$

Awarded to date

Running Aces Casino

March 30 - April 2, 2023

 
  • Level: 34
  • Blinds: 200000 / 400000
  • Ante: 400000
 
 
Marc Harrell Wins Minnesota State Poker Championship ($167,105)
Created 4/3/2023 2:27:49 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to Minnesota's Running Aces Casino for the Minnesota Poker State Championship and the turnout didn't disappoint.

The $1,110 buy-in, $500K GTD Main Event was one to remember as a total of 885 entries (161 from Day 1a; 276 from 1b; 448 from 1c) were tallied generating a $856,950.

On Sunday, 103 players returned for Day 2 action, and after it was said and done, it was Minnesota native Marc Harrell, coming out on top to win the $167,105 top prize and his first MSPT title.

“Its a beautiful thing to accomplish,” said Harrell after his victory. “I’ve put 25-30 years in this game so it's been a long time coming.”

Harrell’s first-place victory was the icing on the cake, as he had nine MSPT Main Event cashes totaling $33,607 with one final table appearance before his victory on Sunday night, and he had a great time at the final table with his good friend.

“I just want to congratulate everyone who made it and my buddy Matt Alexander,” Harrell continued, “We’ve always talked about playing heads-up for a title and tonight we almost did it, but I guess we are just going have to try for it at the next one.”

Minnesota Poker State Championship Final Table Results
Place Player Prize POY
1 Marc Harell $167,105 1,800
2 Rory Linton $102,837 1,600
3 Matt Alexander $75,754 1,500
4 Randy Bauer $56,559 1,400
5 Thai Dinh $42,848 1,300
6 Kou Vang $32,564 1,200
7 Gerald Cunniff $24,852 1,100
8 Joe Larson $19,710 1,000
9 Jessica Anderson $15,425 900

With 90 slated to get paid, only 13 players needed to exit before players reached the money. Among those to leave empty-handed were Steve WazWaz, Terry Bender, William Vincent and Robert Schoonover, just to name a few.

Only one full level needed to pass before the hand-for-hand process began with Brad Lacombe's pocket aces being set up by Chris Murdoch's pocket nines to burst the bubble.

After Lacombe's Weapons of Mass Destruction blew up, the march to the final table began.

Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday included a list of MSPT Hall of Famers Matt Kirby (11th Place - $11,997), Rob WazWaz (19th Place - $7,198), Blake Bohn (29th Place - $3,771), Jason Seitz (45th Place - $3,085), Josh Reichard (64th Place - $2,399), and DQ Dan Hendrickson (85th Place - $2,228).

MSPT Running Aces Minnesota Poker State Championship Final Table

Final Table action

After Dodd's departure, it didn't take long for Jessica Anderson to get her short stack in the middle holding queen-jack and was called by Matt Alexander holding nine-seven.

Both players connected on the flop, but Alexander hit running sevens to make a full house and made her the first final table elimination.

Following Anderson's departure was Joe Larson who lost a race with Big Slick against Thai Dinh's pair of ladies.

Next on the chopping block was MSPT Deadwood champ Gerald Cunniff who got his chips in the middle with a suited ace-four but was called by Rory Linton who held a dominating ace-king, ending his Main Event in seventh place for $24,852.

Following Cunniff was MSPT Hall of Famer Kou Vang, who got his short stack in the middle holding a made hand of tens and was called by Rory Linton holding a suited ace-four.

The flop was unkind to Vang as it gave Linton top two-pair, ending Vang's Main Event run in sixth place for $32,564.

The very next hand saw another one of Minnesota's top dawgs get sent to the rail as Dinh's pocket sevens were unlucky against Alexander's pocket nines, and he went home with an extra $42,848 for his fifth-place finish.

Four-handed action lasted only lasted a few hands after Alexander jammed with king high from the small blind and Randy Bauer called off his short stack from the big blind with ten-high.

Bauer was unable to find a pair on the runout and made an exit in fourth place for $56,559.

Three-handed action saw Alexander holding almost half the chips in play but couldn’t seal the deal as him and Linton duked it out with Linton taking the last laugh as Alexander was set up in third place and took home $75,754 for his efforts.

From there, the heads-up match proved to be a battle as Harrell secured an early double to chip away at Linton's chip lead and turned the tides to take the lead himself.

The start of Level 33 saw the chips shuffle back-and-forth with Harrell taking the chip lead in the final level after he doubled with pocket queens against Linton’s pocket tens, and Linton made his second-place departure for $102,837 a few short hands later.

The MSPT continues April 27th - May 7th at San Diego's Sycuan Casino with a Showdown Series featuring $575,000 in guarantees with 16 trophy events on the schedule.

  • Level: 34
  • Blinds: 200000 / 400000
  • Ante: 400000
 
 
Rory Linton Eliminated in 2nd Place ($102,837)
Created 4/3/2023 2:23:02 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised all in for 4,500,000 and Marc Harrell snap-called.

Rory Linton:
Marc Harrell:

Linton didn’t like seeing he was dominated and things got worse after an ace appeared in the window on the flop.

The turn left Linton drawing dead and the river ended his Main Event run in second place for $102,837.

