With his second-place finish in the Midwest Poker Classic $1K Main Event, Bruce Vang took a brief lead in the Minnesota Poker Magazine Player of the Year standings.

But Everett Carlton — who has led the race nearly all year — jumped back in front with a victory in Fall Poker Classic event 7

Answering the challenge, Vang went on to win Fall Poker Classic Event 17 to again close the gap but it wasn’t quite enough to regain the top spot.

Minnesota State Poker Tour, Grand Casino Hinckley, Nov. 22-28:

Tuesday and Wednesday Free Rolls:  On Tuesday, Nov. 23 and Wednesday, Nov. 24 be sure to register for one of several single-table SNG free rolls — 10 players per table, free to enter, winner gets a $250 qualifer seat.  Simple as that.  Registration opens at 4:30 p.m., SNGs start at 5:30 p.m.  Seats limited.

There will be a $250 multi-table qualifier each evening at 7:00 p.m.  $60 and $90 satellites available all week as well.

For a complete schedule visit:  http://www.minnesotastatepokertour.com/EventSchedule.php

All in the family…just hours after his cousin Kou Vang won the Fall Poker Classic Main Event for $70K, Bruce Vang won the $200 NLHE Event 17 tourney Sunday night.  Bruce took home $7,876 for his win.  Bruce Vang is fresh off a runner-up finish just a couple weeks back at the Running Aces Midwest Poker Classic where he took home over $40K.  The Vang’s are on a serious heater!

Event 17

NLHE, $200 buy-in

Oct. 24, 116 Entrants

7:19 Update:  After several twists and turns, Kou Vang was finally able to finish off Curtis Vierstraete.  The big hand that basically finished it was all-in pre-flop with Vang’s 10′s vs. 9′s of Vierstraete.  The board ran clean for Vang, he takes home $78K for his efforts!

FINAL RESULTS

6:23 Update: Players are on a quick break.  The heads-up match has been back-and-forth, big pots won by each player.  Currently Vierstraete leads with $2.1M, Vang with $1.5M.  The last hand was huge.  The players got it all-in on a Q-J-2 flop.  Vang flipped over top pair with Q-5.  Vierstraete showed K-10 for an open-ender.  A 9 on the turn completed Vierstraete’s straight for the double-up and chip lead.

6:06 Update: The tide has turned again.  Vierstraete wins a nice pot to regain the lead with $2.0M in chips.  Vang has $1.7M.

5:50 Update:  Vang just took down a massive pot. With $1.3M behind, Vang shoved all in with J-9 on a 9-6-4 board.  Vierstraete tanked and called with J-6.  The board ran clean for Vang doubling him to roughly $2.6M.  Vierstraete still has about $1M.

5:21 Update:  Short-stacked, Saenz shoves with 10-2 on the button.   Vang calls with A-8, flopped and 8 and rivered an 8 to end a nice run for Saenz.

3 – Dashiell Saenz – $22,577

5:01 Update:  3-handed, chop talks going on now

Saenz – $640K

Vang – $1.2M

Vierstraete – $1.8M

4:58 Update:  Play is fast and furious.  Waz Waz shoves his final $350K, Vang calls and holds up.  Waz Waz gone in 4th.

4 – Rob Waz Waz -$17,824

4:57 Update:  Very next hand, Herberg shoves the rest in, Vang calls, Saenz calls.  They check it down and Vang’s top pair of Q’s takes the pot and eliminates Herberg in 5th.

5- Mark Herberg – $14,259

4:53 PM Update: Vang shoved $391K with Ad6d, Herberg called with 10-10.  Vang turned an Ace to double up.  Herberg crippled with only $80K left.

4:45 PM Update:  In the most inevitable bust of all time, Franco Cupello is eliminated in 6th place by Kou Vang.  Cupello masterfully worked his way through several places while playing between 2 to 5 big blinds the entire final table.  Unfortunately for Cupello, because he’s from Canada the casino is forced to withhold 28% of his winnings.  Doh!  Cupello has had a solid run in MN the last couple of weeks during the MPC and FPC.

6 – Franco Cupello – $11,883

4:26 Update: A chink in the armor for Vierstraete.  Herberg shoved $170K all-in with 77, Vierstraete called with AJ.  Herberg’s 7′s held on a 66644 board.  Herberg doubles to$340K.

4:23 Update: Bersch shoved with 6-7 hearts pre-flop for his final $68K.  Waz Waz and Vierstraete both called and checked it down.  Vierstraete’s 2nd pair jack took it down to eliminated Bersch in 7th.

7 – Josh Bersch – $9,506

4:14 PM Update:  In a bizarre scenario with Cupello almost blinded off in the small blind, Herberg raises the button forcing Waz Waz to fold his big blind.  Herberg shows 6-7, Cupello all-in for less than the big blind shows 5-9.  9-high takes down the pot and Cupello triples to $90K.  Had he not been forced to fold, Waz Waz would have paired the bord eliminating Cupello in 7th.  As it stands, we continue 7-handed.

