The Ohio event drew a huge crowd, easily covering the guaranteed $1-million prize pool
The Reserve Poker Club’s Midwest Championship has drawn a massive turnout, cementing itself as one of the most successful events on the regional poker calendar. The $600 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, which carried a $1 million guarantee, ultimately pulled in 2,270 entries across 11 starting flights from September 18 to 27. That level of participation pushed the final prize pool to $1,135,000, ensuring a six-figure payday for the eventual winner.
Tournament organizers confirmed that the champion will walk away with $186,290, a significant prize for an event at this buy-in level. From the large field, just 209 players remain in contention heading into Day 2, scheduled to begin at noon local time on Sunday, September 28. The strong turnout not only beat expectations but also highlighted the growth of poker in the Midwest.
Several players managed to qualify for Day 2 more than once, with 16 bagging multiple stacks. Among them, Courtney Kennedy and Dominic Esparza stood out by surviving three separate flights, boosting their chances of a deep run. Their ability to consistently navigate large fields underscored the high level of competition throughout the series.
Hitesh Patel bagged the overall chip lead with 2,280,000, giving him a slight edge heading into the next stage. Not far behind is Heath McAllister with 2,220,000, followed by bracelet winner Satoshi Tanaka holding 2,020,000. All three will enter Day 2 in commanding positions, but the depth of the field means no lead is safe.
Other notable big stacks include WPT champion and bracelet winner Soheb Porbandarwala with 1,960,000, along with Abdul-Rahim Amer, Richard Viebranz, Imari Love, and Anthony Sheline, who all sit above 1.6 million chips. The final table is scheduled to be streamed live on Live At The Reserve via YouTube, offering fans a chance to watch the action play out in real time.
