Photo courtesy of HPT

Name: David Mandt

Age: 58

Occupation: Stock trader

Resides: East Gull Lake, MN

Favorite local tournament: $230 weekly Saturday event at Running Aces

Poker accomplishments: Had two huge cashes in 2009 — a second place finish in the Heartland Poker Tour Mille Lacs event for $31,604, and an 11th-place finish in World Series of Poker event 11 ($2,000 NLH) for $41,640.

Future plans: Wants to take another stab at the WSOP, specifically the Main Event.

“There’s so many good players out there, I don’t have any expectations to do what I did last year,”Mandt says, “but I’d love to take another shot”

Columbus, MN,
Sunday, June 13th
3:00pm
 
Running Aces hosted a Chip and Charity Poker Tournament on Sunday, June 13th at 3:00pm. The tournament was a fundraiser to help raise money for 9 different charitable organizations; Minnesota Humane Society, 2nd Harvest Heartland, Alzheimer’s Disease Research, March of Dimes, Big Brother Big Sister, American Red Cross, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Susan G. Komen For the Cure, and United Way.  The tournament was a $65 buy-in with a $10 charitable donation add-on that gave the players an additional $5,000 in starting chips.
 
Each player chose a charity to play for at registration. Those players that finished in the top 10% won cash and their charity won a donation. Summit Brewery helped sponsor the event by donating prizes for splash pots and a set of Twins tickets for the 1st place winner. Great American Financial matched the first place prize pool up to $400 to be given to the 1st place winner’s charity of choice.
 
There were 70 total entries, and out of those 70, 69 players bought the charity add-on for $10. $690 was distributed to the charities.  The top 10 players were paid.  The first number is what they got paid, the second is the amount that went to their charity.
 
1. Justin Formico/Humane Society $951/$193(+$400 Great American Match)
2. Tim Votava/Alzheimer’s Disease Research $645/$131
3. Joe Eliason/American Red Cross $475/$97
4. Dan Stewart/Susan G. Komen $373/$76
5. Shay Smith/United Way $272/$55
6. Brady Sims/Big Brothers Big Sisters $204/$41
7. Don Dehn/Humane Society $170/$35
8. Doug Eastman/Alzheimer’s Disease Research $136/$28
9. Mike Overall/Humane Society $102/$21
10. Noah Bradford/Humane Society $67/$13

Just finished uploading a bunch of photos from day two of the MSPT Main Event at Northern Lights Casino, where Brian Johnson took home just under $24,000.

To view photos of day one, click here.

The next MSPT event is at Jackpot Junction in Morton, MN, July 14-18.

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After an epic heads-up battle against Jeremy Ensrud, Brian Johnson prevailed, thanks to a few timely turn and river cards, to win the Minnesota State Poker Tour event at Northern Lights Casino, and 23,854.

The most crucial hand of heads-up play came with blinds at 20/40K, when Ensrud raised to 90K  on the button with 6-4 of spades. Johnson called with Q5 of clubs, and the two men saw a flop of 9-6-9, two clubs. Johnson immediately moved all in for 500K, and Ensrud quickly called.

The turn brought the 8 of clubs, and Johnson took an overwhelming 1.1 million to 250K chip lead. He finished off Ensrud on the very next hand to win the title.

This was the fourth-ever MSPT event, and the Main Event drew a field of 87.

Jackpot Junction will host the fifth MSPT event, July 14-18.

Look for a full write-up of Johnson’s victory in the July issue of Minnesota Poker Magazine.

See recaps of the day’s action below.

Results (87 entrants):

Brian Johnson

8:42 p.m. update: Johnson avoids elimination twice

Johnson was drawing nearly dead on two all ins during level 18 (15/30k, 3k ante). On the first hand, he moved all in for just over 200K with K10 of clubs and was called by Ensrud’s AJ. The flop came J-high with one club, but runner runner clubs gave Johnson new life.

A short while later, Johnson raised on the button and Ensrud came over the top all in with K9. Johnson called with K7 for his tournament life, but spiked a flush on the river to stay alive again.

Johnson now has 700K, and Ensrud has 600K

8:19 p.m. update: Drill busts, we are now heads-up

Brian Johnson limped in the small blind and Scott Drill moved all in for just under 300K. Johnson went in the tank and eventually called his remaining $225K with K8 of clubs. Drill showed 33, but a seven on the river gave Johnson a straight, crippling Drill down to 40K.