4:05 PM Update:  7 players still remain.  Players on a 10-minute break Vierstraete the chip leader.  Blinds at $15/30K.

Rob Waz Waz – $470K

Josh Bersch – $140K

Kou Vang – $260K

Curtis Vierstraete – $1.6M

Dashiell Saenz – $700K

Mark Herberg – $445K

Frank Cupello – $68K

3:42 PM Update:  Very next hand, Vierstraete flops a set of 8′s to eliminate Clayton Findlay in 8th and accumulate another $250K.  Vierstraete now up to $1.7M and roughly half the chips in play.

8 - Clayton Findlay – $7,130

3:37 PM Update:  With 9 playeiers remaining, Vierstraete raised to $60K with blinds at $10/20K.  Marc Lome shoves over the top all-in for $350K.  Vierstraete calls with AQ.  Lome shows JJ.  Ace on the flop and Vierstraete scoops the pot.  He’s now up to $1.4M and leads the pack.  Lome eliminated 9th.

9 – Marc Lome – $4,753

3:15 PM Update:  2 players busted on the last hand of hand-for-hand…so we’re down to our final table of 9 players.  Blinds are $10/20K

Seat 1 – Rob Waz Waz – $330K

Seat 2 – Josh Bersch – $196K

Seat 3 – Kou Vang – $300K

Seat 4 – Clayton Findlay – $220K

Seat 5 – Curtis Vierstraete – $940K

Seat 6 – Marc Lome – $270K

Seat 7 – Dashiell Saenz – $920K

Seat 8 – Mark Herberg – $360K

Seat 9 – Franco Cupello – $110K

10 – Franceco Miceli – $2,377

11 – Brian Halek – $2,377

12 – Carl Heins – $2,377

13 – Ronn Winkler – $2,377

2:40 PM Update:  Curtis Vierstraete entered the day as chip leader.  He has dropped slightly from $680K to $640K but still remains on top.

14 – Stanley Bratten – $2,377

2:35 PM Update:  With blinds at $8/16K, Dashiell Saenz shoved all-in fr $242K, Rob Waz Waz called and showed QQ.  Saenz was drawing to 3 outs with AQ but the flop brought an Ace to double up Saenz.  Waz Waz drops to $350K.

15 – James Lawrence – $2,377

16 – Jeff Havenor – $2,377

17 – Matt Alexander – $2,377

18 – Adam Dahlin – $2,377

1:08 PM Update:  18 players remain after day 1.  Curtis Vierstraete leads the way with $680K chips, $3.66 million chips in play.  Rob Waz Waz is close behind with $645K.  Play will resume again at 2:00 PM today.  1st place today is $78,421.

19 – Eric Hinz – $1,188

20 – Shawn Ahern – $1,188

21 – Michael Binstock – $1,188

22 – John Nguyen – $1,188

23 – Mark Fink – $1,188

24 – David Bashel – $1,188

25 – Joseph Smith – $1,188

26 – Joshua Marthey – $1,188

27 – James Mastrian Jr. – $1,188

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Fall Poker Classic Main Event

245 Entrants

Day 2 Seating

Table 1                                             Chips ($)                   Residency

Seat 1-Matt Alexander                  99,000                   Minneapolis, MN

Seat 2-Dashiell Saenz                     179,000                 Des Moines, IA

Seat 3-Jeff Havenor                        132,000                 Eleva, WI

Seat 4-Stanley Bratten                   222,000                 Trophy Club, TX

Seat 5-Josh Bersch                          391,000                 Sheboygan, WI

Seat 6-Clayton Findley                   190,000                 Shakopee, MN

Seat 7-Mark Herberg                      161,000                 St. Peter, MN

Seat 8-Rob Waz Waz                       645,000                 Brooklyn Park, MN

Table 2                                  Chips ($)                   Residency

Seat 1-Franco Cupello                    72,000                  Thunder Bay, Ontario

Seat 2-Marc Lome                           213,000                 Eden Prairie, MN

Seat 3-Kou Vang                               215,000                 White Bear Lake, MN                    

Seat 4-James Lawrence                 132,000                 Prior Lake, MN

Seat 5-Franceco Miceli                   99,000                   Thunder Bay, Ontario

Seat 6-Carl Heins                              77,000                   Rochester, MN

Seat 7-Curtis Vierstraete              680,000                 Marshall, MN

Seat 8-Ronn Winkler                       136,000                 Eden Prairie, MN

Seat 9-Brian Halik                             114,000                 Nevis, MN

Canterbury Card Casino Fall Poker Classic
Event #15   $500 No-Limit Hold’em
Oct. 22nd, 2010
165 Entries   $500 Buy In
$80,025 Prize Pool