Marc Harrell - 22,125,000
Rory Linton - Eliminated

  • Level: 34
  • Blinds: 200000 / 400000
  • Ante: 400000
 
 
Harrell Takes Chip Lead
Created 4/3/2023 2:06:38 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised all in on the button and Marc Harrell called off his 6,850,000 stack.

Marc Harrell:
Rory Linton:

Both players woke-up with premium made hands, but Harrell’s was better and the runout gave him the chip lead.

Marc Harrell - 13,700,000
Rory Linton - 8,425,000

  • Level: 33
  • Blinds: 200000 / 300000
  • Ante: 300000
 
 
Harrell Straightened Out Linton for Double
Created 4/3/2023 1:55:20 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Marc Harrell called a 500,000 bet from Linton with a board showing and the completed the board on the river.

Linton led out with a bet and then called Harrell’s 2,125,000 all-in raise.

Harrell quickly rolled over for the nine-high straight and Linton tossed into the muck.

Rory Linton - 14,700,000
Marc Harrell - 7,425,000

  • Level: 33
  • Blinds: 200000 / 300000
  • Ante: 300000
 
 
Linton Sets Up Harrell
Created 4/3/2023 1:50:00 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised to 700,000 and Marc Harrell defended to see a flop.

Action went check-check, and the fell on the turn.

Harrell led out for 1,000,000 and Linton called bringing the river.

Harrell led out once again this time for 2,000,000.

Linton quickly called and showed to win the pot with a set of sixed while Harrell tossed into the muck.

Rory Linton - 17,925,000
Marc Harrell - 4,200,000

  • Level: 32
  • Blinds: 150000 / 250000
  • Ante: 250000
 
 
Linton Trips Up Harrell for Double
Created 4/3/2023 1:25:20 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Marc Harrell raised and then called the 6,575,000 three-bet jam from Rory Linton.

Rory Linton:
Marc Harrell:

Linton was ahead holding the better kicker and enjoyed seeing a seven on the flop.

The turn was even better sight for Linton as it improved him to trips and the river secured his double-up.

Rory Linton - 13,150,000
Marc Harrell - 8,975,000

  • Level: 32
  • Blinds: 150000 / 250000
  • Ante: 250000
 
 
Harrell Spikes Lucky Sevent to Stay Alive
Created 4/3/2023 1:17:24 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised all in and Marc Harrell called off his 4,250,000 stack.

Marc Harrell:
Rory Linton:

Harrell was behind holding live suited cards but the flop didn’t change a thing.

The turn left Harrell needing a miricale on the river and luckily for him, the dealer answered his prayer by dropping the to keep his Main Event title hopes alive.

Rory Linnton - 13,625,000
Marc Harrell - 8,500,000

  • Level: 32
  • Blinds: 150000 / 250000
  • Ante: 250000
 
 
Matt Alexander Eliminated in 3rd Place ($75,754)
Created 4/3/2023 1:07:48 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised the button and then called the 4,100,000 three-bet jam Matt Alexander made from the small blind.

Matt Alexander:
Rory Linton:

Alexander woke-up with a made hand but Linton’s was better, and things got worse for Alexander after a king appeared in the window on the flop.

The turn left Alexander needing a club on the river, but the completed the board ending his Main Event in third place for $75,745.

Rory Linton - 17,525,000
Marc Harrell - 4,600,000
Matt Alexander - Eliminated

  • Level: 32
  • Blinds: 150000 / 250000
  • Ante: 250000
 
 
Harrell Doubles Through Linton
Created 4/3/2023 12:55:04 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Rory Linton raised to 550,000 from the button and Marc Harrell defended his big blind to see a flop.

Harrell check-jammed for 2,150,000 after Linton continued for 350,000 and was called.

Marc Harrell:
Rory Linton:

Harrell was ahead after pairing his six while also holding the club flush draw, and the turn followed by the river secured his double-up.

Rory Linton - 10,125,000
Matt Alexander - 6,000,000
Marc Harrell - 6,000,000

  • Level: 31
  • Blinds: 100000 / 200000
  • Ante: 200000
 
 
Linton Takes Chip Lead
Created 4/3/2023 12:34:45 AM CST by Anthony Thompson

Matt Alexander raised to 400,000 from the button and Rory Linton defended his big blind to see a flop.

Linton check-raised to 1,000,000 after Alexander continued for 300,000 and Alexander called bringing the turn.

This time, Linton led out for 1,500,000 and Alexander called once again to see the complete the board on the river.

Linton continued with his aggression and moved all-in prompting a quick fold from Alexander.

Before collecting his chips, Linton rolled over for the nuts.

Rory Linton - 10,100,000
Matt Alexander - 7,800,000
Marc Harrell - 4,225,000

 
 
LEVEL INFO
Level
34
Blinds
200000 / 400000
Ante
400000
TOURNAMENT INFO
Entries
885
Players Remaining
2
Average Chip Stack
11,062,500
Total Chips
22,125,000
TOP 10 CHIP COUNT
RANK
PLAYER
CHIPS
22,125,000
0
0
0
10 
0
SEASON TOP 10 POY POINTS
RANK
PLAYER
POINTS
3,292
3,000
2,283
2,266
2,250
2,100
1,950
10 
1,842