Latest stop on the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) was the Canterbury Park Card Club in Shakopee, Minnesota with 475 players entering its $1,100 Main Event to set a record for the highest tournament field ever recorded in state history. The impressive attendance figure resulted in a prize pool worth $459,250, and eventually triumphing over the competition following three days of action was Mark Wadekamper, who collected $110,220 for his hard-fought efforts.
In the final phase of the tournament, Mark Wadekamper faced Jon Kim for the title, who in December overcame a field of 464 in the same event to claim its $107,659 first place prize. Wadekamper subsequently succeeded in preventing Kim from winning two of the top three poker tournaments in Minnesota state’s history, and commenting later on his impressive victory, said:
“There were a lot of good players in this tournament, a lot of former MSPT champs. I was just happy to cash. I didn’t think there was a possibility I’d win until the last hand.”
Amongst those recognizable names taking part in the MSPT main event was the 2004 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Raymer, who failed to make one of its 45 paid money spots, while faring better was Venezuelan footballer Bernando Anor, who finished in 24th for $3,444, as well as Mike Ross in 20th for $3,444, and 3-times MSPT winner Carl Carodenuto in 14th for $5,970.
After the final table got underway, chip leader Loki Abboud sent three players to the rail in quick succession, before he suffered a fortune reversal after slow playing pocket kings against Wadekamper with 9-x. Abboud then managed to get his opponent to commit all his chips on the turn with top pair, but another 9 on the river saw Wadekamper’s stack given a major boost, and as he explained:
“I was surprised. I was expecting to be done, to go cash out and get something to eat. That was a big one.”
Wadekamper eventually took an 8 to 1 chip advantage over Jon Kim into heads-up play, and soon after Kim shoved holding A-2 into the pocket jacks of his opponent. A Q-7-9-8-3 subsequently saw Jon Kim consigned to a runner-up finish worth $66,593, while Mark Wadekamper claimed top honors.
Final Table Results
1: Mark Wadekamper $110,220
2: Jon Kim $66,593
3: George Shabatura $43,399
4: Loki Abboud $30,081
5: Bryan Andrews $22,963
6: Paul Eidem $17,681
7: Nes Coburn $14,696
8: Joe Maas $12,170
9: Nathan Boyer $10,287
10: Peixin Liu $7,807

Wisconsin State Poker Tournament

Minnesota State Poker Tournament

Daily Poker Tournaments at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. See value of current jackpots for all casino and poker games along with details on qualifying hands and how to win big. The Season 1 Regional Tournament will be held at CK Dudley’s in Bemidji on Saturday, May 1st. 10:00 AM - Tournament Director Turbo. 12:00 PM - Multi Qualifier Turbo. 2:00 PM - Regional Tournament for the top 30% of the players from each venue. The top 10% of that tournament will win a seat into the State Tournament.