WINNER’S CIRCLE

1st Place          Patricia Clark              $26,410

2nd Place        Robby Westrom          $13,604          

3rd Place         Mike Lingenfelter       $9,603

4th Place         Robert Beedle             $7,202

5th Place         Mark Sandness            $4,802            

6th Place         Micel Franceco            $4,001

7th Place         Eric Hinz                     $3,201

8th Place         Conrad Fink                $2,401

9th Place         Freddy Kalantari         $1,601

10th Place       Yer Wang                    $800

11th Place       Judd Greenagel           $800

12th Place       Doug Fink                   $800

13th Place       Ryan Hartman             $800

14th Place       M.E.                            $800

15th Place       Robert Sonntag           $800

16th Place       Stanley Bratten           $800

17th Place       Nes Coburn                 $800

18th Place       Dan Holthaus              $800

A somewhat puzzling hand occurred recently.  I’m no more than a casual observer of this very small and inconsequential pot.  But it did give me pause, as I’m not exactly sure what this person was thinking.

It’s 8-16, and one person limps.  Everybody else folds, so the limper and the big-blind see the flop heads-up.  The flop is 8-8-10.  The big-blind checks.  The limper checks behind.  The turn is another 10.  This time, the big-blind bets.  The limper calls.  The river is a 3, and the big-blind bets again.  This time, the limper folds.

I can’t help but be confused.  What could the limper possibly have had?  I suppose he could have been “drawing” to a straight or a flush… but really?  There was $20 in the pot, and the turn bet was $16.  There’s isn’t a shred of value in this play.  I simply can’t envision a hand that could call the turn and fold the river.  Certainly, once you’ve called a turn bet, you must anticipate reacting to a river bet.  And the hand is over on the turn.  What could possibly come on the river to change the outcome of such a small disinterested pot?

And even if he does have Ace-high, I don’t much care for a call on the turn.  The pot is very small, and he’s hoping for what, a chop?  If he suspects the big-blind for a steal, I suppose he could raise the bet.  But I still don’t like that, as, like I said, the pot is so tiny as to not be worth fighting for.

Either way, the call-the-turn, fold-the-river maneuver was abominable.

Canterbury Card Casino Fall Poker Classic

Event 14, 6-handed NLHE

Oct. 21

108 Entrants, $500 buy-in

$52,380 Prize Pool

WINNER’S CIRCLE

1^st Place           Alex Johnson              $19,354

2nd Place        Joshua Bersch             $13,095

3rd Place         Mark Fink                   $7,857

4th Place         Jeffrey Maas               $5,238

5th Place         Lisa Kittleson              $3,667

6th Place         Michael Lewis             $2,619

Congratulations to Erik Seidel and Dan Harrington, as they have just been selected as the 2010 inductees into the Poker Hall of Fame.

This combination of players seems to me oddly fitting.  Both are highly skilled and distinctly accomplished.  Between them, they combine for ten World Series of Poker bracelets, six Main Event final tables and one Main Event victory.  Despite all their feats, however, Seidel and Harrington are largely ignored in poker media.  And from an entertainment perspective, you can certainly understand why; they’re both unexciting curmudgeons.  Seidel was, during poker television infancy, notorious for dodging the “hole cam” with his cards.  And Harrington, well, he just wears a neck brace without injury during tournament.  Because after six hours of play, he’s simply too exhausted to… you know… keep his head up.

In their defense, however, they never signed up to be entertainers.  They signed up to be poker players.  I’m certain they never envisioned that serious poker player and television entertainer and celebrity would one day go hand in hand.  It’s clear that neither of them ever really embraced the idea of being in the spotlight.  And I have absolutely no problem with that.  Their media exposure is directly proportional to both their entertainment value and, most likely, their desire to be on television.  Very small.

Let’s commend them, rather, for their poker achievements.  And there are many!  Both got their poker careers off the ground in the 80′s, Harrington with a 6th place Main Event finish in 1987, and Seidel with a runner-up finish to Johnny Chan in the 1988 Main Event.  Seidel is unfortunately immortalized for his Main Event knock-out in the movie Rounders and its idealized image of Johnny Chan, “The Master,” as he traps Seidel for the title.  Seidel seems to laugh it off in good nature.  Who knew that the butt of the film’s Chan-idealization would go on to win eight bracelets of his own, in addition to a World Poker Tour title?  Harrington, of course, is known for his Harrington on Hold’em and Harrington on Cash Games series of books, five of them all told.  Harrington has two bracelets and one World Poker Tour title of his own.  Congratulations, gentleman!  You deserve it!

Canterbury Card Casino Fall Poker Classic

Event #13, LH/Omaha 8 Mix

Oct. 20th

81 Entries, $300 Buy-in

$23,571 Prize Pool

WINNER’S CIRCLE 

1st Place          Alex Zaslavsky           $8,251

2nd Place        Marc Suelflow              $4,714

3rd Place         Kurt Lange                  $2,946

4th Place         Greg Hahn                  $2,357

5th Place         Art Hamann                $1,768

6th Place         John Olson                  $1,296

7th Place         Charles Kehart            $943

8th Place         Ron Lokken                $707

9th Place         Saeed Ghasemumehr  $589