The second annual Minnesota State Poker Championship recently concluded at Canterbury Park on April 26, naming a new Minnesota State champion. Alec Anderson of Plymouth, MN worked his way through a field of 138 players to capture the title along with first place prize money of $65,955.

Canterbury's Minnesota State Poker Championship is the first of their "triple crown" series of yearly classic poker tournaments. The second is the Twin Cities Poker Open scheduled to take place on August 19-23, 2009, and finally, the most anticipated event of the year in the Midwest, the Fall Poker Classic, running this year from October 10-23, 2009.

Here are the results from the Minnesota State Championships:
CANTERBURY PARK CASINO 4/26/09
MINNESOTA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
BUY-IN $1,500
PLAYERS 138
PRIZE POOL $199,869
1. Alec Anderson . . . . . $65,955
2. "3 Putts" Le . . . . . . . $33,978
3. Duane Mann . . . . . . $23,984

Meanwhile, the first Chicago Poker Classic concluded on May 3, naming Joe Urbanczyk as the "King of Chicago Rounders." Joe, from Whiting, IN bested a field of 124 participants, that involved a grueling 17 hours of play on day one, and 8 1/2 hours on the second day, including more than two hours of heads up play. Joe defeated second place finisher Keith Baker to capture the crown and take home the first place prize of $104,643.

Ironically, Joe was awarded his $3,125 buy-in Main Event seat in a random high card promotion that took place in the poker room in the week prior to the event. As the spring, summer and fall months unfold offering unprecedented tournament action throughout the Midwest, you will find all the news and action posted in upcoming issues of Poker Player Newspaper.

Bonnie Demos is a poker player and award winning chef, and has enjoyed working in the gaming industry for the past several years. Write her at bdemos1@wi.rr.com