The third-ever MSPT $350 Regional Event held at Canterbury Park attracted 1,015 entrants, and it was Marshall, MN’s Alan Ahmann who walked away victorious after a heads up chop that netted him $48,015 – first place was scheduled to pay $54,458!
For Ahmann, this was his third all-time MSPT cash. The prior two came way back in 2014 and 2010 where he finished 26th and 4th. He survived Day 1B’s flight with a 200k stack, 5th of the 21 survivors on that day.
The final table included Saad Ghanem who was the 2018 & 2016 MNPokerMag Player of the Year, the only two-time winner of that award. Ghanem’s runner-up finish pocketed him $40,000 after securing a deal with Ahmann. Amazingly, Ghanem chopped this exact event 3-ways one year prior for $39,542.
Another gentleman making back-to-back-to-back final tables in this $350 Regional at Canterbury Park was Paul Cross. Cross was part of that even 3-way deal in 2018 and placed 9th here for $5,299. He won this event in 2017 for $61,911!
Wednesday’s Day 1A flight drew 206 entrants, but only 28 of them made it through, included chip leader Paul Cross (491,000). On 1B, 178 hit the felt, with 21 of them advancing. Loki Abboud won a mammoth pot late with 5-2 eliminating multiple opponents, bagging a hefty 583,500 stack.
Friday’s Day 1C drew an additional 224 runners, bringing the total field up to 608, and Wayne Layne bagged the overall chip lead with 616,000 to lead the 24 survivors of the day. The fourth and final flight saw a single flight $350 Regional record at Canterbury Park of 407 entrants take their shot, and Vernon Smith left the Day 1D chip leader (478,500) over the 62 survivors.
Some of those players that found their way into the money included Howard Hankin (11th - $4,121), DJ Buckley (14th - $3,532), Loki Abboud (17th - $2,885), MSPT Champ Tom Stambaugh (57th - $824), MSPT Champ Dan “DQ” Hendrickson (60th - $824), Rob Wazwaz (63rd - $824), Season 5 MSPT Main Event Champion Jason Sell (82nd - $706).