Opie Platz from Jackpot Gamblin, Mitchell, SD won the perfect attendance drawing for a Sony Playstation 3 System.
Gary Zander from the Silver Dollar in Mandan, ND won the perfect attendance drawing for the Custom Poker Table.

Congrats to the 20 players who won an entry to the Heartland Poker Tour:

Paul Roswurm - Harwood Legion, Harwood, ND
Alison Kelley - Old Broadway, Fargo, ND
Billy Ballard - Champps, Eden Prairie, MN
David Gagner - Broadway Pizza, Champlin, MN
James Klosterbuer - Magnolia Steakhouse, Luverne, MN
Rob Bisgard - Morris Legion, Morris, MN
Marty Doll - Tootsie's, Annandale, MN
Tara Tupa - Dawn's Corner Bar, Dundas, MN
Rich Vincent - Baby Boomer's, Aberdeen, SD
Brian Niemann - Gary's Place, Staples, MN
Calvin Mosbrucker - Midway Lanes, Mandan, ND
Kirk Reiten - Mable Murphy's, Fergus Falls, MN
Shirely Neighbors - Bonfire, Litchfield, MN
Mike Halvorson - Sharkees, Luverne, MN
Gary Tomhave - Z103 Bar & Grill, Fergus Falls, MN
Steve Gutterud - Silver Dollar, Mandan, ND
Tom Ness - Silver Moon, Perham, MN
Gar Hagemeister - Hagge's, Mapleton, ND
Dick Schroeder - Long Prairie Legion, Long Prairie, MN
Evan Deichert - Champs, Dickinson, ND

More photos and winners lists from the weekend events coming soon....

 

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$10,000 CASH FREEROLL TOURNAMENT BLOG 

 

BRANDON SCHROTBERGER WINS!!!

Brandon Schrotberger from the Alamo Bar in North Platte wins 1st place in the $10,000 Freeroll and takes home $3,000 cash.  Brandon drove 10 hours without sleep to get here for the beginning of the tournament and it ended up being well worth it.  He played a great heads-up match with Fargo's own Scott Eckert (Knickerbocker, Hickson, ND) who entered the heads up battle with around a 2-1 chip lead.  Brandon's quad Queens heads-up shifted the chip lead and he went on an good run to finish Scott off.  Scott took home $1,500 for 2nd place and last summer he won one of our 20 HPT seats at last summer's championship.  Other payouts were as follows:

 

3rd - $1,200 - Darrin Martin, Harwood Legion

4th - $1,000 - Paul Vincent, Billy's, Vergas

5th - $700 - Tom Delaney, Romaynes, Taylors Falls

6th - $500 - Dan Brausen, Red Bull, Little Falls

7th - $400 - Kevin Hamling, New World Inn, Columbus, NE

8th - $300 - Pete Walsh, Windmill Bar, Mapleton\

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Players remaining: Tom Delaney, Dan Brausen, Darrin Martin, Kevin Hamling, Pete Walsh, Brandon Schrothberger, Scott Eckert, Paul Vincent

 

9th - $200 - Dan Naekilis, MVP Lounge, Omaha

10th - $200 - John Markuson, Wadena Elks

11th - $100 - Gary Anderson, Lonesome Dove, Mandan

12th - $100 - Doug Flaschner, MVP Lounge, Omaha

13th - $100 - Dennis Lindgren, Silver Dollar, Mandan

14th - $100 - Tim Hookom, Club 101, Redwood Falls

15th - $100 - Tim Warren, Floyds Bar, Portland, ND

16th - Bubble boy - $50 - Loren Isaacson, Jackpot Gamblin

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8:15 MONEY BUBBLE - OTHER WINNERS

 

We are down to the top 17 players in the Main Event and play is starting to tighten up.  Other winners today:

$50 High Hand - Andy Van Dorpe, Harwood Legion

$50 Last Female - Rochelle Nelson, Down Under Put

$50 First Quads - Chuck Hanson , Bucks Sioux Falls

$50 First Pocket Aces - Matt Dielke, Baby Boomers

$50 First Aces Cracked - Nate Suess, Met Lounge

$50 Joel Smith Mystery Bounty - Larry Sundberg, Playtime

$50 Jeff Schulz Mystery Bounty - Kevin Hamling, New World Inn

$50 1st Player Out - Mike Kerr, 4th Street Station

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8:00 - OPIE PLATZ FROM JACKPOT GAMBLIN WINS PERFECT ATTENDANCE DRAWING!

 

All players that attended all 6 weeks at any location had their name entered into a drawing at the championship for a Sony Playstation 3 valued at over $500.  After we spun a waitress around til she almost fell over, she pulled a single name out of the drawing bin and everyone in the crowd fell silent.  The winner was not present, but Opie Platz playing out of Jackpot Gamblin in Mitchell, South Dakota will be receiving the Playstation.   

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7:55 PM - 2 TABLES LEFT!

