2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star Casino

Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star Casino

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
99
Prize
$61,870
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
228
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

Main Event

Day 2 Completed

Brian Zimcosky Wins 2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star ($61,870)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Brian Zimcosky - 1st Place
Brian Zimcosky - 1st Place

In March, Brian Zimcosky took third at Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star for $28,141 after holding the chip lead at the final table. This time, he finished the job, claiming a first-place prize of $61,870 after defeating a field of 228 players. It's the biggest cash in the live poker career of the Michigan native, who described himself as "one of the best non-professional tournament players."

Forty-eight players came into Day 2 with championship aspirations, and Zimcosky had a nice starting position in seventh place. Ken Auker, David Snitkin, bracelet winner Chad Holloway, Michael Younan, and Paul Bianchi all fell before the payouts began. Once the greenbacks were handed out, Mike Deis, former chip leader Casey Bogus, Brandon Meyers, and Joel Casper collected payout tickets on their ways out the door.

With the elimination of Mike Holm in a race, the final table was set. Holm fell just short of a second straight MSPT final table.

Brad Rhodes busted in 10th and Bryan Schultz in ninth before Zimcosky began his trek to the top, shoving all in with {a-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} over a button raise from Mike Mustafa and holding against {k-Clubs}{q-Hearts}. Mustafa was out the door in short order in eighth when he ran another king-queen into the aces of eventual runner-up Alex Kaufman.

At that point, Zimcosky took over, running the table over with preflop and postflop aggression. He built a nice chip lead, and after the exits of William Luciano (seventh), Paul Fisher (sixth), and Gerald Siemienas (fifth), and Bob Chow (fourth), Zimcosky was sitting pretty three-handed. Once there, his tournament could have easily been over had a key pot played out differently.

Zimcosky bet 90,000 from the small blind after unknown preflop action, and Kaufman called on an {a-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} board. Zimcosky check-called 175,000 on the {2-Clubs} turn, and the {6-Spades} led to two checks. Zimcosky rolled over {a-Spades}{k-Hearts}, but he was beaten by the {a-Diamonds}{8-Spades} of Kaufman, good for aces and eights. After the hand, Zimcosky expressed happiness that he didn't lose all of his stack.

Zimcosky was able to build back up without major showdowns, and after Brad Sailor bowed out in third, Zimcosky had a slight edge in chips heads up. Less than a half hour later, things were wrapped up when Kaufman raised to 150,000 on the button, and Zimcosky shoved all in. Kaufman called off his last 1.3 million or so.

Kaufman: {k-Clubs}{10-Clubs}
Zimcosky: {9-Spades}{9-Clubs}

The dealer spread an {a-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{j-Hearts} flop, giving Kaufman a straight draw.

"More outs," Zimcosky said.

The {7-Spades} was a brick, and Zimcosky was left fading one card for the title. A {7-Diamonds} left his two pair best, and he clapped in celebration.

"That's the key to tournament poker," an elated Zimcosky said afterwards. "I got in three big flips, and I won all three."

Tags: Brian Zimcosky

Alex Kaufman Eliminated in 2nd Place ($36,459)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Alex Kaufman - 2nd Place
Alex Kaufman - 2nd Place

Alex Kaufman raised to 150,000 on the button, and Brian Zimcosky shoved all in. Kaufman called off his last 1.3 million or so.

Kaufman: {k-Clubs}{10-Clubs}
Zimcosky: {9-Spades}{9-Clubs}

The dealer spread an {a-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{j-Hearts} flop, giving Kaufman a straight draw.

"More outs," Zimcosky said.

The {7-Spades} was a brick, and Zimcosky was left fading one card for the title. A {7-Diamonds} left his two pair best, and he clapped in celebration.

Player Chips Progress
Alex Kaufman
Alex Kaufman
Busted

Tags: Alex KaufmanBrian Zimcosky

Level: 27

Blinds: 25,000/50,000

Ante: 5,000

Brad Sailor Eliminated in 3rd Place ($20,992)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Brad Sailor - 3rd Place
Brad Sailor - 3rd Place

Alex Kaufman defended his big blind from a button raise by Brad Sailor, and he check-raised to 190,000 when Sailor bet 90,000 on the {j-Hearts}{q-Hearts}{8-Clubs} flop. Sailor made it 500,000, and Kaufman immediately moved all in for more than 900,000. Sailor called dejectedly, showing {a-Spades}{q-Diamonds} for top pair, and he was far behind Kaufman's {8-Hearts}{8-Spades} for a set. The {j-Clubs} gave Sailor a chance for a higher full house, and the river brought paint but it was the {k-Diamonds}.

A couple of hands later, Sailor got the last of his stack in with {k-}{4-} and ran into the {k-}{j-} of Brian Zimcosky. Zimcosky's hand held, and the tournament is now heads up.

Player Chips Progress
Brad Sailor us
Brad Sailor
Busted

Tags: Alex KaufmanBrad SailorBrian Zimcosky

Kaufman in Danger

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante

Everyone saw the flop for the minimum, and Alex Kaufman bet 80,000 on the {5-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{k-Clubs}. Brad Sailor called on the button, and the two checked through the {7-Spades}. Kaufman bet another 80,000 on the {8-Hearts} river, and Sailor called.

Kaufman showed {6-Hearts}{5-Hearts} for bottom pair, but Sailor had {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts}.

Player Chips Progress
Brad Sailor us
Brad Sailor
2,100,000
-95,000
-95,000
Alex Kaufman
Alex Kaufman
370,000
-770,000
-770,000

Tags: Brad SailorAlex Kaufman

Sailor Takes Lead

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante

Brad Sailor made it 90,000 on the button and was called by both blinds. Brian Zimcosky checked, and Alex Kaufman led out for 150,000 on the {10-Hearts}{9-Spades}{8-Hearts} flop. Sailor called, while Zimcosky folded. Kaufman checked the {a-Hearts} turn, and he called 225,000 from Sailor. Kaufman again changed gears on the {7-Hearts} river, betting out 300,000.

"Either I have you... or you have king-ten with king of hearts," Sailor said before making the call.

It was the former, as Kaufman showed {10-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} for two pair. Sailor's {q-Diamonds}{j-Hearts} had flopped a straight and rivered a flush.

Player Chips Progress
Brad Sailor us
Brad Sailor
2,195,000
837,000
837,000
Alex Kaufman
Alex Kaufman
1,140,000
-818,000
-818,000

Tags: Alex KaufmanBrad SailorBrian Zimcosky