Nation's #1 Poker Tour September 2016

NATION'S #1 POKER TOUR SEPTEMBER 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 3 Letter from the Editor

SAYING GOODBYE TO BARNETT, HAUGE & ABLA

BY CHAD HOLLOWAY This summer, we were saddened to learn of the deaths of three highly respected Vol. 1/No. 5 players, all of who were familiar faces on the MSPT. In June, word reached us that Nick Barnett (1958-2016), a regular cash game President and Publisher player at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells, passed away after a battle with Bryan Mileski cancer. Barnett was buried with full military honors thanks to his time in the Armed [email protected] Service where he was stationed at Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany from Editor-in-Chief 1977-1980. Chad Holloway While Barnett wasn't known to most outside his home casino, he was the [email protected] epitome of a recreational poker grinder. We were thrilled when, back in February, Barnett accomplished his long-time goal of playing a MSPT Main Event, which he Event Manager qualified for via a satellite. While Barnett didn't cash the Wisconsin State Poker Eric Anderson Championship, he did say he was happy to muster the strength to compete in a Art Director major tournament. He will be missed. Carolyn Borgen Likewise, the unexpected passing of Matthew Hauge, 26, in July during the [email protected] World Series of Poker hit the entire poker community hard. We here at the MSPT remember the Grimes, Iowa native from his frequent appearances at our Meskwaki Advertising Information Casino stop. It was there he notched two cashes in Season 6, though his best MSPT [email protected] accomplishment happened at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee when he made a Story Ideas final table, ultimately finishing in 10th place for $5,806. [email protected] Finally, we mourn the passing of poker pro Jonathan Abla, who amassed $253,679 in earnings over his career. The man from Bluffton, South Carolina wasn't a regular Our Mission on the MSPT, but we did enjoy his visits to our bestbet Jacksonville stop. In fact, it MSPT Magazine is a monthly was there that he earned his only MSPT cash, a 15th-place finish in the Regional magazine dedicated to serving Event for $1,752. poker players and gaming facilities Our condolences go out to the family and friends of all of these fine players. through MSPT news, results, tournament schedules, player profiles and professional tips. Coupled with our website, msptpoker.com, we are the Nation's #1 Poker Tour.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 5 PPNS Book DO I LOOK LIKE I WANNA CHAT? BY JACOB "JAYMIND" WESTLIN AND BRYAN MILESKI keep to myself at the poker table. I realize that most views this as an opportunity to restart his story from the people like to sit down and make friendly small-talk beginning. Iconversation with their tablemates. Not me. If I can “You know, six hands ago I had pocket fours. You see the avoid the awkward pretending-to-give-a-crap-about-you guy down there in the two-seat? Now, he had pocket threes! discussions, I’ll do it at all costs. I just want to win money, Well, on the turn, he just check-raised me and…” that’s all I care about. I don’t have any interest in making Uggggghhhhh! pseudo-friends. Really, I don’t see why people wanna’ talk to me anyway. My method of choice for evading I’m easily irritable, and I don’t hide undesirable interaction is by wearing it well. I make for poor conversation. headphones. Though I do listen to My small-talk ability is non-existent. music, I often keep my headphones Really, it’s very simple: I know you on even when there’s nothing don’t give a shit about me and my life. playing. This is generally a clear So I don’t bore you with it. Why can’t indication to my opponents that my you realize that I don’t give a shit ears are too busy to hear your stupid about the details of your uneventful remarks. Every so often, though, some existence? I’m doing you the courtesy sociopath will blast right through the of not boring you; could you please obvious indication that I’d like to be return the favor? left alone, and he’ll begin talking to Here’s the main problem: the talk me as if I care. He’ll just start right is never the least bit interesting. in on some incredibly boring story, It’s always some tangent about how and it’ll take me a few moments to unlucky they’ve been. They want to realize he’s been yammering away at recount the details of some totally me the entire time. Of course, I don’t forgettable hand while you smile care what he has to say; but I’m not a and nod your head. That’s the thing! total social moron. So I’ll take off my Most of these people don’t even want headphones and mildly engage. interaction! They want somebody to “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” sit there and listen to their bitching He doesn’t see this as an indicator and complaining or boasting and that I’m preoccupied, and to bragging. I am not your therapist. summarize himself quickly. No, he Leave me alone. Follow us online @MSPTPoker

