Tropicana Evansville

Frank Covich Wins Championship, Donnie Phan Second

One hand into Level 30 and we have a champion.

Donnie Phan limped in but Frank Covich went all-in and Phan called putting his 1,315,000 chips and tournament life on the line. Phan was out in front with against Covich’s . The lead did not last long as Covich paired the flop. It got worse for Phan when the came on the turn and then the landed on the river to end the hand giving Covich the win.

Covich brings home the 2019 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship and the top prize of $62,847. Donnie Phan takes second going home with $38,862.

Congratulations to our newest MSPT Main Event Champion - Frank Covich!

Heads-Up Update

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Frank Covich	4,045,000	4,000,000
Donnie Phan	1,315,000	1,300,000

Monster Double-Up For Covich

Donnie Phan opened the small blind to 200,000 and was called by Frank Covich in the big blind. On a flop of , Covich checked to Phan who bet 200,000 and Covich called.

The turn checked around.

Then the fireworks happened on the river . Covich checked to Phan who bet 450,000 and then Covich moved all-in for 1,640,000. Phan made the call.

Covich tabled for a full house, besting the flush held by Phan with .

Covich now holds about 4 million chips.

From One Away To Dead Even

Donnie Phan carried a 4,270,000 to 1,050,000 chip lead into heads-up and went from one card away to now having Frank Covich drawing into a dead head for the title.

Covich was all-in for his remaining 1,010,000 chips holding against Phan’s . But Phan nailed the flop to take the lead. The came on the turn and Phan sat a fateful card away from victory. That victory though went to Covich as he caught the giving him a straight and doubling him up to stay alive in the tournament.

Shortly afterward, Covich hit trip queens in a million chip pot moving him up to 2,720,000 chips putting him in a virtual dead heat with Phan’s 2,610,000 chips.

What was one card away from the end of the tournament is now shaping up to be a war for the 2019 MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship. It’s going to be one heck of a showdown as heads-up play continues here from Tropicana Evansville.

Ian Richardson Eliminated In 3rd Place ($27,961)

Ian Richardson called from the small blind and was raised by the big blind of Donnie Phan to 300,000. Richardson made the call.

On a flop of Richardson checked and Phan bet 475,000. Richardson deliberated before shoving all-in. Richardson started the hand with about 2.1 million versus Phan’s 2.5 million. Phan took his time with the decision, ultimately making the call.

Richardson held and Phan .

There was no waiting as Phan hit the but still had to sweat the full house draw, which did not come as the river brought the .

Ian Richardson finished in 3rd place winning $27,961

James Gidden Eliminated In 4th Place ($20,522)

Donnie Phan opened to 200,000 UTG and was re-raised all-in by James Gidden for 640,000. Phan made the call and Gidden was in great shape holding against the of Phan

Everything looked good for Gidden until the river as the board ran out , giving the knockout to Phan and eliminating Gidden. Gidden was extremely gracious in his exit as he shook hands and wished all the remaining players well.

James Gidden finished in 4th place winning $20,522

Brian Jennings Eliminated In 5th Place ($15,391)

Brian Jennings called for his one-time and was one card away from holding on. Just one card.

Ian Richardson shoved his near two-million chip stack in the middle and Brian Jennings went for it putting his 535,000 chip stack at risk. Richardson turned over and was in a race with the of Jennings.

Jennings made it to the turn on a board but the came on the river pairing up Richardson and ousting Jennings. Richardson moved up to 2,525,000 (32 bb).

Brian Jennings finishes in 5th place winning $15,391.

Quentin Davis Eliminated In 6th Place ($11,800)

Quentin Davis shoved from the cutoff for 600,000 and was called by Frank Covich in the big blind. And the race was on, Davis held and was up against the of Covich.

Covich out-flopped Davis and never relinquished the lead as the board ran out

Quentin Davis finished in 6th place winning $11,800

Count 'Em Up

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Frank Covich	1,220,000	1,650,000
Donnie Phan	1,090,000	930,000
Quentin Davis	910,000	575,000
Ian Richardson	890,000	575,000
Brian Jennings	885,000	775,000
James Gidden	565,000	740,000

Kent Brenneman Eliminated In 7th Place ($8,978)

After battling hard against each other at the final table, it seemed appropriate that Kent Brenneman would get his remaining 490,000 all-in against Brian Jennings, who re-shoved for about 600,000 over Brenneman’s hijack shove.

Brenneman asked for help for his against the of Jennings.

He received help initially in the form of a flop, leaving him to declare, “Now I don’t want my Jack.” He dodged it on the turn, but the river brought an end to his tournament run.

Kent Brenneman finished in 7th place winning $8,978