa raised all-in for 34,800. After a few moments, his opponent made the call showing 
, but it wasn't good enough to beat the full house of Costa holding 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,000/1,500
Ante: 1,500