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ER in a $1,100 buy-in, $200,000 guarantee Main Event. MON: 8am Start $50 Aces Cracked & $25 Splashed addition, the entirety of the Main Event will be live reported The Main Event, which requires players be just 18 years $1,500 Minimum Payout in the MSPT's brand new live blog, which can be found on of age to participate, will run from Friday, September 16 msptpoker.com once the tournament begins. Simply look for TUE: 8am-3pm High Hand through Sunday, September 18. The tournament features two $100/$50/$50 Hourly starting flights beginning Friday evening with Day 1A at 4 the neon green button that reads "Live Updates." p.m., followed by Day 1B at the same time on Saturday. The In addition, there will be a slew of Running Aces Casino 12am - 11:59pm Spade & Club VIP Appreciation remaining players from each flight will combine on Sunday Bonus Events in the week leading up to the MSPT Main Event. $25 added to all Poker Promos morning at 11:00 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned. They include $30 and $80 no-limit hold'em tournaments, a $75 "Running Aces has been a staple of the MSPT dating all Bounty event, and a Freeroll with two $1,100 Main Event seats WED: 8am - 3pm $50 Splash Pots the way back to our first season," said MSPT owner/operator added. Every 15 Minutes THU: 8am Start High Hand $100/$50/$50 Hourly FRI: 8am Start $50 Aces Cracked & $25 Splashed $1,500 Minimum Payout SAT: 8am - 3pm High Hand $100/$50/$50 Hourly EVERY DAY: Bounty Bonus Board 3pm -1pm Win Your Share of $1,450 DAILY POK DAILY PROMOTIONS LATE NIGHT $50 High Hand Progressive Board EVERY NIGHT M-F: 1-8am | S&S: 2-8am Every Night: 1-8am FOOTBALL SPLASH POTS Win cash every time the “Home Team” scores for both poker and table games: NOON AND 3PM *Bonus Splash Pots for MN games played on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

MSPTPOKER.COM PAGE 8 Mid-States Poker Tour SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour

MSPTPOKER.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 9 Get to Know 'em INTRODUCING JESS GEESEY AND THE #32 MSPT WISSOTA MOD4 RACECAR BY MSPT POKER STAFF

you're from the Midwest, there's a good chance you've spotted the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) If truck and trailer on the interstate as we crisscross the country from stop to stop. However, did you know that there's another MSPT vehicle out there? We're talking about the #32 car driven by 39-year-old Jess Geesey on speedways across Minnesota. That's right, since 2013 the MSPT has sponsored a racecar! The origin of the MSPT #32 car began six years ago when, along with Mike Lovelace, Geesey started RiverRat Poker League (RRPL), a home poker league that aimed to qualify local amateur players into big buy-in events. It's there that he met the founder of the MSPT, Bryan Mileski. "He helped us by donating some seats and we helped him by sending players to his tournaments with the buy-ins they won with us," Geesey explains. So how did that lead to a racecar? "About three years ago my dad and I teamed up with the Mod4 and I asked Bryan to sponsor me," says Geesey. "It took him all of six seconds to say yes. He's been a huge part of my success with his continuous support. He's stood by me the whole time." Geesey, who hails from Pillager, Minnesota, is married to wife Christina with whom he has three kids – sons Austin, 17, and Mason, 12 (the former is currently away at basic training for the Army), and daughter Morgan, 14. While his full-time job is facility maintenance man (or as he likes to call it "Head Snow Relocating Engineer") at Trident Seafood in Motley, his Photos courtesy of James Jones and Ben Krutchen passion is being on the track. "I started racing oval dirt tracks 14 years ago," Geesey states. now have some spare time to play a little poker. "I raced in a street stock division for a year and then moved "I primarily play poker in the racing off season," says into an open-wheel B-Modified. I took a break for a few years Geesey. "I mostly play our RRPL and try and hit as many MSPT and came back in a Wissota Mod4. It's a four-cylinder open- events in Minnesota as I can. I don't quite have the bankroll wheel modified. We run about 190HP in a 1,700 pound car." to play the Main Events, so I always try to win a seat through Thus far in 2016, Geesey has found victory lane twice to go qualifiers. I was however lucky enough to make a MSPT final along with nine heat wins. Unfortunately, he broke his thumb table in Walker when they were first getting rolling. That's in three spots earlier this year while racing at North Central about my only glory in poker!" Speedway, which will sideline him until he recovers. Luckily, Fans can usually see the MSPT car most Friday nights at his good friend Jerry Esler is going to fill in. Princeton Speedway in Princeton, Minnesota; every Saturday "He's won multiple championships in this class so the night at North Central Speedway in Brainerd; and a few MSPT fans will still see a great show," Geesey ensures us. Sunday nights at BRRP in Glyndon. To keep tabs on Geesey If there's a silver lining to the injury, it's that Geesey will and the #32 MSPT car, follow @Geesey32x on Twitter.