Things are happening so fast we can barely keep up.  Here are the remaining 25 or so players:

Shawn Bendickson - M&J Saloon

Gary Anderson - Lonesome Dove

Dennis Lindgren - Silver Dollar

Darrin Martin - Harwood Legion

Kevin Hamling - New World Inn

Tom Delaney - Romaynes

Dan Plaisted - Tracy's on Main

Craig Olson - Moorhead VFW

Dwayne Hanson - Silver Dollar

Tim Hookom - Club 101

Loren Isaacson - Jackpot Gamblin

Pete Walsh - Windmill Bar

Dwight Perkins - The Patch

Brandon Schrotberger - Alamo Bar

Scott Eckert - Knickerbocker

John Markuson - Wadena Elks

Tim Warren - Floyds Bar

Dan Naikelis - MVP Lounge

Paul Vincent - Billy's Corner Bar

Brad Donabauer - Coutney's Comedy Club

Charlie Brown - Audubon Liquor Store

Dan Braisen - Red Bull Bar

Douglas Haschner - MVP Lounge

 

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5:30 PM - DINNER BREAK

The action has been fast and furious over the past few hours and we head to the hour-long dinner break with around 45 players.  A lot of our early chip leaders have busted as the players are definitely mixing things up today.  Our chip leaders from about an hour ago stood like this:

68,000 Scott Eckert - Knickerbocker, Hickson, ND

55,500 Tim Hookom - Club 101, Redwood Falls, MN

55,500 Robert Tollefson - Silver Moon, Perham, MN

55,500 Darrin Martin - Harwood Legion, Harwood, ND

 

That is not a misprint that all 3 players had the same amount of chips, and what's more is that all 3 players were on our feature table being shown on the big screens of The Venue.  Scott Eckert built that chip stack when he flopped top set with pocket Kings on a board of KJT but another player holding AQ had flopped Broadway.  Amazingly, running 5's gave Scott a boat and boatload of chips. 

 

Our $50 High Hand will most likely go to Andy Van Dorpe from Fargo when he hit a Royal Flush with the AT of hearts and won a big pot against a set of jacks and 2 pair!!!  A couple of players have collected $50 for knocking out our "Mystery Bounty" players, 7-time championship qualifier Joel Smith and Nebraska WSOP winner Uncle Jeff Schulz. 

 

After the dinner break will be our perfect attendance drawing for the Sony Playstation 3 and our big $800 freeroll.  The top 15 players in the Main Event will be walking away with at least $100 each and 1st place will earn them a cool $3,000 in greenbacks.  Not bad for a day's work! 

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1:25 PM - FIRST BREAK

The lunch break has just concluded and our players are heading back to the tables.  Our chip leaders at the break are as follows;

32,000 - Jean Novak - Wobble-N-Moose, Biwabik, MN

30,900 - Paul Roswurm - Harwood Legion, Harwood, ND

26,000 - Tom Delany - Romaynes, Taylors Falls, MN

25,500 - Jeff "Uncle Jeff" Schulz, - Touchdown Club, North Platte, NE

Jeff was our Grand Prize winner of a seat to the World Series of Poker earlier this year and made a nice run in the $1,500 event  in June and is off to a great start today.  He picked up pocket Aces vs. Kings and his bullets held up for a big pot early. 

Since today is all about the players, we let the qualifiers today vote on the pay structure between a very top-heavy tourney ($5,000 1st prize) and a regular cash tourney payout structure.  The players have spoken and they want the regular structure paying out more places.  In addition we are giving out TEN $50 cash prizes for various things including high hand, last female, and a couple mystery bounties.

 

We had 167 of 194 players show up on this rainy Saturday and side games are getting starting.  Tonight we will have a large $800 freeroll for all busted players and spectators starting around 7pm in appreciation of everyone making the drive.

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10:45 AM - SETTLING IN
Well folks, we're about to kick off the first of 2 championships of our Summer Poker Challenge here at the beautiful "Venue" at Playmakers in Fargo, ND.  Players are filing in and picking up their free championship qualifier t-shirt and settling in for an exciting day of poker.  Today we will be giving away $10,000 in cold, hard cash.  We will be posting updates throughout the day with chip leaders, photos and results as the day wears on.

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Prize Details: $10,000 Freeroll - Top 11 players will win cash. Heartland Poker Tour - Top 20 players receive buy-in to a Heartland Poker Tour event of their choice up to $500 (or equivalent tournament) $2,000 in various freerolls to be given away throughout the weekend (open to public) Playstation 3 Giveaway- Perfect Attendance Drawing for the 10K League (need not be present to win) Custom Poker Table Giveaway - Perfect Attendance Drawing for the HPT League (need not be present to win)

Hotel Specials: Howard Johnson (downtown Fargo) - 701-232-8850 - 301 3rd Ave N $67 rate ($81 regular) Super 8 (1 mile from Playmaker's) - 701-232-9202 - 3518 Interstate Blvd Standard room (1 or 2 beds) - $57 ($65 regular) Suite - $72 ($87 regular) You must ask for the "Poker League" rate when booking the room

