The first of 12 Regional Tournaments for the 2007 WSOP went off without a hitch on Sunday April 29^th at Boxers Bar & Grill in Faribault Minnesota.  With the top 8 moving on to the Championship May 12th at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, the 54 qualifiers were a buzzing with excitement as the first hand was dealt.

Dawn at Boxers went out of her way to make the players feel comfortable by utilizing her banquet room and with the all the windows in the room open people weren’t missing what a wonderful day the weather had provided. The room was bright and the poker was white hot as it was easy to see some early leaders with some great poker.

Gary Miner from Boxer’s was out to an early lead with some great big stack bets and with a seat to the finals on the line there were lots of early folds. He played a lot of what some would call “small pot poker” and it was a nice change of gears from league play. Another early leader was Jeff Hoop from Dawn’s Corner Bar located in Dundas Minnesota. He was riding some big hands and some solid bluffs and let’s not forget to mention some killer white shades as we all know those helped his game.

Dawn went out of her way AGAIN to make ALL the players feel “At Home” when she offered up $25.00 bar tabs for each side game that formed as the players were eliminated, and with 2-for-1 happy hour drinks during the event nobody wanted to leave. After about 4 and half hours and 4 side games later we were at last, down to the Final Table.

Seat 1: Gary Johnson (Bronk’s Bar & Grill) 34,500 chips

Seat 2: Mary Karjala (Red Wing Golf Club) 16,500 chips

Seat 3: David Marxen (Bandana Brewery) 3,500 chips

Seat 4: Cody Mortenson (Bronk’s Bar & Grill) 7,500 chips

Seat 5: Randy Krebsbach (Marie’s Casual Dining) 24,500 chips

Seat 6: Rick Claydon (Marie’s Casual Dining) 14,000 chips

Seat 7: Michelle Beier (Bandanas Brewery) 3,000 chips

Seat 8: Jeff Hoop (Dawn’s Corner Bar) 8,000 chips

Seat 9: Steve Bue (Dawn’s Corner Bar) 14,500 chips

Seat 10: Ryan Krause (Bronk’s Bar & Grill) 20,000 chips

Hand 1: In the BB and short stacked Dave was in good spirits as he received a loose call by Gary on the button and as Mary folded her SB it was heads up. Dave doubles up with only a King high. Hand 5: After seeing Dave double up Michelle now knows she needs to as well and peaks at an ace and quickly adds “all in” to her BB. Dave calls in front of her with pocket ladies and as the hand plays out Michelle wins with what I like to call the “marathon” which is runner, runner, runner, runner, for the flush. Her Ace beat Ricks Queen as the both had flushes on the river. Hand 6: After doubling up thru Rick, Michelle on the SB calls an authoritative “all-in” and with a quick call by Jeff Hoop in the BB the middle position limper folded quickly. Michelle’s QQ vs. Jeff’s AA was a monstrous dog but the flop brings a lady and Jeff’s white shades really stuck out as it was clear he was steaming. Hand 8: Ryan knocks out Rick and Dave in the same hand when Ricks AQ pre flop all-in misses and Dave’s flopped set got run down by the 4 out gut shot straight on the river. We’re now down to the TOP 8 who all go the Championship on May 12^th. Hand 13: Cody was eliminated by Ryan’s big stack call with 910s and after Ryan flopped the straight Cody was drawing dead. Ryan decides he needs another round as his chips are to “high” to stack so off to the bar he went. Hand 14: Gary’s pocket nines were called by Jeff Hoops AQ pre flop and we finally had our first real race. The flop delivers the Ace and Gary is eliminated in 7^th place. Hand 17: Steve Bue was eliminated by Jeff Hoop and he leaves in 6^th place. Ryan returns from the bar and play tightens up as no one wants to be eliminated by Ryan. Hand 31: Mary finally grinds her way to an “all-in” in a blind and Randy hit middle pair with his call which send Mary to the rail in 5^th place. Hand 38: Randy’s luck runs out and is eliminated in 4^th position. Ryan grabs another round and employs the help of a friend to help “stack” his chips as Michelle and Jeff are both gunning for him. Ryan decides to change gears and starts to buy the blinds in hopes to induce a later call with a monster and that brings us to Hand 47: Michelle calls the 4,000 to her small Blind of 4,000 and Ryan checks his 8,000 option. The flop brings 10-J-K and Michelle bets out 8k to Ryan’s quick call. The turn delivers an Ace, and again Michelle fires out this time it’s for all of her chips and Ryan quickly calls. Michelle flips over AJo and Ryan show the Q4o. The river delivers a duck and Michelle leaves in 3^rd place. We are now “Heads-Up”.

Jeff Hoop has 68,500 in chips and Ryan Krause has 77,500 in chips. The play tightens as neither want to lose even thought they both winners already. After blinds are exchanged for 10 to 20 minutes the final hand was laid out. Ryan makes a big pre flop raise and feeling he can do no wrong, Ryan calls. The flop brings 10-6-10, Jeff states “all-in” and Ryan quickly calls showing 10-7 for trips. Jeff being the good sport he is shows his K-9 bluff and we finally have a winner.

Congratulation to Ryan Krause of the Bronk’s Bar & Grill in Lake City Minnesota for winning the first Regional for the 2007 WSOP $10,000.00 Main Event promotion. Ryan also wins a MPL Tournament Home Edition Chip Set, a MPL Tee Shirt, and an MPL hat. I look forward to seeing all 8 players at the finals on May 12^th at the Shooting Star Casino. I wish you all the best of luck, and a special thanks to Dawn for being the great host that she is and J.A. for all her help!