Editor’s note: Ante Up refrained from publishing its April issue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most of the news in the issue would have been obsolete, we are publishing online what we deem still newsworthy. There’s no predicting the future so while we may be mentioning some upcoming events, there is a very good chance they will be canceled as well. So, be sure to double check with poker rooms before returning to them.
The recent World Series of Poker Circuit at Milwaukee’s Potawatomi Casino saw Philip Shing top a 524-entry field to win the $1,700 main event for $151,284. Meanwhile, Ken Donarski was named Casino Champ for a seat into the Global Casino Championship.
Here’s a look at all of those who won rings at the series: Event 1, $400 NLHE, Darin Utley, $22,642; Event 2, $400 pot-limit Omaha, Kyle Klett, $13,723; Event 3, $400 NLHE, James Gregg, $54,155; Event 4, $400 NLHE, Jorden Helstern, $19,019; Event 5, $400 NLHE, Donarski, $13,127; Event 6, $400 six-max, Todd Sladek, $17,630; Event 7, $600 eight-max, Brett Reichard, $21,611; Event 8, $400 NLHE, Jason Farkas, $38,039; Event 9, $1,125 NLHE, Sam Cosby, $39,250; Event 11, $250 NLHE, Josh Clanton, $15,374; Event 12, $400 NLHE, Vishal Patel, $15,272, and Event 13, $400 NLHE, Patel, $18,873.
Other non-ring winners included Scott Weinstein, who won the first $250 seniors event for $13,642, Scott Reilly, who won the second $250 seniors event for $11,835, and Kyna England, who earned $4,436 after capturing the $250 women’s event.
Iowa
The April WSOPC was postponed at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs.
MESKWAKI CASINO: There is a strong Big O $10-$20 game in Tama on Thursdays with no buy-in cap. It was reported recently that as much as $80K was on the table during the game. On Wednesday evenings, there’s a $2-$5 game, too.
Ohio/Western Pennsylvania
RIVERS CASINO PITTSBURGH: The WPT DeepStacks was supposed to return April 8-20 but that was canceled.
HOLLYWOOD CASINO COLUMBUS: The Midwest Open was slated to run April 13-26 but was postponed.
Minnesota
Derek McMaster of Richfield, Minn., took home $100,824 after winning the Mid-States Poker Tour event at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
This was McMaster’s second largest career cash behind his WSOP bracelet win in 2019. He started Day 2 with the 43rd largest stack of the 66 returning players. When the final table began, he was fourth.
McMaster faced former MSPT champion Daniel Hendrickson heads-up. Nathan Fair, Dennis Stevermer and Phil Mader were the other final-table players with $100K-plus in MSPT earnings.
The 485 entrants paid $1,100 to generate the $468,950 prize pool.
Three-time MSPT champion Blake Bohn earned his 25th career MSPT cash, which earned him entry into the MSPT Hall of Fame.
RUNNING ACES: Dennis Petronack of Stillwater, Minn., defended his title and won the For the Love of Money tournament in Columbus. These two wins account for more than 40 percent of his career earnings. Petronack took home $31,426 after besting Aslan Sahin in heads-up play. The $350 event drew 409 entrants for a $119,019 prize pool.
Chicagoland
CAESARS SOUTHERN INDIANA: The Midwest Regional Championship was slated to run April 9-19 but was postponed.
HOLLYWOOD CASINO LAWRENCEBURG: The HPT’a April event here was postponed.
BELTERRA CASINO: The Indiana poker room has closed, and not because of the pandemic.
Michigan
FIREKEEPERS CASINO: The MSPT is scheduled to the Battle Creek property May 14-17 with a $1M guarantee main event. Call the poker room to see if that is still the case.
GREEKTOWN CASINO HOTEL: The Detroit poker room pays you $1K if you lose with quads or better. The winning hand will get $500.