  

Heartland Poker Tour Regional Tournaments Qualifier lists coming soon

   

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$10,000 Freeroll Official Championship Qualifiers Player Bar Player Bar Aaron Geist Ratzo's Joel Smith Playtime Aaron Rokey Morris Legion John Blixt Brothers Albert Christianson Crosby Moose Lodge John Bogue Dawn's Corner Bar Allen Netland Dani's Up North John Drews Billy's Corner Bar Andrew Anderson Shenanigan's John Herring Jr. Granite Bowl Thurs Andy Van Dorpe Harwood Thursday John Herring Sr. Granite Bowl Ann Roesler Granite Bowl Fri John Magneson Z-103 Bar & Grill Tuesday Beaman Carlson Bergey's John Marckuson Wadena Elks Becky Boone Old Broadway John Poitra Basement Bar Ben Lares Chasers John Wotczak Champp's Ben Tesch Open Mikes Jordan Strusz Marie's Bill Madison Z-103 Bar & Grill Tuesday Julie Kinzer Tanks Brad Donabauer Courtney's Comedy Club Karen Johnson Ratzo's Brad Pederson The Patch Sun Kelly Melquist Dempseys Brandon Schrotberger Alamo Bar Ken Treichel VFW Moorhead Mon Brian Niemann Gary's Place Ken Wilson Nasty Habit Mon Brian Nolan Rich's Kent Melcher Moonlight Bar Brian Ringstrom Izzo's Kevin Hamling New World Inn Bruce Ringstrom Izzo's Kevin James Hutchinson Elks Cameron  Weigel Liquid Assets Kevin Posivio Brothers Chad Claymore Champs Kevin Savoy Million Dollar Lanes Sun Chad Kopplin Starters Lanes Kim Harriman Mac's Place Chad Youngblouth Jackpot Gamblin Kirby Mirau Black Diamond Char Schaefer Silver Dollar #2 Kirk Roos Dempsey's Charlie Brown Audubon Liquor Store Lance Klapotz Blue Note Chris Anderson Jersey's Larry Burkhardt Thirsty Duck Chris Hyttinen Mac's Place Larry Schwartz Midway Lanes Chris Mohr Kandi Bowl Thurs Larry Sundberg Playtime Chris Yoch Hutchinson Elks Larry Tobin Bertha Liquor Store Chuck Hanson Bucks Sioux Falls Lee Christianson Kandi Bowl Thurs Chuck Ross Old Brick Inn Linda Schmitz Bayside Grille Chuck Skatzold Baby Boomers #2 Lois Kihne Silver Dollar #2 Chuck Udart Hagge's Loren Isaacson Jackpot Gamblin Clarence Murack VFW Moorhead Tues Lori Gedalske Old Myers Pub Clint Binder Hutchinson Elks Louie Rohlik Seaforth Tavern Cody Rautiola Old Muni Manuel Perelta Rusty Nail Craig Olson VFW Moorhead Mon Mara Jacobson Bucks Fargo Dale Swanson 4th St Station Marcus Holm Champp's Dan Bartelson Barnesville VFW Mark Johnson Sneakers Dan Brausen Red Bull Marty Knoss Echo Lanes Dan Kzaley Jersey's Matt Clark Million Dollar Lanes Tues Dan Naikelis MVP Lounge Matt Deilke Baby Boomers Dan Plaisted Tracy's On Main Matt Moseman Little Bo's Darby Anderson Ultimate Sports Bar Michael Stueve Old Brick Inn Darin Dahl  Baudette Legion Mick Alm Harwood Legion Thurs Darrin Martin Harwood Friday Mike Henning Seaforth Tavern Dennis Lindgren Silver Dollar Mike Kerr 4th St Station Derek Sogla Bronk's Mike Maring Dempseys Don Kakaygeesick The Patch Mon Mike Pankow Sportsman's Lodge Don Oelfke Playtime Missy Lein Springsteel Resort Don Rasset Tootsie's Nate Suess Met Lounge Don Ziegler Gary's Place Nathan Dale Kandi Bowl Tues Doug Allen 10 High Pat Rice Bronk's Doug Knain South Gate Pat Underberg Baby Boomers Douglas Flaschner MVP Lounge Paul Roswurm Harwood Legion Fri Duane Dumdai Hagge's #2 Paul Vincent Billy's Corner Bar Dwayne Hanson Silver Dollar Pete Walsh Windmill Bar Dwight Perkins The Patch Sun Ray Noon Playmakers Ed Shypkowski Champs Renae Haux Floyd's Emily Loehr Morris Legion Robert Tollefson Silver Moon Eric Buscko Bergey's Robin Borth Tracy's On Main Eric Schwegel Ultimate Sports Bar Rochelle Nelson Down Under Pub Eric Sinness Million Dollar Lanes Tues Ron Curtis Ultimate Sports Bar