VINSON ANENSON WINS 2007 CHAMPIONSHIP
TROY MATTSON RUNNER UP
The Minnesota Poker League Championship tournament was
the culmination of 12 weeks of free poker tournaments hosted at 134
participating bars across the great state of Minnesota. To qualify
for the tournament, players had to win their local championship or place
in the top 20% to move on to a regional playoff qualifier.
Vinson Anenson (pictured below left) outlasted a
great final table which featured 7 league champions and 3
players who were back for their 2nd final table appearance,
including the fall 2006 runner up Joel Smith. Troy Mattson (right)
was the runner up.
 The
tournament was directed by Minnesota Poker League officials at Shooting
Star Casino's Event Center. Mitch Schock, 29th place finisher in
the 2006 World Series of Poker, emceed the tournament and created an
entertaining atmosphere with his humor and stories from his experience
in the WSOP.
 In
addition to the main tournament, which awarded not one, but two packages
to the World Series of Poker, several freeroll side tournaments were
available for spectators and players who busted early. A "Players
Appreciation Freeroll" side tournament attracted over 100 players for a
chance to win a Heartland Poker Tour buy-in and other prizes.
Jenny Kriewald (pictured left), fresh off her $52,970
win in the Heartland Poker Tour, made an appearance and played in the
freeroll tournament. Jenny won her way into the Heartland Poker
Tour playing in the free league.
On his way to the final table, Vinson Anenson quietly
weaved his way through the tournament field of 163 players without ever
being mentioned as one of the chip leaders...He sat down at the final
table 7th in chips, but made a big hand early to become the new chip
leader. Towards the end, the three remaining players battled back and
forth for an hour. Vinson came out on top, holding on to his chip lead
over Troy Mattson from Primetime Food & Spirits in Breezy Point. Troy
made a charge heads-up to challenge Vinson, but came up short in the
end to claim the runner up prize. Jerry Lemke from Brothers Bar
& Grill took 3rd place.
Despite the tension at the final table, there was a
lot of laughter and some slightly awkward moments. At one point,
during a big hand between Troy Mattson & Jerry Lemke, Troy check raised
all-in over the top of a bet from Jerry. While Jerry was in the
tank, Troy’s phone rang. Mitch Schock quickly grabbed the phone from
him and explained to the caller with microphone in
hand, “Troy can’t talk right now, he’s down to 3 players with 2 going to
the WSOP and he just moved all-in with an 85 thousand dollar raise in
front of him...He’s kind of busy right now but if you’ll hold I’ll let
you listen to the action...” The crowd erupted with laughter and
moments later Jerry folded the hand.
2007 MPL WSOP
LEAGUE FINAL TABLE RESULTS |
 1st
Place |
Vinson Anenson |
Rusty Nail |
Thief River Falls |
|
2nd |
Troy Mattson |
Primetime Food & Spirits |
Breezy Point |
| 3rd |
Jerry Lemke |
Brothers Bar & Grill |
Rochester |
| 4th |
Jamie Woodward |
Moorhead VFW |
Moorhead |
| 5th |
Richard Krivinchak |
Lost Isle Bar |
Carlton |
| 6th |
Tim Menk |
Hutchinson Elks |
Hutchinson |
| 7th |
Kip Crabb |
Park Rapids Eagles |
Park Rapids |
| 8th |
Tracy Ulland |
Kandi Bowl |
Willmar |
| 9th |
Joel Smith |
Playtime Sports |
Perham |
| 10th |
Jeremy Evans |
Trosky Treehouse |
Trosky |
Joel Smith, Troy Mattson and Jamie
Woodward all made the 2nd final table appearance in a Minnesota
Poker League Championship tournament, a heckuva feat considering
there are roughly 4,000+ active players in the league.
Watch for Troy Mattson in event #38
beginning June 24th ($1,500 NL Holdem) at this year's WSOP.
Vinson Anenson will play in the $10,000 Main Event starting July
6th. The Minnesota Poker League team will be live at the Rio
to bring back each player's experience in the WSOP. For
complete coverage, including a live blog and photos, visit
www.freepokernetwork.com.
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