MPL Championship Weekend
Congrats to the winners!

218 players made their way to Fargo for the Minnesota Poker League Championship, and in the end 10 were left standing. Each player earned a $2,500 package to play in the 2008 World Series of Poker as well as a seat in the national finals...

Here are the winners!
Clay Lipke, Primetime, Breezy Point
Dave Chaput, Z103, Fergus Falls
Ryan Aldrich, Primetime, Breezy Point
Joe Bushlack, Echo Lanes, Austin
Linda Ralidak, Thirsty Moose, Hibbing
Mark Moench, Z103, Fergus Falls
Terry Dusterhoft, Fat Daddy's, Alexandria
Tim Johnson, Moorhead VFW
Anthony Hendricks, Rusty Nail, Thief River Falls
Jason Hauf, JC's Corral, Dilworth

Read the Live Blog

MPL Championship Weekend Notes

We are getting close the 14^th Minnesota championship this weekend at the Hub in Fargo. It’s going to be a great time with 10 people from the state of Minnesota going to the World Series of Poker. There will be sit-n-go’s and freerolls for players that have busted and any spectators that would like to participate. With a big field there will be bat beat stories, suck outs, and coin flip situations happening left and right, it’s inevitable, but it makes for a great weekend of poker!!

Two players will be competing to become the first players in Free Poker Network history to win their second championship. Back in 2005 Greg Anderson who qualified from the Stampede Saloon won our

Bahamas

event playing in a World Poker Tour event and stayed at the fabulous Atlantis Resort. Also Jeremy Heller playing out of Ruttles in 2006 won a seat into the main event at the World Series of Poker.

Not to be out done there are some players in the field who have come close with some final table appearances. Jeremy Evans playing from Sanow’s Pub took 10^th place in last years WSOP promotion. Denny Carey playing from Flicek’s took 9^th place back in 2006 in a WPT 4 week event. Tim Holden from Skyline on Pepin took 9^th place in our $10,000 2006 Summer Poker Challenge. Josh Lueck from Front Street Bar & Grill also has a final table appearance in the 2006 WSOP promotion. This will be Denny’s, Tim’s, and Josh’s fourth championship event. Marcus Holm

Other notables include five time championship qualifiers Clay Lipke with a final table appearance at the Last Chance event taking seventh place. Marcus Holm (pictured right) is first player to become the number one AND two overall point leader in the same promotion! Six time championship qualifiers Dave Chaput from Z103 who won a HPT seat in the 2006 Summer Poker Challenge, Shaun Steinbach from Z103 who made the Bahamas ’06 final table taking fourth, and Skip Wood out of the Moorhead VFW who is a champion double qualifier taking down both the leagues at the VFW.

And then there is Joel Smith who is a staple at all of the Minnesota championship events. This will be his ninth, yes ninth championship event. Joel qualified from Billy’s Corner Bar and already has two final table appearances taking 9^th place at last years WSOP promotion and 2^nd place at the Bahamas ’06 promotion loosing out to winner Bob Holappa when he ran into Bob’s pocket aces.

Is this the year that Joel finally breaks the streak? Do we have our first ever two time champion? Or do the 156 people who have never made a championship event until this weekend have something to say about it? We'll find out soon!

Good luck all qualifiers!

Report From The Bay 101

Live blog & photos from the 2008 Bay 101
Tournament hopes and dreams of cashing in on the $1 million first place prize for the poker league crew vanished at the end of day one of the main event. The scene at the Bay 101 is a great experience, and definitely the most fan-friendly stop on the World Poker Tour that we have seen.

GOLD RUSH WINNERS

10 Lucky Players are headed to California to play in the World Poker Tour March 9-14th

Jody Hamilton - Jersey's, Inver Grove Heights
Brandon Roe - Chaser's, Albert Lea
Amy Ness - Paul Bunyan Bowl, Brainerd
Cindy Sandgren - Long Prairie Legion

Poker League Championship Blog and More Photos

Regional & Championship Fall Poker League Qualifiers Lists & Info

League Players Cash Big in HPT

Scott Eckert (runner up in the Summer Poker Challenge-$10k Freeroll) took down the Heartland Poker Tour Deadwood Event for $64,133!! Way to go Scott!

Also, congrats to Alison Kelley from the Old Broadway for winning $11,100 in the Heartland Poker Tour! Alison won her seat in the HPT at the Summer Poker Challenge finals. Alison proves once again that playing in the league can be quite profitable!

Summer Poker Challenge II Wraps Up

Congratulations to ALL the winners! Over $25,000 in cash and prizes were given away in 2 final tournaments to wrap up the summer leagues. Pictured right are the 20 players who won a seat in the Heartland Poker Tour.