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PAGE 12 Mid-States Poker Tour SEPTEMBER 2016 Iowa State Championship WISCONSIN'S JOHN SUN CAPTURES IOWA STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP FOR $104,627

BY MSPT POKER STAFF

late July, the 2nd Annual Mid-States Poker Tour Iowa State Poker Championship at Meskwaki InCasino attracted a 451-entry field (187 Day 1a & 264 Day 1b) —which set a new state record for largest major ($1,000+ buy-in). After three days of intense action 40-year- old accountant and recreational player John Sun emerged victorious to capture a $104,627 first-place prize. If you've ever watched one of our MSPT Potawatomi final table broadcasts, then there is a good chance you remember the entertaining Sun, who hails from Milwaukee and has a remarkable record on the MSPT. It started in Season 5 when he final tabled the MSPT Potawatomi, ultimately finishing in fifth place for $26,808. Two years later, which was in April of this year, he finished third in the same event for $50,017. Then, a week before his big win, he placed seventh in the MSPT Potawatomi Regional Event for $9,497. Sun only had three MSPT cashes on his résumé, and amazingly all were final table appearances at Potawatomi. Who knew it'd take his first visit to Iowa to play poker to finally claim victory. "It feels great," Sun said after the win, which also propelled him to the top of the MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year Race with 3,200 points, a solid 800 ahead of TJ Thondup. "I guess I'll follow the MSPT for Season 7 now." The win brought Sun's lifetime earnings up to $306,744, which vaulted him to 17th on Wisconsin's all-time money list. It's also worth noting that Sun defeated Iowa's Cory McCarthy in heads-up play to take the title of Iowa State Poker Champion to the Badger State. Just 78 players returned for Day 2 action, and with 45 spots paid, 33 of them would leave empty handed. Among those to fall were poker pro Kou Vang; Jay Philips, who was playing her first MSPT outside Minnesota; and bubble boy Vincent Wolrab, who fell after his ace-king fell to the eight-five of Kurt Morden. Among those to earn a payday in Iowa were Keith Heine (42nd - $2,180), who won the MSPT Meskwaki Spring Event back in March; the last woman in the field, Kathy Hartwick (31st - $2,616); MSPT Season 6 Player of the Year Mark Hodge (20th - $3,270); and Day 1a chip leader Phil Mader (14th - $5,668). Usually MSPT final tables start with ten players, but John Sun

MSPTPOKER.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 13 Meskwaki Casino because Reg Powell (11th - $7,411) and Mark Reid (10th - $7,411) busted simultaneously at separate tables, just nine Meskwaki Casino advanced to the live-streamed finale. It proved to be an Buy-in: $1,100 ♣ 451 Entrants action-packed affair. In just 26 hands, Mark Lick, Justin Brown, Morden and Place Name City, State Prize Brett Reichard all hit the rail. Reichard's sixth-place 1 Hao "John" Sun Milwaukee, WI $104,627 finish was noteworthy in that he began the final table as 2 Cory McCarthy Dubuque, IA $63,216 the second-shortest stack and simply sat back and watched 3 Randy Perkins Davenport, IA $41,199 players bust. It was enough to earn him $16,785 and give him 4 Thomas Shea Gothenburg, NE $28,556 both the best cash and finish in his MSPT career. 5 Tyler Newman Ida Grove, IA $21,799 Tyler Newman was the next to go after growing short and shoving queen-jack into the ace-queen of Nebraska's 6 Brett Reichard Janesville, WI $16,785 Thomas Shea, who followed him out the door a short time 7 Kurt Morden Carpentersville, IL $13,951 later. After Randy Perkins bowed out in third, it came down 8 Justin Brown Mitchell, IN $11,553 to Sun and McCarthy, who was looking to keep the State 9 Mark Lick Blaine, MN $9,766 Championship on home turf. 10 Mark Reid Wyoming, IA $7,411 During three-handed play, McCarthy spiked a five outer on the river to double through Sun, who was railed by his cousin Mike Shin (fresh off a 12th-place finish in the 2016 chipping away at his opponent. In what would be the final World Series of Poker Main Event). As a result, Sun began hand, McCarthy shoved an open-ended straight draw on heads-up play at a 5-1-chip disadvantage. the flop and Sun called with pocket nines. The pair held "I felt like I lost $50,000 right there," Sun said of the hand. "I and McCarthy had to settle for runner-up and a $63,216 swore a lot in the bathroom and came back." consolation prize. As it turned out, Sun's final table experience paid off in a The MSPT will return to Meskwaki Casino in early big way as he scored two doubles through McCarthy before November. For more information, visit msptpoker.com.

