Poker Odds Calculator
Cake Poker
Romania  Dutch  Hungarian  Portuguese  France
Poker Tournament Information »
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News

Poker News - Poker News

Heartland Poker Tour Crowns 1st Winner of Season IV

by PokerPages.com
Wed, Feb 27th, 2008 @ 12:00am

The first event in Heartland Poker Tour's fourth season had five no-limit events and over 1400 players in the week's tournaments, with the main event's $74,642 first place prize going to self proclaimed 28 year old "poker fanatic" Dusty Hamers (plus a $3000 champions package).

Competition for the main event's $248,806 prize pool got under way Sunday morning at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs, 90 miles north of Minneapolis Minnesota USA. 176 players set out to be crowned the first champion of 2008. All but 36 of those players were able to earn their $1650 seat through the HPT qualifying rounds on Thursday through Saturday.

At 1AM Monday morning, a champion was crowned when Dusty Hamers, a 28 year old machine operator from Waite Park, MN, watched a Ace hit the board, allowing his AQ to prevail over second place finisher Ray Bendijo's pocket two's. Here are the finishers:

  • 1st Place: Dustin "Dusty" Hamers, 28, Waite Park MN
  • 2nd Place: Ray "Stingray" Bendijo, 50, Ramsey MN
  • 3rd Place: Brad Flanagan, 50, Brainerd MN
  • 4th Place: Gabe Schultz, 23, Faribault MN
  • 5th Place: Brian Midtling, 46, Brownton MN
  • 6th Place: Justin Filtz, 20, Stevens Point WI
  • "I told everyone I know that I was going to win this thing," reported a chuckling Hamers saying on the Heartland Poker Tour website. "I guess I had to do what I said."

    Hamers, who has a full time job at a wood craft company in St. Cloud, MN, admits that his passion for poker has been raging since he was 8 years old. His hobbies include 'watching poker', 'reading about poker' and 'going on-line to study and read about poker.' His passion paid off this week with his biggest cash to date.

    "I definitely think I have the skills to be a pro poker player," Hamers said during his pre-final table interview. "Right now, the only thing stopping me is bankroll. Winning this tournament could put me in the right direction."

    Once again this week the Heartland Poker Tour lived up to its reputation as the only TV poker tour that caters to the smaller buy in, 'regular' American poker player. Included on the final table was a plumber, a contractor, a retail home improvement store manager, and an ex-marine.

    "We're thrilled to get the new season under way and to have another diverse and interesting final table," said HPT co-founder Greg Lang. "I know we made a lot of new friends this week that we'll be seeing down the road. It' going to be a great year."

    The Heartland Poker Tour will be back on the road March 2nd when the tour makes another stop to Meskwaki Casino in central Iowa. In all there are 16 total tour stops for the HPT in 2008 as far east as New York and as far west as Colorado.

    Here are the remaining events of the 2008 HPT:

  • March 2-9 : Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel (Tama, Iowa)
  • March 28-April 13 : Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, Colorado)
  • April 17-28 : Majestic Star Casinos (Gary, Indiana)
  • May 5-11 : Island Resort and Casino (Harris, Michigan)
  • May 31-June 8 : Greektown Casino (Detroit, Michigan)
  • June 25-29 : Turning Stone Resort and Casino (Verona, New York)
  • July 17-28 : Majestic Star Casinos (Gary, Indiana)
  • Aug. 17-24 : Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort (Mount Pleasant, Michigan)
  • Sept. 16-21 : Grand Casino Mille Lacs (Onamia, Minnesota)
  • Sept. 22-Oct. 5 : Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, Colorado)
  • Oct. 15-19 : Turning Stone Resort and Casino (Verona, New York)
  • Oct. 19-26 : Greektown Casino (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Nov. 2-9 : Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel (Tama, Iowa)
  • Nov. 9-16 : Running Aces Card Room (Columbus, Minnesota)
  • Nov. 13-24 : HPT championship at the Majestic Star (Gary, Indiana)
  • For more information about the Heartland Poker Tour visit their website at: www.heartlandpokertour.com.