Four players won at least $1,000 in the $10,000 cash freeroll, with Brandon Schotberger from the Alamo Bar in North Platte, NE taking 1st place for $3,000...Scott Eckert from Knickerbocker, Hickson, ND took 2nd place for $1,500, Darrin Martin from Harwood Legion, Harwood, ND took 3rd place for $1,200, and Paul Vincent from Billy's in Vergas, MN finished 4th for $1,000. The remaining players got their share of the rest of the cash...

Continued reading for the list of 20 Heartland Poker Tour buy-in winners and the drawings for the Playstation 3 and custom poker table.

List of winners continued on Freepokernetwork.com.

Vinson Anenson Busts In Day 2

Vinson had a nice run at the 2007 World Series of Poker, playing a very tough but exciting table to begin the main event. Jennifer Harmon was sitting 2 chairs to his right, WSOP bracelet winner Michael Keiner 2 chairs to his left, and actress Deana Dozier to his immediate left. Needless to say, the ESPN camera crews were nearby all day. Vinson endured 14 grueling hours of play on day 1 and SURVIVED, while Jennifer Harmon and Michael Keiner both did not. Hats off to our MPL champ for that accomplishment.

Unfortunately Vinson was left shortstacked going into day 2 and was unable to get the immediate double up he needed to continue. For more pictures and stories, check out our live WSOP blog from Las Vegas.

VINSON ANENSON FROM THE RUSTY NAIL IN THIEF RIVER FALLS NEW CHAMP!!!
TROY MATTSON - PRIMETIME FOOD & SPIRITS IN BREEZY POINT IS THE RUNNER UP

Vinson Anenson has been playing at the Rusty Nail in Thief River Falls since the early days of the league. The Rusty Nail is one of the original members of the Minnesota Poker League, a great bar that averaged 61 players for the 12 week league. Vinson outlasted a great final table which featured 7 league champions and 3 players who were back for their 2nd final table appearance, including the fall 2006 runner up Joel Smith. Vinson played in 11 out of the 12 weeks on his way to qualifying for the regionals, making several final tables, but never actually taking down 1st place. He saved his best showing for the last tournament, taking down an MPL record field of 163 players for the overall championship and the cherished World Series of Poker $10,000 main event entry plus travel and hotel accommodations to Las Vegas. On his way to the final table, Vinson quietly weaved his way through the tournament without ever being mentioned as one of the chip leaders. He sat down at the final table 7th in chips, but made a big hand early to become the new chip leader. Towards the end, the three players left battled back and forth for an hour. Vinson came out on top, holding on to his chip lead over Troy Mattson from Primetime Food & Spirits in Breezy Point. Troy made a charge heads-up to challenge Vinson, but came up short in the end to claim the runner up prize. Jerry Lemke from Brothers Bar & Grill took 3rd place.

Congratulations to all of the final table players on a great run at the championship.

2007 Minnesota Poker League Championship Report

Blog with play by play & pictures from Shooting Star Casino on Freepokernetwork.com

Fergus Falls Player Captures 3 League Titles In Same Season

Jason Gerhardson had a record setting run in the 12-week 2007 WSOP league. He is the first player to earn league champion title at three different leagues in the same session. Jason has been running over the competition at Z103 Bar & Grill (Tues & Thurs) as well as Mabel Murphy's Monday night league. Even more amazing is the fact that all three leagues he took down averaged at least 36 players. Can his incredible run continue? We'll find out at the state championship soon. Former league champ Greg Anderson took down the Stampede Saloon and Bertha Liquor Store leagues and is looking forward to his 3rd state championship appearance.

Clay Lipke Cashes in HPT Event

Congrats to Clay Lipke for a great run in the HPT-Mille Lacs event held August 26th. Clay finished in 20th place for $2,200. He won the free seat at the Minnesota Poker League Fall 06 Championship in a freeroll side tournament. Clay made it deep in the event but fell short of the final 6 "TV" table. Clay plays regularly at Primetime Food & Spirits in Breezy Point, MN.

LEAGUE WINNER TAKES DOWN
HEARTLAND POKER TOUR EVENT!

Jenny Kriewald Wins HPT Event
Cashing $52,970!!!

Congratulations to Jennifer Kriewald from the Sandoon Salloon II, in Sanborn ND. Jennifer earned her entry in the Heartland Poker Tour in the "Summer Poker Challenge" 20-seat giveaway last August. She used her free entry to the event at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen and went on to take 1st place! We can't wait to watch the television show!
Jenny's big win is making news in the poker world: Poker Player Newspaper

Borrowed Bucks Sioux Falls - Bellagio Championship Event #3

Bob Reynolds from the Front Street Bar & Grill in Morgan, MN was the big winner at the "Blast at the Bellagio" Championship #3.

