Table Of Contents

Since Minnesota has not passed any laws legalizing online poker within their state, players can play legally at regulated offshore websites. Future Outlook of Online Poker in Minnesota – Estimated date of legalization: 2020-2021. The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in Minnesota on a state law level. Jon Wurden, of Fisher, Minnesota, won the North Dakota State Texas Hold 'em Championship over the weekend. He outlasted more than 1,000 other players and won $30,000. The state poker tournament is modeled after the annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. It's been held every year since 2004. Wurden is the tournament's first winner from.

Over the last two weeks of March, Canterbury Park just south of the Twin Cities played host to the 2019 Minnesota State Poker Championship, a series of tournaments that culminated with a $1,100 buy-in Main Event this past weekend.

That tournament drew 180 runners from across the Midwest, which generated a $174,600 prize pool. The final table was filled with some of Minnesota’s best, but in the end, it was Hank Mlekoday of Minneapolis who claimed the title and accompanying $47,144 first-place prize.

The win brought Mlekoday’s lifetime tournament earnings up to $460,068. It was his second-largest cash behind $50,752 he won for finishing 145th in the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event. Other highlights on his poker résumé include 16th in the 2016 WSOP Colossus II for $44,740, seventh in the 2018 WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood Main Event for $28,621, and 470th in the 2009 WSOP Main Event for $25,027.

2019 Minnesota State Poker Championship Final Table Results

Others to cash the Main Event were Matt Hamilton (11th - $3,317), Vlad Tkachuk (14th - $2,794), Joe Barnard (15th - $2,794), Ian Matakis (16th - $2,444), and 2017 MN Poker Mag Player of the Year Todd Melander (17th - $2,444).

Hamilton and Hersch Victorious

While the Main Event was the main attraction, the Minnesota State Poker Championship was comprised of several other tournaments including a Crazy Pineapple, Tag Team, and both Seniors and Ladies Events.

In terms of prize pools, the two biggest tournaments outside the Main Event were a pair of $350 buy-in events. The first was the Black Chip Bounty which attracted 121 runners and created a $37,168 prize pool. Matt Hamilton wound up winning that event for $7,047 plus a bunch of bounties.

Meanwhile, the $350 Monster Stack NLH drew 213 entries and created a $61,983 prize pool. Joshua Hersch claimed that title and was rewarded with a $15,493 top prize for his efforts.

2019 Minnesota State Poker Championship Side Event Results

_{Images courtesy of Canterbury Park.}

• Tags

  Tournament ResultsHank MlekodayMinnesota PokerCanterbury Park

Upcoming Tournaments

All State Tournaments

Minnesota State Poker Tournament

Wisconsin State Poker Tournament