Mike Grote from the Underground Saloon in Hartford, WI took down the Wisconsin Championship to earn a $2500 package to Las Vegas! 

Doug Boles from the Doll House in Hammond was the runner up.  Doug earned an Ipod Nano and an entry to a $1000 cash freeroll (30 players or less).  

Thanks to all the players and bars who played in the Wisconsin region of the Free Poker Network. 

Photo Gallery Updated

CONGRATULATIONS Mike Grote from the Underground Saloon in Hartford WI you’re going to the World Series of Poker this year and the Free Poker Networks National Finals as well--- Good Luck Mike!   

10:30-- After some small pot exchanges Doug comments about how at the beginning of the tournament he told himself he just wanted to play smart poker and limit his aggressiveness… a hand or two later he makes a large pre flop raise and Mike calls… The flop was Q 6 3 and with Doug going ALL-IN on the flop Mike calls with A3 and was ahead. Doug was eliminated in 2^nd and wins a 4g IPod Nano and an entry into a $1000.00 cash freeroll on our exclusive online site. 

After a small break and small chip up the final table looks like this-

Seat 1 is Jim Abbot (Underground Saloon) 115k

Seat 2 is Gino Valentino (The 400 Club) 23k

Seat 3 is Ben Garbowski (Ellie’s on Main) 6.5k

Seat 4 is Doug Boles (The Doll House) 35.5k

Seat 5 is Jon Tepp (JT Whitney’s) 52.5k and is the button.

Seat 6 is Chris Powers (Underground Saloon) 80k

Seat 7 is Mike Grote (Underground Saloon) 131k

Seat 8 is Jason Giesen (JT Whitney’s) 13k

Seat 9 is Herache Mesdjian (JT Whitney’s) 11

Herache has pocket Aces in hand one of the final table and doubles up from Mike’s Q5s (Big Blind)

Two hands later Herache (Big Blind) calls Ben Gerbowski’s ALL-IN with 2 9 suited and hits a deuce on the flop to eliminate Ben in 9^th place. Ben is looking forward to qualifying again in the fall at Ellie’s on Main in downtown Hudson.

Jason was eliminated in 8^th…when his 3 4o small blind ALL-IN was called by Chris with A 7o. The flop brings the wheel draw for some drama, but to no avail. 

John doubled up huge with the board of A 10 J his q9 call of Chris’ A 6 push and the turn delivers it home with K for the straight. Chris is now crippled and still in good spirits.

Gino Valentino playing an amazing tournament, with in my opinion zero mistakes, finally gets grinded out and is eliminated in 7^th when Chris and Mike both check down a limped ALL-IN on the blind hand. 

**Laptop is down and I am going from memory*

Doug Boles eliminated Chris in 6^th 

Herasche in out in5^th and Jon Tepp is out in 4^th. 

While Jon and I are enjoying some drinks for his 4^th place finish Jim Abbot raises pre flop and gets a call from Mike on the button… The flop was a rainbow with only one over card and Jim bets out for about 10 percent of his stack…Mike folds pocket 4’s face up and says, “Not this time”. Mike is playing really well right now is at 226k. Herasche comments about how no one can put Mike on any one hand as he was quick to make aggressive calls earlier with pocket 3’s and how quick he was to fold pocket 4’s to Jim… 

Jim later loses 2 big hands, one to Mike and another to Doug and is finally eliminated in 3^rd. Jim wins a 500 piece FPN Home Edition chip set, a FPN T-shirt and well deserved drink. 

6:30—Blinds are 1k/2k and were at 14 players… Average chip stack is 32500.

