2010 Oklahoma State Championships of Poker
by Bodog Poker | Feb 26 2010
This time of year poker players begin the long stretch towards the World Series of Poker. The spring months are always a busy time of year for live poker events all over the world as local casinos host tournaments with prize pools or satellite seats that will get winners into the WSOP Main Event.
In Oklahoma they've been holding the Oklahoma State Championships of Poker for five years, crowning a state champion in a number of different poker disciplines. Results from most state championships are in, and as expected local Oklahoma players were the dominant force in most of the events.
The Pot Limit Omaha State Championship went to Tulsa native Mesqana Tesfalidet. It was her second live tournament cash, following her other win in the 2009 Mid-South Poker Classic last year. Her Pot Limit Omaha win was worth nearly 9K and she had to beat out Oklahoma City native Scott McKinney in the heads-up battle. She outlasted 130 other players to win the state crown.
The No Limit Holdem 6-Handed State Championships attracted 103 players for a $27K prize pool. Coming out on top was Bixby, OK native Franklin Howerton. He won a little over $7K in his first live tournament cash after beating another amateur named Frank Waters of Moore, OK.
The Limit Holdem State Championship had lower numbers and only attracted 48 players. The $340 buy-in made for a $14K prize pool and the top five players got paid out. The champion ended up being a Choteau, OK player named Steve Sawyer. It was his third live tournament cash and was worth $5,560. Sawyer had to beat Harry Bolger to claim the championship.
The 7 Card Stud Hi/Low State Championship only managed to get 17 players enrolled. The top three got paid out, with the winner's shared being just over $2500. Michael Masterson earned the state crown after beating out Russell Vanover and Jordan Walther in the final three showdown. It was Masterson's first live tournament cash of his career, while runner-up Vanover collected his third final table at the 2010 Oklahoma State Championships of Poker. His other finishes were seventh in both a no limit holdem and a Jack and Jill event.
The Oklahoma State Championships of Poker will have a total of 24 events, including the Championship Event with a $3,150 buy-in. For three years the promotion has seen a steady growth in attendance and it looks like it will be more of the same for the upcoming year.