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FK-26182_Sept_MSPT_Mag_8.375x10.75.indd 1 8/12/16 10:27 AM SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 15 Event Preview MSPT MICHIGAN STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP AT FIREKEEPERS CASINO OCT. 8-16

BY MSPT POKER STAFF he largest event in Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) $300,000 guarantee Main Event, which is once again expected history outside of Las Vegas took place back in May as to draw a massive field. Tan unprecedented 820 entrants packed FireKeepers "May's turnout at FireKeepers absolutely blew us away," Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. That obliterated the said MSPT President Bryan Mileski. "Poker in Michigan $300,000 advertised guarantee by creating a whooping is as strong as ever, which is evidenced by the fact that $820,000 total prize pool! WSOP champs Joe Cada and Ryan Riess both hail from the From October 8-16, the MSPT will return to the property for a second Season 7 stop, this time the famed Michigan State Wolverine State, as well as MSPT Season 4 and 5 Players of Poker Championship. A series of $65 and $250 qualifiers the Year Pat Steele and Mike Deis. Here's hoping our eighth will take place in the weeks leading up to the $1,100 buy-in, visit to the property is the best yet!"

MSPTPOKER.COM PAGE 16 Mid-States Poker Tour SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour 2016 WSOP MAIN EVENT 12TH-PLACE FINISHER MIKE SHIN TAKES ON THE MSPT BY MSPT POKER STAFF

s you read this, nine players from around the world are on hiatus from the World Series of Poker Main AEvent, a tournament that attracted 6,737 players. The November Nine will head back to Vegas in two months to battle it out for poker's most prestigious title and an $8 million first-place prize. One man who was almost there was Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Mike Shin, who busted in 12th place for $427,930. It was far and away the largest score of his career and brought his lifetime earnings up to $571,260, which vaulted him to 13th on Wisconsin's all-time money list. "A little disappointed because obviously I was so close to it, but like I said before, if you'd have told me at the start of the tournament I'd get 12, I would have been stoked," Shin said a week after his elimination while playing the Iowa State Championship. "I try not to think about it. I don't think it's going to go away though. I think about that hand though, every single day, every single hour. I'm thinking about it at this moment." Shin, who is single and owns a couple of cell phone stores, he made up his mind to play the Main Event after visiting Las Vegas twice earlier in the summer. "It was actually my third trip to Vegas during the summer and I had a decent second trip," said Shin, who played three mega satellites for the Main Event but failed to win a seat. "First I went to play Colossus and Millionaire Maker, and on second trip I played Monster Stack and Bounty Tournament. On the third trip I was coming off some good cash results so I decided to take a shot in the Main Event. I wanted to sell some action, but I don't like asking a lot of people for money. I'm not that type of person. If I can't buy in, I'd rather not play. I'm not really a big tournament player, so I just bought myself in." Once in, Shin worked his 50,000-starting stack up to 84,200 on Day 1c, which put him 854th out of the 3,252 survivors. On Day 2c, he worked that up to 265,200, which put him 297th of 2,186. Then, on Day 3, Shin caught fire to finish with 1.385 million, which put him sixth among the final 800. Day 4 wasn't as kind to Shin, who only chipped up a bit to 1.763 million (64th of 251), but he got back on track on Day 5, which is when he built up to 6.27 million (20th of 80). On Day 6, when the field worked its way down to the final 27, Shin Mike Shin

MSPTPOKER.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 17 Get to Know em' more than tripled his stack to 19.345 million, which put him "It was exciting. I try not to think about how big it was," said in fifth place. Shin, who grinds $5-$10 no-limit hold'em cash at Horseshoe Unfortunately, Shin was eliminated on Day 7 of the WSOP Hammond and the occasional PLO game at Potawatomi. "I Main Event after Vojtech Ruzicka raised to 800,000 from the was just trying to play one table at a time, not to think about cutoff and Shin called form the small blind. Qui Nguyen then the prize pool, but obviously it's in the back of your mind. three-bet to 2.7 million from the big blind, Ruzicka called, It was super good, exciting for me, and I wish I would have and Shin four-bet jammed for 14.1 million. Nguyen tanked for made it to the top nine, but there's always next year." three minutes before making the call, and Ruzicka got out of Fascinatingly, Shin is the cousin of MSPT regular Hao "John" the way. Sun, who went on to win the Iowa State Poker Championship. Obviously Shin didn't hesitate to jump in the winner's photo. Shin: A♣K♥ "Seems like I just never make any deep runs in MSPTs Nguyen: Q♥Q♦ [laughs]. He knows how to make the MSPT final tables. I'll It was a massive flip, and one that would certainly give Shin have to let him coach me I guess," Shin said of failing to follow a spot in the November Nine if he were to win. Unfortunately in is cousin's footsteps. "I love the MSPT. I don't travel much for him, that didn't happen as the board ran out 10♥4♠2♣8♦Q♠ for tournaments, so when the MSPT comes to the Midwest, I to send him home in 12th place. love to play those. The $1,100 price point is really good, the "There were a couple of others ways I could have played structures are great for a two-day tournament." the hand, but I think it was what it was," Shin admitted. "I Shin, who says he may buy a small house with his winnings, don't think it was my chance to do it yet, but I've got a lot of stated that we could expect to see him at both the upcoming years ahead of me." MSPT Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells and Potawatomi As for the overall experience, Shin loved it. Hotel & Casino stops.