What a difference a week makes. That's when this contest was originally scheduled, but had to be postponed due to blizzard conditions. The turnout at Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse in Sioux Falls was good despite the postponement, but there were a few players who could not attend as a result, which was unfortunate. However, the turnout was still good: 64 out of the 72 qualifiers made the trip for this network event, which included players from all of Nebraska Poker League, the South Dakota region of Dakota Poker League, and the Southern section of the Minnesota Poker League. Despite the huge territory this region carved up, it had the smallest pool of players compared with to the other championship events.

Pat Thelen from Starters Lounge in Redfield, SD was the runner up. He had a great tournament. In a surprise to the staff, he donated his $500 runner up prize to the volunteer dealers. The dealers were very appreciative and the spectators gave him a round of applause. Thanks Pat for a very generous gift. And good luck in the future!

Bob had quite a run. He really got after it early in the tournament and never looked back, showing several huge bluffs along the way. He certainly got lucky a couple of times, but made the best of his opportunity. Now we'll get a chance to see Bob in action in Las Vegas with the pros.

Shooting Star Casino - Bellagio Championship Event #1

Congrats to Jeremy Lee (Hutchinson Elks Lodge) for winning the first of 3 grand prizes in the Blast at the Bellagio" 6-week contest...It is fitting that Jeremy took down this event due to the fact he was the OVERALL points leader in Minnesota Poker League for this contest!

Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen was the site of the 6-week "Blast at the Bellagio" championship event (#1 of 3 championships in the Free Poker Network).

Jeremy played a wonderful tournament, start to finish. Despite losing two big hands with pocket kings in the early and middle stages of the tournament, Jeremy was among the chip leaders all day...

Sheldon Giese from the Morris Legion was the runner up and took home $500 cash for his accomplishment. Sheldon had a wild ride to the final table. His stack would be down one minute and right back up the next. He played great poker the whole way, but ran into Jeremy Lee's full house on the final hand.

Jeremy is the first of 3 big winners in the "Blast at the Bellagio" 6-week contest. We are looking forward to watching him play the $1,500 event on April 13th at the Bellagio during the "5th Annual Five Star Classic" one week before the WPT Championship. For more coverage and pictures, take a look at our tournament blog on freepokernetwork.com.

Congratulations to Bob Holappa (Lost Isle Bar-Cloquet) on winning the Fall Minnesota Poker League Championship! Bob was the lone survivor of 136 finalists. Joel Smith (Frazee Bar) was the runner up. Joel picked the XBOX 360 w/WSOP game as his runner up prize...

Tournament Blog Click Here | CLICK HERE TO FOR QUALIFER LISTS

2006 Summer Poker Challenge
Championship

Congrats to Harry Samuelson!

Click Here For Report & Photos

Congrats to League Rep Mitch Schock for placing 29th at this year's World Series of Poker!

Article: Bismarck Tribune | Blog: Live From the Rio

TOC & Last Chance Finals

Congrats to TOC Winner Dustin Gulbrandson from the Depot Express in Alexandria.

Congrats to Last Chance winners: Lyle Preston-Torge's, Dick Jones-Brothers Bar & Grill, Nick Paulus-Longbranch Saloon, Eugene Flohrs-Torge's, & Pat Moon-Playmakers.

What a weekend of poker! Six more bar poker players earned a trip to Las Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker over the weekend of June 24-25^th at Hagge’s Bar & Grill in Mapleton, ND. Two separate championship tournaments wrapped up involving 127 bar poker leagues affiliated with Minnesota Poker League & Dakota Poker League. Amazingly, 2 players from the same bar (Lyle Preston & Eugene Flohrs) made it to the top 5.
**UPDATE** Click Here for the complete report on the Tournament of Champions.

**UPDATE** Click Here for the complete report on the Last Chance Final.

Jeremy Heller Captures Minnesota League Championship

Jeremy Heller from Ruttles in St. Peter is the big winner of the Minnesota Poker League 10-week League Championship Tournament, outlasting Jerry Fuhrer from Primetime Food & Spirits-Breezy Point. Heller earned a seat to the Main Event of the 2006 World Series of Poker beginning July 28^th.

Complete Tournament Recap w/Pictures Click Here
Article in Mankato Free Press: Click Here

WINTER 2006 WSOP LEADERS
Leaderboard
League Championship Playoffs
Tournament of Champions Qualifiers
Tournament of Champions Playoffs