6:00 to 6:30-- Dinner Break-- We have some real chip movers with Chris Powers still leading the way with 76.5k another big positive mover is Marylyn Ortega from the Doll House in Hammond when she made some huge bets into what was already a two way main and side potted hand. Her big betting on the river pushes the would have been winner out after he called a big side pot bet (with two pair) as the river card completed 4 to the straight and 4 to the flush draws. Marylyn showed a smaller 2 pair and is now at 35.5k. Herache Mesdjian from JT Whitney’s has been making impressive calls and has moved up to 42k. Mike Grote is at 42.5k. The Robb blog curse is to blame for Dale Hjelmgren losing a 12k chip pot to Herache and a 14k chip pot to Mike and is hovering at 17k

5:50-- Blinds are 600/1200 and play has again tightened back up as everyone is trying to make the dinner break. An interesting hand of note between some ladies was when Annie Esser from JT Whitney’s moves all in with 77 post flop on a 895 board and was quickly called by Deanna Boettcher who is playing out of the Outer Limits pocket nines. The turn is a 6 for Annie’s straight, a blank on the river and Annie Esser doubles up just before the break. Durand Brown was eliminated just before the dinner break.
 

3:12-- Speaking of catching up, Mike Grote’s aggressive big chip stack play has finally paid off. Jason Jacs from The Doll House turned 2 pair and decided to push knowing that Mike would call with even a small piece of the board... Mike calls saying he only has draws but with the straight, flush, and one over draw I think lots of players would have called there too. Mike hits the flush on the river eliminating Jason and is now at 39k

2:45--Blinds are 200/400 and this seems to be the first action level as we have lost 4 more players including the Doll House League Champ Ed Hougahl. After some player confusion about a re-raise amount equaling at least double the previous raise, Ed finally pushes ALL-IN post flop with his flopped nut strait.  Ed was called by the top set of Bob Mich from JT Whitney’s.  Ed’s day ended when Bob turned quads…Tuff break Ed.

2:30-- Chip Up and Brake-- Early Chip Leaders are Mike Grote from the Underground Saloon with 29400 playing some aggressive raising poker, Chris Powers is still at 21k not playing to may pots, and Marty Hoglund is at 20k. Mike Grote’s aggressive raising style was having some players asking if he really had big hands all the time…it was only a matter of time before someone tested him to find out and the last hand before chip up Mike’s AA held up against Mary Yahn’s pocket 10’s. Mary, one of only two repeat championship players in this event is playing from the 400 club in Millston WI. As always Mary was a great sport as she was quick to shake Mike’s hand after she was eliminated.

2:20-- Marty Hoglund is at it again with another flopped two pair and this time check raising all in on the flop. Jim Gilbertson from JT Whitney’s hits top pair better kicker and decides to call…. The turn and river are air balls for Jim and Marty has eliminated the first 2 players and is sitting at just under 20k in chips

2:00-- Beginning of level 4 and Keith has just pushed all in on AJs post flop. The flop was AK9 (rainbow)…he was immediately called by a flopped 2 pair (A9) from Marty Hoglund playing out of the Outer Limits in New Richmond WI. The turn and river are blanks and the first player has finally been eliminated!!

1:45-- Midway thru level 3 we have a nice big pot pre-flop between Chris Powers the league champion from the Underground Saloon and Keith Wanta from JT Whitney’s. A flop of 10 K 9 brings a bit more betting action, a turn brings an Ace and Chris moves ALL-IN. Keith calls with A8, Chris shows QJ for the 6 card nut straight. Keith was drawing dead as he didn’t have the flush draw and Chris doubles up… Chris is leading with 21100.  3 hands later Keith moves all in short stacked and was called by the pocket 7’s of Jon Jurisch out of the Doll House in Hammond WI… Keith flipped pocket Jacks and they hold.

1:30-- Beginning of level 3 and we’re experiencing some seriously tight play as no one wanted to be the first eliminated…this was a refreshing change as just this past May 3^rd at the Minnesota Championship we experienced our first knock out within the first 5 minutes-- 

The first Free Poker Network World Series of Poker Championship was held at J.T. Whitneys Pub & Brewery this past Sunday and while the internet wasn’t available for a live blog we do have a recap for you listed here---