Brian Zimcosky Wins 2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Majestic Star ($61,870)
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 
over a button raise from Mike Mustafa and holding against 
. 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 
board. Zimcosky check-called 175,000 on the 
turn, and the 
led to two checks. Zimcosky rolled over 
, but he was beaten by the 
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: 
Zimcosky: 
The dealer spread an 
flop, giving Kaufman a straight draw.
"More outs," Zimcosky said.
The 
was a brick, and Zimcosky was left fading one card for the title. A 
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."