OVERALL POINTS LEADERS - STATEWIDE MINNESOTA
Player Name	League	Total Points
Pat Molstad	Rusty Nail-Thief River Falls	1416
Jared Kainz	Torge's	1387
Mark Roen	Muddy Boot	1311
Sam Melbye	VFW-Moorhead	1305
Jerry Trushcheff	Sirloin House	1289
Tim Haack	Brothers Bar & Grill-Rochester	1273
Doug Roberts	Elks Lodge-Wadena	1271
Chad Holt	East Grand Forks VFW	1243
Bob Ewing	Brothers Bar & Grill-Rochester	1223
Joe Klipping	Rusty Nail-Thief River Falls	1213
Jeff Hamilton	Flyers	1188
Ben Siegfried	Redwood Falls VFW	1137
Robert Barrett	East Grand Forks VFW	1129
Aaron Gunderson	Primetime Food & Spirits-Breezy Point	1117
Dominic Lane	Wheaton Legion	1089
Clay Lipke	Primetime Food & Spirits-Breezy Point	1071
Tim Stockwell	Elks Lodge-Wadena	1071
Charlie Larson	Thumper Pond Resort	1049
Kip Crabb	Eagles Club - Park Rapids	1038
Mike Fenske	Sharkees	1003

Report From the 2006 WPT Championship at The Bellagio

The Minnesota & Dakota Poker League winners of WPT Super Satellite 4-week contest got their shot at qualifying for the $25,000 buy-in main event and an opportunity at the $3.9 million first-place prize...

Eric Bagley (Z103 Bar & Grill-Fergus Falls - pictured right) took his seat and found himself sitting with some very good players. To his immediate left is Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy, an internet poker star who is one of the most successful players on the internet. To his left is none other than Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi's wife, Lilly Mizrachi.

A Bellagio record 544 players bought in for $2,600 each in this tournament. The top 51 would earn the $25,700 entry fee for the main event the following day.

Eric got off to a nice start when his first hand, pocket jacks, won a $2,000 pot. Later, however, he lost that and more to a set of 4's when he held pocket kings. Tough break. Just before he busted out (level 3 - 100/200 blinds), Eric was short-stacked and looked down at A-K. He was about to move in on a preflop raiser when Lilly Mizrachi accidentally mucked her A-10 face up. Eric reconsidered, folding the hand. The hand he busted on was K-Q. With only 1400 in chips left, he raised and got moved in on by A-9. The Ace was good and Eric was done in the tournament...Eric was disappointed but in good spirits. He enjoyed his vacation and played a lot of poker at the MGM Grand.

Meanwhile, Michael Krein, the Dakota Poker League champ (Playmakers-Fargo-pictured left in white hat) took his seat and a shot at the same prize...We had a tough time watching Micheal because he was seated in the center of the Fontana Room and it was tough to get access due to the fact our official press pass wasn't available until Tuesday, the following day...

Michael mentioned Jennifer Tilly sat was moved to his immediate right but we were unable to get a picture because he busted shortly thereafter. Michael had a tough day and was unable to build a stack. Eventually he was so short-stacked he went all in blind, under the gun, for his last 3 black chips. With a board of A-A-K-9-4, Michael flipped over Q and then a 9 to see that he would win that hand and quadruple up to 1300 in chips! Unfortunately, the very next hand he played out of the big blind, K-J and moved in when he spiked a jack on the flop. However, he was outkicked by A-J and that was the end of his tournament...Michael was in awe of the vibe at the Bellagio and the number of big name players. He said he learned a lot from the experience.

Unfortunately for Eric & Michael they did not make qualify for the main event. I played the event as well but had some tough luck and busted after the first break when my set of jacks fell victim to a runner-runner flush. That's poker.

The scene at the Bellagio was unbelievable. The deck outside the Fontana Room looked out over the fountains and Paris across the street. There was definitely a buzz and we saw just about every major pro immaginable at one time or another. Several recognizable pros played the super satellite including Phil "The Unabomber" Laak (pictured right). Tuan Le & Young Phan went on to qualify in this event.

The main event kicked off on Tuesday but we had already shifted gears to enjoy our vacation since everyone busted out of the super satellite. Many hours were spent in various poker rooms on the stip and we had a blast overall...

Now we're looking forward to the WORLD SERIES OF POKER coming up in July. The current league contest will qualify FIVE (5) players to play in the $1,500 NL event #37. We can't wait!

Deb Ziegler & Chris Campbell take down HPT Freerolls

The 2 bonus tournaments for the Heartland Poker Tour were a success. The Elks Lodge in Fargo was hosted the first with capacity crowd of 112 players. The field was well represented with solid players, including the fall league Minnesota Poker League champ, Greg Anderson. Greg had a nice run finishing 9th. Deb Ziegler from New York Mills (3rd place in MPL 4-week championship) ended up facing off with Kevin Reitz (Playmakers) for the $330 HPT buy in. Deb eventually captured the prize and is excited about earning the entry to the upcoming event in Thief River Falls.
Congratulations are also in order to Chris Campbell for taking down the HPT freeroll event in Grand Forks! Chris outlasted a field of 104 players to win the entry to the upcoming Thief River Falls event. We wish both of our winners good luck.

WPT Championship State Final Tournament Wrap up Click Here

Winner - Eric Bagley
Z103 Bar & Grill - Fergus Falls