Joseph Giertuga

Joseph Giertuga, often known as "Chicago Joe," was born around 1950 and grew up in the Chicago area. He worked for 37 years at the Chicago Tribune before retiring. He is married with a son who graduated from Eastern Illinois University.

Giertuga has been active in the Chicago poker scene for many years. He is a key member of the Chicago Poker Club and has been involved with the Windy City Poker Championship televised charity events, helping to promote them. He also writes a column for Ante Up Magazine, where he covers Chicago-area poker rooms and winners.

In July 2016, Giertuga won the first online Ante Up Poker Tour (AUPT) main event at AnteUpPokerRoom.Com. The subscription-based sweepstakes poker room awarded him the top prize. At age 66, he described himself as an average online player and employed an aggressive strategy, focusing on playing in position. He also studied past tournament winners to identify strong opponents.

Giertuga has multiple final tables and cashes in Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) events, particularly in seniors events. He is known for promoting poker tournaments in the Midwest and has been a trusted advisor to poker room managers.

In his own words, Giertuga describes himself as an average online player who relies on aggression and position. He prepares for tournaments by reviewing past winners to spot tough competition. In live cash games, he is considered a solid, fundamentally sound player.

Giertuga is celebrated as one of the most dedicated poker promoters in the Chicago region. His efforts in publicizing events and supporting charity poker have made him a beloved figure. He is also recognized as Ante Up Magazine's Chicagoland Ambassador, a role that reflects his contributions to the local poker community.