May 19, 2022
In the latest edition of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen discuss Phil Hellmuth's victory over Scott Seiver in Round 4 of High Stakes Duel III, announce the upcoming PokerNews Cup June 24-28 at Golden Nugget Las Vegas, and preview the WPT Choctaw final table, which includes Chance Kornuth.
Speaking of Kornuth, he pledged 1% of his winnings to Randy Gordon, a poker dealer battling cancer, and he is also selling Las Vegas mansion for $3.5 million, two stories also discussed in this episode. Chad and Jesse then talk about Jaret Villarreal winning a WSOP Main Event seat on ClubGG for the second year in a row, remember noted poker author and columnist Bob Ciaffone, and preview this weekend's CSOP St. Jude “Against All Odds” charity event.
Finally, Chad sits down with Midway Poker Tour co-founder Dan Bekavac, who 19 months after a controversial payout debacle made affected players whole. Bekavac, a controversial figure himself who recently captured a record fourth MSPT title, talks openly about the situation for the first time.
Listen to those stories and more on the latest PokerNews Podcast!
Time
Stamps
*Time|Topic*
00:30 | Welcome to the show
00:45 | Two guys talking about poker
01:28 | Teasing guest Dan Bekavac – here’s the plan
06:30 | PokerNews Cup coming to Golden Nugget June 24-28
10:56 | Phil Hellmuth defeats Scott Seiver in High Stakes Duel III
Round 4
15:00 | Sponsor: 888poker
16:13 | Midway Poker Tour players made whole
19:33 | Dan Bekavac joins the show
21:00 | Genesis of the Midway Poker Tour
23:20 | What was the payout situation?
24:40 | Marked-up silver
25:44 | Was it a scam from the get go?
27:20 | Operating during the pandemic
29:05 | Where was Bekavac when things went south?
31:00 | The charity – 4 KIDS Sake, Inc.
32:35 | Who is Jason Trezak?
34:07 | Have you had any contact with the charity?
35:40 | Were the hotels and dealers paid?
36:48 | We’re you going to pay back players from PokerBros
proceeds?
38:06 | Showing up to play – what were you thinking?
48:23 | Not being on-site was not a good look
40:54 | What would you do differently?
41:44 | Where did the tournament fees go?
42:45 | Changing your social media to distance yourself from Midway
Poker Tour
43:40 | Issuing a statement after the debacle
44:44 | Are you a degenerate?
45:30 | Dealing with the stigma
46:39 | Repayment timeline
47:58 | Repayment details
50:02 | Winning a 4th MSPT title
51:45 | Is MSPT Player of the Year on your mind?
52:25 | How do you want the poker world to regard you?
54:05 | Did the state or any authority look into the Midway Poker
Tour debacle?
56:36 | Previewing the WPT Choctaw final table
58:43 | Beloved dealer Randy Gordon wins free seat before impending
cancer battle
1:00:27 | Chance Kornuth selling Las Vegas mansion for $3.5
million
1:02:43 | Jaret Villarreal wins WSOP Main Event seat on ClubGG for
2nd year in a row
1:05:30 | Sponsor: GGPoker
1:06:10 | Noted poker author & columnist Bob Ciaffone passes
away
1:07:05 | Chad & Jesse headed to St. Jude “Against All Odds”