He busted one hand later.

Ensrud – 900K
Johnson – 400K

8:07 p.m. update: Sick hand, and down to three

With blinds at 10/20/2k, Ensrud limped in the small blind and Mitch Bank checked. The two saw a flop of A65. Ensrud checked, Bank bet 40K, Ensrud immediately check-raised to 95K, and Bank immediately called.

The turn brought another 6, and Ensrud led out for 125K, putting Bank all in. Bank thought for about two minutes before folding.

Ensrud turned over a Q8 bluff.

Brian Johnson eliminated Bank on the next hand. We’re now down to three.

Jeremy Ensrud – 750K
Scott Drill – 400K
Brian Johnson – 375K

Jeremy Ensrud

7:15 p.m. update: Dinner break concludes, five remain

The five remaining players are currently returning from a 45-min dinner break. Bill Freid busted in sixth place.

Jeremy Ensrud is the chip leader with roughly 500K of the 1.3 million in play.

Blinds are at 10,000/20,000/2,000

5:50 p.m. update: Six remain, play slows down

Play has slowed down considerably at the final table, as we’ve only had four bust outs in two levels. The average chip stack is $217,000 with 8,000/16,000/2,000 blinds, and Mitch Bank is the current chip leader with 360K. Jeremy Ensrud is close behind with roughly 320K.

We recently lost Jess Geesey and Tom Burandt.

Don’t forget to follow updates via Twitter as well.

Gary Grams

4:40 p.m. update: Eight players remain, Grams leads

Jess Geesey earned his way into the MSPT Main Event through a home game free roll — the River Rat Poker League. Coincidentally, across the table sits fellow RRPL player Bill Freid. With blinds at 4,000/8,000/1,000, Freid limped under the gun. Jess pondered for a moment before shoving all in for nearly 150K. Everyone folded, and Geesey showed 5-2 offsuit to stir things up.

Pretty bold, especially with guys like Brian Johnson, Scott Drill and Tom Burandt at the table — all of whom have fantastic track records in the HPT, or in other Midwest tournaments.

Gary Grams has quietly amassed a large chip stack. He now holds 345K of the 1.3 million in play.

Here are the latest bust outs:

3:42 p.m. update: We’re down to the final table

We’ve arrived to our final 10 players here at Northern Lights Casino. Jess Geesey is the current chip leader with 205K. The blinds will be 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante shortly.

Here are final table chip counts:

And here were the last few bust outs before the final table:

Tom Burandt

3:01 p.m. update: Burandt is new chip leader

In the first 15 minutes after break, Tom Burandt doubled up twice, and he now has over 160K in chips. His first double up came against Tom Stambaugh, when Burandt’s AQ hit a flush on the river against Stambaugh’s AK.

A few hands later, Burandt picked up AA against the AK of Joe Oschwalt. A King hit on the flop, but Burandt faded the rest on the turn and river to double up again.

Burandt currently ranks second in the MNPokerMag Player of the Year race, behind Everett Carlton.

2:39 p.m. update: Chip counts with 15 remaining

Mitch Bank was the chip leader heading into day two with 94K, and he currently has 147K, which puts him third behind Brian Johnson (152K) and Scott Drill (150K).

Mitch Bank

Here are the updated chip counts (blinds 3000/6000 w/ 500 ante):

Pete Baker

2:13 p.m. update: Pete Baker busts, 15 left

Pete Baker, who finished third in a Heartland Poker Tour event in 2008, just busted in 15th.

During the next break (approximately 2:30 p.m.) we will get accurate chip counts and post them as soon as possible. Mitchell Bank and Brian Johnson are still dominating and accumulating chips. Scott Drill is also healthy, and Tom Burandt just doubled up to a relatively healthy stack.

I know those details are vague, but more info is coming soon.

Last few bust outs:

2:03 p.m. update: 18 remain

Last few bust outs:

Scott Drill

12:53 update: Last few bust outs

A few noteworthy players still remain — HPT standouts Tom Stambaugh and Pete Baker, as well as Tom Burandt, who is currently in the top five for MNPokerMag Player of the Year. Former HPT winner and CEO of Insignia Systems, Scott Drill is nursing a short stack.

Here are the latest bust outs.

11:52 update: Into the money

Players busted quickly to start level 9, and we are now down to 27. Keep an eye out for the latest bust outs and payouts.

