Minot man crowned poker champion
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If at first you don't succeed try, try again. Maybe 14 times.
That was the story behind a remarkable run over three days of playing poker against a large and crafty field. In the end it was Matt Lizotte of Minot who walked away a winner at the final table.
It was the 14th Annual event held at Minot's Vegas Motel. Lizotte was dealt cards in every one of them without a winning championship. This time he won it all. First place payout was a hefty $30,000.
The Vegas tourney has the largest first place payout for a non-World Series of Poker charity tournament in the United States. A total of 1,454 players participated in the hopes of sharing part of the $112,000 prize payout. Players from 16 states were in the field along with a large contingent of players from Canada.
The runner-up was Jimmy Van Huss Jr., a Dallas, Texas native who is a Minot Air Force Base veteran currently seeking a master's degree at Minot State University. Several of Huss' friends made the trip from Dallas to Minot by automobile to be at the tournament. Huss won $15,000.
The event is sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association. A portion of the proceeds is used to provide funding for scholarships at MSU.
Top 10 ND State Poker Texas Hold'em:
1 - Matt Lizotte, Minot, $30,000.
2 - Jimmy Van Huss Jr., Minot, $15,000.
3 - Kelly Lang, Burnsville, Minn., $10,000.
4 - Mike Schall, Minot, $5,000.
5 - Martin Croft, Minot AFB, $4,000.
6- D.J. Haman, Towner, $3,000.
7 - Al Finneseth, Velva, $2,500.
8 - Scott Solwey, St. Michael, $2,000.
9 - Vinnie Racine, Dunseith, $1,500.
10 - Dan Hendrickson, Crosby, $1,250.