Running Aces Casino

The 2023 Winter Poker Classic $2,500 Hall of Fame High Roller has seen 19 levels play to their conclusion, and the event is officially in the books with Minnesota native Mark Sandness walking away the top dog, earning his second MSPT title.

When play began, only 10 players were in their seats. However, that number doubled in the first level and eventually reached a total of 46 entries.

After an official number was tallied, a $105,800 prize pool was calculated, and just five players were going to be taking a piece of it with only 13 players remaining at the end of registration.

MSPT Hall of Famer Blake Bohn and three-time MSPT champ Carl Carodenuto were the first two players to fall in a double elimination, followed by Shawn Libersky and Mystery Bounty winner Dennis Stevermer, setting the stage for the final table.

Final Table Action

Once the players re-drew for their seats, a bunch of familiar faces were seated with both of the top Player of the Year dawgs trying to inch past one another.

Unfortunately for the two Hall of Famers, both their appearances were brief as Umut Ozturk was the first final table elimination while Rob WazWaz followed him out the door shortly after.

A few double ups would go around the table before Kitkat Klassen hit the rail in seventh place, and Joe Beasy was the last player to leave empty-handed.

The final five players all locked up $7,935, and unfortunately for defending champ Kou Vang, the spot ended up being his after getting turned by Sandness.

Shortly after Vangs departure, Dylan Neitzel jammed his Big Slick into Bruce Simmons’ pocket kings and was set up in fourth place for $10,580.

In the same level, local pro DJ Buckley spiked a case of the Greenstein as Sandness rivered an ace to send him home in third place for $16,399.

The heads-up battle saw started with Sandness holding almost a 2:1 chip advantage over Simmons but the two tussled back-and-forth with Sandess eventually getting the last laugh earning his second MSPT title and the $42,320 first-place prize.

This wraps up our coverage for this event, but make sure to tune back in all weekend long for live coverage of the $1,110 Main Event!

MSPT Winter Poker Classic Remaining Schedule

Mark Sandness opened for 30,000 and then called a 100,000 three-bet from Bruce Simmons to see a flop.

Simmons wasted little time moving his remining stack in the middle and Sandness called just as quick.

Bruce Simmons:
Mark Sandness:

Sandness was out in front after flopping two-pair and the turn left Simmons drawing dead to the river.

Mark Sandness - 1,840,000
Bruce Simmons - Eliminated

DJ Buckley raised all in for 135,000 from the button and MSPT champ Mark Sandness looked him up from the small blind.

DJ Buckley:
Mark Sandness:

Buckley was behind but connected with the flop to take the lead.

The turn was safe for Buckley as he just needed to fade the river, but the came crashing down and ended his night in third place for $16,399.

Mark Sandness - 1,135,000
Bruce Simmons - 705,000
DJ Buckley - Eliminated

DJ Buckley opened for 30,000 from the cutoff only to have Dylan Neitzel three-bet jam all-in for 182,000 from the small blind.

Action was on Bruce Simmons who called from the big blind and Buckley released his hand.

Dylan Neitzel:
Bruce Simmons:

Neitzel was behind and things got worse after the case king appeared in the window on the flop.

The turn left Neitzel drawing dead and the river ended his run in fourth place for $10,580.

Mark Sandness - 1,050,000
Bruce Simmons - 576,000
DJ Buckley - 195,000
Dylan Neitzel - Eliminated

Defending champ Kou Vang raised all in for 33,000 from the button and MSPT champ Mark Sandness looked him up from the big blind.

Kou Vang:
Mark Sandness:

Vang was ahead holding an ace and the flop didn’t change a thing.

The turn, however, fell the pairing Sandness and the river paired the board on the river ending Vang’s tournament in fifth place for $7,935.

Mark Sandness - 780,000
Kou Vang - Eliminated

Bruce Simmons opened under the gun for 25,000 and only MSPT champ Mark Sandness called from the small blind.

The flop was checked to the turn where Sandness led out for 60,000 before calling Simmons’ 156,000 all-in raise.

Bruce Simmons:
Mark Sandness:

Simmons was ahead after pairing his ten on the turn and the river secured his double-up.

Mark Sandness - 680,000
Bruce Simmons - 320,000

Over the past week, players have been inside Running Aces Horse Track & Casino duking it out for the MSPT Winter Poker Classic in Columbus, MN.

In Event #10: $185 NLH Epic Stack, 165 players took to the felt and generated a $23,925 prize pool that was paid out to the top 18 players.

Among those to cash but fall before the final table were Austin Whitcomb (10th place - $455), Jay Philips (15th place - $383), and Rob Urbatsch (17th place - $335).

Coming out on top was Vonnaroth Penn who took home the top prize along with the MSPT Winter Poker Classic trophy!

Final Table Results

MSPT champ Mark Sandness raised from the hijack and then called Joe Beasy’s three-bet jam from the big blind.

Joe Beasy:
Mark Sandness:

Beasy was behind needing help, but none came on the runout and he was eliminated on the money bubble.

The remining five players have agreed to playout the rest of the tournament until a champion is determined.

Mark Sandness - 785,000
Joe Beasy - Eliminated

Action folded to Kitkat Klassen who raised all in for 78,000 from the button and DJ Buckley looked her up from the small blind.

Kitkat Klassen:
DJ Buckley:

Klassen was behind needing help but a jack appearing in the window on the flop wasn’t a good sight.

The turn was an even worse sight for Klassen as it left her drawing dead to the river.

DJ Buckley - 425,000
Kitkat Klassen - Eliminated