$600 Main Event Day 2 | 2025 Midwest Poker Championship

Sep 28, 2025

Stricescu Calls Love

Josh Noy

Level 28 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 60,000 ante

Imari Love raised to 250,000 from under the gun, with Michael Long calling in middle position and Maria Stricescu coming along in the hijack.

The 3♦2♦10♣ flop saw all three players check, and the 7♦ turn hit the felt. Another trio of checks led to the 4♦ river.

Love led out for 300,000, producing a fold from Long. Stricescu tossed in a quick call. Love was already mucking his cards as Stricescu showed down A♥Q♦ for a flush to claim the pot.

Tags: Imari Love Maria Stricescu Michael Long

Sep 28, 2025

Brown Goes Runner-Runner

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 50,000 ante

Derrick Brown moved all in for his last 450,000, and was immediately at risk when Satoshi Tanaka called on his left. The rest of the table folded, leaving Brown heads-up for his tournament life.

Derrick Brown: K♥9♥ All in
Satoshi Tanaka: 6♣6♥

Tanaka's pocket pair remained in front through the Q♣A♦Q♦ flop, but the 10♣ turn saw Brown pick up additional outs. The dealer flipped over the J♣ river, giving Brown Broadway to double his stack through Tanaka.

Tags: Derrick Brown Satoshi Tanaka

Sep 28, 2025

Lucky Sevens for Long

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 50,000 ante

Chip leader Lucas Rea opened to 200,000 from early position, making the call after Michael Long moved all in from the big blind for 705,000.

Michael Long: 7♣7♦ All in
Lucas Rea: K♠Q♠

Long saw his pocket sevens hold through the A♣6♠A♠8♦3♣ runout, staying alive and doubling up through Rea.

Tags: Lucas Rea Michael Long

Sep 28, 2025

Brower Gets Paid

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 40,000 ante

Nolan Brower called an early position raise to 180,000 before Michael Long three-bet to 525,000. Brower was the only caller, and the dealer fanned out the 8♠2♠10♣ flop.

Brower checked to Long, who fired a bet of 650,000. That was met with a check-raise by Brower, who moved all in. Long called and the cards were turned up.

Nolan Brower: 8♥8♦ All in
Michael Long: A♠Q♠

Brower's set of eights were able to fade a spade through the K♦ turn and 6♣ river, earning the double-up through Long.

Tags: Michael Long Nolan Brower

Sep 28, 2025

Spears Wins a Flip

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 40,000 ante

Daniel Houle opened to 200,000 in early position before Ronald Spears moved all in for 995,000 from the cutoff. Houle took some time before sticking in the call, and the cards were flipped up.

Ronald Spears: A♦10♠ All in
Daniel Houle: 5♥5♦

Spears was flipping for his tournament life, finding help on the A♠8♣7♦ flop to take the lead. The dealer completed the board with the 8♥ turn and J♠ river, confirming the double-up for Spears.

Tags: Daniel Houle Ronald Spears

Sep 28, 2025

"Hardest Call of My Life!"

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 25 : Blinds 35,000/70,000, 35,000 ante

Soheb Porbandarwala opened to 140,000 from under the gun, finding a call from Courtney Kennedy in the big blind.

Kennedy checked the 10♥7♠9♠ flop, calling again after Porbandarwala continued for 105,000. Another check from Kennedy followed the A♥ turn, where Porbandarwala bet again for 415,000.

Kennedy called to the 3♣ river, checking one last time. Porbandarwala moved all in, asking Kennedy to commit her stack of around 1,850,000.

After taking a bit of time, Kennedy announced a call.

Courtney Kennedy: A♠2♦ All in
Soheb Porbandarwala: 7♥6♥

Kennedy's pair of aces were good at showdown, earning the double through Porbandarwala.

"F*ckin' hardest call of my life!" exclaimed Kennedy as the dealer shipped the pot in her direction.

Tags: Courtney Kennedy Soheb Porbandarwala

Sep 28, 2025

Smoot, Stricescu Score Knockouts

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 30,000 ante

A pair of n all-in confrontations occurred on separate tables, with two players sent to the payout desk.

Juston Smoot snapped off an all-in bet on the river, holding A♣K♦ on a board showing K♥5♥K♣5♣Q♦ for a full house to score the knockout.

At a nearby table, Maria Stricescu was all smiles after her A♣K♣ won a flip against 10♣10♥ by hitting a pair on the 5♥K♥3♠6♦6♠ runout.

Tags: Juston Smoot Maria Stricescu

Sep 28, 2025

Bundschuh Holds with Aces

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 23 : 25,000/50,000, 25,000 ante

Three hands were face up on the table, with Mason Reser covering the all-ins of Henning Bundschuh and Matthew Headlee.

Matthew Headlee: K♦J♦ All in
Henning Bundschuh: A♠A♦ All in
Mason Reser: A♥J♥

Bundschuh's pocket aces held through the Q♣4♠7♠10♣2♣, collecting the main and side pots while Headlee was sent to the payout desk.

Tags: Henning Bundschuh Mason Reser Matthew Headlee

Sep 28, 2025

Kennedy Keeps Firing

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 23 : 25,000/50,000, 25,000 ante

Heads-up action to the 9♠8♣K♥ flop saw Courtney Kennedy slide out a bet of 225,000 from under the gun. Jacob Hamed made the call on the button, and the A♠ turn hit the felt.

Kennedy led out again, sizing up to 450,000. Hamed took a moment before laying his hand down, and Kennedy claimed the pot.

Tags: Courtney Kennedy Jacob Hamed

Sep 28, 2025

Knighten Doubles Through McAllister

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 23 : 25,000/50,000, 25,000 ante

Rodney Knighten opened to 100,000 in middle position before Heath McAllister announced all in on his left. Action folded back around to Knighten, who made the call for his stack of 860,000.

Rodney Knighten: A♠K♦ All in
Heath McAllister: A♥5♣

Knighten was in a dominant position, facing no danger on the 3♠7♦Q♣J♥Q♥ runout to earn the double through McAllister.