Mike Shin celebrates after his cousin, John Sun, wins the MSPT Iowa State Poker Championship

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File Name Bleed Size (w x h) Designer Account Executive GCS-16-104605_MSPT_20k-Video-Poker-Tournament_(8-375x10-75)_b01 8.875x11.25 Ben Laura/Heidi Creation Date Final Size (w x h) Copywriter Proofreader 05/17/16 8.375x10.75 Andy Erin Modified Date Color(s) Creative Director Production August 22, 2016 2:31 PM 4c Dean Due Date Vendor/Publication SEPTEMBER 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 21 Regional Recap KRAIG KOMROSKY WINS MSPT GRAND CASINO FREE TO ENTER? MILLE LACS REGIONAL FOR $31,747

BY MSPT POKER STAFF WHAT A DEAL! he Mid-States Poker Tour $350 Regional Event at Grand Casino Mille Lacs in central Minnesota attracted 458 Tentrants, and it proved to be a breakout performance by 29-year-old self-employed construction worker Kraig Komrosky of Moorhead, Minnesota, who captured a $31,747 first-place prize and nearly matched his prior lifetime earnings. It was a bit of redemption for Komrosky, who in January finished 11th in the same event and in Season 6 took second to Joel Klipping in the MSPT Regional Shooting Star Casino for $23,000. It was made all the more special considering Komrosky, who has been playing poker for more than 11 years, began the final table dead last in chips. "The win felt so surreal, Komrosky said after the win. "Having been there before and getting so close I know that I will cherish this win for a while. My family and friends couldn't be happier for me. They know how bad I wanted it. My close buddies are trying to get me to go to Vegas this weekend to play some events." Day 1a of the tournament drew 140 runners, 27 of them Top prize is $5,000! made it through the night including chip leader Durwin Saturday, October 1 Matuska and Aaron Johnson, who a month removed from finishing 72nd in the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event. Step right up, and play your way to a On Day 1b, 126 entrants took to the felt and saw 28 Kraig Komrosky share of $20K! advance including MSPT Running Aces champ Erv Bjerga; Carl Carodenuto, who successfully defended his MSPT • Grand Casino Hinckley Canterbury Park title earlier this year; and MSPT Season 6 • Registration starts at noon. Event runs Player of the Year Mark Hodge. Grand Casino Mille Lacs until 4 p.m. As expected, Day 1c was the biggest flight with 182 Buy-in: $350 ♣ 458 Entrants entrants. Among the 34 players to advance were chip leader • The top 100 scores will share $20,000, Brian Granger, Season 4 Running Aces champ David Gonia, Place Name City, State Prize with payouts from $50 to $5,000! and MSPT Pro Matt Alexander. 1 Kraig Komrosky Moorhead, MN $31,747 Each guest can play only once. Must be a All told, 88 players returned for Day 2 action, but with 2 Nicholas Ingolfsland Fargo, ND $19,180 Grand Rewards Member. Membership is free & 45 paid, nearly half the returning field left empty handed. 3 Paul Skjerseth Fargo, ND $12,500 easy — see Grand Rewards to sign up today! Among those fortunate to leave with some cash were Alexander (43rd - $661), Curtis Biloki (38th - $661), David 4 Paul Schanhaar Deer River, MN $8,664 Gonia (33rd - $794), Jason Seitz (21st - $992), Moon Ahmed 5 Lonny Krych Pierz, MN $6,614 (15th - $1,720), and Bjerga (13th - $1,720). 6 Mark Secora Pillager, MN $5,093 As for Komrosky, he said he is sure to be at some upcoming 7 Jon Medure Duluth, MN $4,233 MSPT stops. "I mostly just play in Minnesota at Running Aces, 8 Bob Van Syckle St. Paul, MN $3,505 Canterbury Park, or Mille Lacs," he explained. "I'm looking 9 Shari Williams Wrenshall, MN $2,963 forward to the MSPT at Running Aces next month!"

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