[psychodave]

Island Resort & Casino
Harris, Michigan
May 5-11, 2008

Total Prize Pool: $106,266

1. Ken Brodhagen $32,012 1,000
2. Ali Akbari $14,457 750
3. Pete Baker $9,294 600
4. Riley Luttrell $6,196 450
5. Eric Beckman $5,680 400
6. David Baldwin $5,163 350
7. Brian Wilke $4,647 300
8. Gary Velleman $3,872 250
9. Justin Filtz $3,614 200

Island Resort & Casino

On a day that’s set aside to honor our mothers, retired police officer Ken Brodhagen got permission from his wife to play in a poker tournament, and it paid off has he captured the HPT title on the stage at the Island Resort and Casino.

“This has been on my bucket-list,” said Brodhagen of his desire to play and win a televised poker tournament. “My wife was nice enough to let me drive here this morning to play, even though it’s Mothers Day. I guess I’ll need to get her something nice.”

The softspoken Brodhagen was able to parlay his $75 satellite win into an HPT title and over $32,000. The Green Bay native said in a pre-interview that’s he’s able to use his years as a police officer and detective to help piece together the scene at a poker table.

This was the first time playing in a major event for Brodhagen who’s largest poker tournament win to date was only about $1,000.

“My wife hasn’t been too crazy about me playing poker,” he said, “but when I start bringing home some money, it should help.”

Brodhagen steadily built his chip stack and found himself heads up in the end with a fellow Green Bay resident, and crowd favorite, Ali Akbari. The two were dead even when heads up play began but the momentum quickly shifted to Brodhagen when he flopped trip sevens to Akbari’s top pair top kicker on a K77 board. After a significant pot, Brodhagen had the lead and closed out the championship when lucky sevens were again on his side, his pocket sevens holding up on the decisive hand.
For the Heartland Poker Tour it’s a short break and then three major tournaments in the next two months, including what promises to be monster turnouts in Detroit (Greektown Casino), New York (Turning Stone) and Chicago (Majestic Star).

Part 1


Part 2



Part 3



Part 4

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"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one. " IN HOC SIGNO VINCES "