     

     
     

    More Poker News Articles

    Sweden Asks ECJ Questions Impacting European Gaming Monopoly Policy
    12am Fri Oct 10th, 2008

    Sweden sent five questions to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on October 8th concerning the rights of government-owned online poker and Internet gambling monopolies to limit foreign competition under EC rules. Though some say Sweden did so to head off an ECJ case, all agree that answers to this 'comprehensive set of questions' will largely impact the future of the European gambling market.

    Neteller's New Name: Neovia Financial- Poker Players Take Note
    12am Fri Oct 10th, 2008

    In an apparent related effort to distance themselves from past entanglements with the DOJ over internet gambling in the USA, online payment solutions provider Neteller has proposed to change its name to Neovia Financial at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 11 November.

    Bulgaria is Bwin's Latest European Online Poker Expansion
    12am Fri Oct 10th, 2008

    The Vienna-listed online gambling group Bwin continues to roll out its targeted expansion into European online poker, using the subsidiary Ongame platform to launch a Bulgarian language and full localized website.

    Sandman to Gov Beshear: Regulate Online Poker & Internet Gambling Sites
    12am Thu Oct 9th, 2008

    Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, issued a statement that appeals to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshar to stop the court case to seize 141 online gambling domain names (including those for major online poker sites as Bodog, CakePoker, Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and PokerStars). Instead, the governor is encouraged to support legislation to regulate and tax Internet Gambling, which would extend the way he now supports state residents' rights to bet on horse racing online and in casinos, and would address concerns regarding minors and problem gamblers.

    A Modest Proposal Regarding Poker
    12am Thu Oct 9th, 2008

    Is poker a game of skill?

    Jimmy McSweeney wins Ladbrokes Irish Poker Festival
    12am Thu Oct 9th, 2008

    The Irish Winter Festival in Killarney had a capacity-straining record-setting 832 entrants, but it was Jimmy McSweeney of Cork Ireland who took home the first prize of an even 100,000 Euros.

    Judge to Rule Oct 15 on Kentucky Online Poker Domain Seizure
    12am Wed Oct 8th, 2008

    After hearing arguments in a Franklin County courtroom yesterday from both sides regarding Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's directive to seize 141 online gambling domains, including such major online poker sites as Bodog, CakePoker, Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and PokerStars, Judge Thomas Wingate stated that he needs one week to review both sides of the case, so he plans to announce his final historic ruling on October 15th.

    Free Tuition from Online Poker Tourney Causing Row in Canada
    12am Wed Oct 8th, 2008

    The student union at Cape Breton University in the Nova Scotia province of Canada has endorsed an online poker site that offers Canadian students the chance to win free tuition as prizes when they play in weekly online poker tournaments.

    Hungarian Csaba Toth Joins Team RedKings as 3rd Pro Poker Member
    12am Wed Oct 8th, 2008

    RedKings Poker just announced the signing of new Hungarian Poker talent Csaba Toth to join their live events team, Team RedKings. The team already boasts two highly respected young Scandinavian players: Swedish pro Jesper Hoog and Finnish sensation Toni Ojala. Csaba will be the third professional team member.

    Mercier Tops Juanda for European Poker Tour London High Roller Crown
    12am Wed Oct 8th, 2008

    The only poker player hotter than WSOPE Main Event winner John Juanda is Jason Mercier. Since capturing the EPT San Remo title in April, Mercier has put together seven cashes and three final tables. His latest final table appearance ended Thursday with a win in the EPT London High Rollers Event, worth GBP 516,000 (~ $1 million USD).

    Download Poker Software
    PokerPages
    Newsletter
    Online Poker »
    Poker News »
    Blog Coverage


    Top News
    Top Tournaments