Everett Carlton, John Morgan and Andy Sjolund all bit the dust before the money. Ray Bendijo narrowly avoided elimination all in preflop with A8 when the board ran out two pair against Jess Geesey’s AQ.

FYI, former HPT champion Scott Drill is still alive with a healthy chip stack.

Photo Gallery

Jess Geesey

11:05 update: Day two underway, 38 remain

Day two of MSPT Northern Lights is underway, with 38 players returning from a starting field of 87. The winner will take home just under $24,000. The money bubble will burst at 27.

Be sure to follow updates on the Minnesota Poker Magazine Twitter account.

Blinds are at 800/1600 with a 200 ante.

Payout structure

Chip leaders at start of day:

1. Mitchell Bank – 94,200

2. Brian Johnson – 87,700

3. Mary Witte – 83,700

4. Jess Geesey – 79,700

5. Jeremy Ensrud – 75,200

6. Joe Oschwald – 72,600

7. Matt Kirby – 46,600

8. Ray Bendijo – 43,600

9. Pete Baker – 39,600

10. Gary Grams – 39,200

Photos from the MSPT Northern Lights Main Event in Walker, MN

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After eight levels of play here at MSPT Northern Lights, 38 players remain from a starting field of 87, and Mitchell Bank is the current chip leader.

First prize is just a shade under $24,000. Play resumes at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, and blinds will be 800/1600 with a 200 ante.

Chip leaders:
1. Mitchell Bank – 94,200
2. Brian Johnson – 87,700
3. Mary Witte – 83,700
4. Jess Geesey – 79,700
5. Jeremy Ensrud – 75,200
6. Joe Oschwald – 72,600
7. Matt Kirby – 46,600
8. Ray Bendijo – 43,600
9. Pete Baker – 39,600
10. Gary Grams – 39,200

Notable:
Everett Carlton – 19,500
Tom Stambaugh – 28,200
Tom Burandt – 34,100
John Morgan – 23,100
Andy Sjolund – 20,200

It’s been a fun week here at Northern Lights Casino in Walker leading up to the two-day MSPT Main Event. Day one began at 5:00 p.m. with 87 players, and we are currently down to 50 heading into the last two levels of the night.

Noteworthy players remaining include Everett Carlton, Tom Burandt, John Morgan, Bryan Mileski, Pete Baker, and a few others.

MSPT Main Events always pay out 27 places, because the majority of players qualify via $250 satellite. Here’s what the final table payouts look like:

1st – $23,854
2nd – $11,763
3rd – $7,403
4th – $5,758
5th – $4,935
6th – $3,702
7th – $3,208
8th – $2,797
9th – $2,303

Amit Makhija

Event 17, $5,000 NLH, 792 entrants
5th – Amit ‘amak316′ Makhija, Brookfield, WI, $179,866
27th – Larry Barbetta, Wayzata, $25,386

Makhija, a University of Minnesota graduate, was featured on the September cover of Minnesota Poker Magazine. He is one of the “Brunson 10,” and was searching for his first bracelet last night, but came up just short.

In the past, Barbetta has also final tabled two Heartland Poker Tour events (2nd in 2007 for $26k, and 6th in 2008 for $13k) and a Minnesota State Poker Championship event in 2008 for $5k.

This was Barbetta’s third-career WSOP cash, according to PokerPages.com.

Here is a final table recap, courtesy of Bluff Magazine.

Tony Hartmann

Tom “durrrr” Dwan — with his bracelet side bets and second-place finish — was the main storyline of WSOP event 11 earlier this week, but Minnesotans were clearly the second-most important topic of discussion.

OK, not really. But four Minnesotans did run deep:

Event 11 ($1,500 NLH, 2,563 entrants)
20th – David Newcomer, Willmar, $17,577
31st – Zach Turcotte, Little Canada, $14,255
58th – Tony Hartmann, Minneapolis, $8,096
63rd – Thomas Rossi,  Minneapolis, $8,096

Hartmann has now cashed in 11 career WSOP events dating back to 1993, according to PokerPages.com, and he has three career six-figure cashes as well.

Just chillin’ here at Northern Lights, kicking off Minnesota State Poker Tour week. Last time we invaded Northern Lights was in May of 2009, when we threw a “launch” party for the upstart MNPokerMag. We gave away free beer and played a ton of beer pong.

Glory times.

Expect more of the same this week.