The Oct-Dec 2025 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, January 24th, 2026 at The Dog House Bar & Grill in Maplewood at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season Oct-Dec. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Here is the Qualifier list for the upcoming TOC

Chanhassen Legion
Steve Buechler- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Paul Neuburger
Jan Haase
Leroy Graunke
Robin Kerber

Dog House
Libby Wollenberg- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip. $1000 Bonus Chip (overall points leader)
James Bealka
Kathy Caron
Rita D
Rick Wollenberg

Jerseys
Rick Wollenberg- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Switch
Warren Kahle
Libby Wollenberg
Carl Runberg

MC Pub
Bonnie Woodbeck- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Don Warren
Kirk Woodbeck
Keith Peterson
Wheels

Mad Jacks
Paul Neuburger- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Craig Tekse
Michael P Nelson
Larry Panek
Al Wuori

Muddy Chicken
Jon Hess- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Les Ballard
Mark Meinhardt
John Stout
Sarah Cavanugh

Park Place
Nate Muller- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Joey Nyberg
Heidi Bealka
Libby Wollenberg
Mingo

Scratch Pizzeria
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Angela Doyle
Darrell
Lyle Lynch
Rick Wollenberg

Wild Card Qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifiers)
Jeremiah Johnson
Tom Meyer
Mike Beberg
Lee Tremble
John T Anderson
Irene Goldberg
Marie Arver
Mike Schoeder
Tim Fysken
Chuck Moses
Courtney New
Josh Sortino
Bryan Stanton
Quake
Tarise Rodgers (tie)
Asha Samuel (tie)

The Apr-Jun 2025 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2025 at Park Place Sports Bar in Saint Paul Park at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season Jul-Sept. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

The following people qualified
Chanhassen Legion-
Jan Haase- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Paul Neuburger
Asha Samuel
Beau Wayne
Robin Kerber

Dog House-
Chuck Moses- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Adam Greshowak
Keith Peterson
Marvin Werner
Carl Runberg- $1000 Bonus (overall points leader)

Jerseys-
Warren Kahle- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Switch
Mike Beberg
Carl Runberg
Matt Gangi

MC Pub-
Lee Tremble- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Wheels
Shawn Zuniga
Lizzo my Bizzo
Libby Wollenberg

Little Village Pub-
Dan Gunderson- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Chuck Moses
Rita D
Al Wuori
John Stout/Corey S (tie)

Mad Jacks-
Paul Neuburger- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Al Wuori
Scott S
Craig Tekse
Larry Panek

Muddy Chicken-
Lyle Lynch- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Jeremiah Johnson
Aaron Lynch
Sean Morrill
Nate Hetland

Park Place-
Heidi Bealka- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Zack Ostertag
Carl Runberg
Libby Wollenberg
Adam Greshowak

Scratch Pizzeria-
John Stout- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus
Carl Runberg
Libby Wollenberg
Lizzo my Bizzo
Angela Doyle

Wild Card Qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifiers)
Rick Wollenberg
Irene Goldberg
Joey Nyberg
Kirk Woodbeck
Paul Lomelino
Bonnie Woodbeck
Jeff Sinna
Courtney New
Mark Meinhardt
Josh Robertson
Jon Hess
Aaron Leaf
Bryan Stanton
Kathy Caron
Brad Sargent

The Apr-Jun 2025 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th, 2025 at Muddy Chicken in Burnsville at 1pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season Jan-Mar. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Here are the qualifiers for this upcoming tournament.

Chanhassen Legion
Paul Neuburger- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Steve Buechler
David Rathke
Leona Woodworth
Jan Haase

Dog House
Richard Allen-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Carl Runberg
James Bealka
Warren Kahle
Jeff Sinna

Jersey’s
Rand Koch- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Carl Runberg
Switch
Shawn Van Hamm
Shane Grass

MC Pub
Jason LeDuc- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Wheels
Keith Peterson
Anthony Yanez
Joey Nyberg

Little Village Pub
Josh Lamphere- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Al Wuori
Carl Runberg
Shane Grass
Rita D

Mad Jacks
Paul Neuburger- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Craig Teske
Scott S
Larry Panek
Bernie Mac

Muddy Chicken
Bryan Stanton- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Kimmy Naylor
John Drees
Liz Duray
Tracy Cederstrom

Park Place
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip + $1000 Bonus Chip (Overall Point Leader)
Mingo
Matt Gangi
Heidi Bealka
Jenni Muller

Scratch Pizzeria
Bryan Stanton- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Jeremiah Johnson
Mike Schoeder
John T Anderson
Carl Runberg

Wild card qualifiers (Most overall points from non-bar qualifiers
Irene Goldberg
Zack Ostertag
Bonnie Woodbeck
Chuck Young
Lizzo my Bizzo
Mark Haiden
Kirk Woodbeck
Gabe Abbott
Lacey Wilson
Kathy Caron
Marie Arver
Courtney New
John Weiman
Lyle Lynch
Chuck Moses

The Jan-Mar 2025 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th, 2025 at Little Village Pub in White Bear Lake at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season Jan-Mar. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Here are the qualifiers for this upcoming tournament.

Chanhassen VFW
Heather Matthiesen- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Dick Krueger
Paul Neuberger
David Rathke
Bob Hinnenkamp

Dog House
Tarise Rodgers- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Jeff Sinna
Steve Getty
Keith Peterson
Tim Fyksen

Jerseys
Switch- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Liz Duray
Wheels
Joey Nyberg
John Shively

MC Pub
John Knowles- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Bonnie Woodbeck
Heidi Bealka
Tarise Rodgers
Nick Wilson

Little Village Pub
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip + $1000 Bonus Chip (Overall Points Leader)
Al Wuori
Terry Sylvester
Steve Getty
Denise Schmidt

Mad Jacks
Michael P Nelson- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Paul Neuburger
Larry Panek
Michael Schwender
Rick Golden

Muddy Chicken
Slim- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Johnny Hottub
Matt Dingmann
John Drees
Bryan Stanton

Park Place
James Bealka- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Jenni Muller
Heidi Bealka
Carl Runberg
Josh Sortino

Scratch Pizzeria-Monday
Bryan Stanton- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Carl Runberg
Lyle Lynch
Amber Sauber
Marsha Millonig

Scratch Pizzeria-Friday
Bryan Stanton- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Steven Sauber
Amber Sauber
Liz Duray
Carl Runberg

Wild Card Qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifiers)
Steven Schwender
Kirk Woodbeck
Mike Schoeder
Warren Kahle
Anthony Yanez
Josh T
Amanda Rae
Ken Hagel
Marie Arver
Irene Goldberg
Mingo
Kirt Smith Jr
Rita D
Shane Grass
Mario Rawlerson

The Ocr-Dec 2024 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, Jamuary 25th, 2025 at Park Place Sports Bar in Saint Paul Park at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season Oct-Dec. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Here are the qualifiers for this upcoming tournament.
Chanhassen Legion-
Al Wuori-Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Rita D
Ron Zuehl
Paul Neuberger
Robin Kerber

Dog House-
Warren Kahle- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Carl Runberg
Tarise Rodgers
Adam Greshowak
Keith Peterson

Jerseys-
Liz Duray- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip+ $500 New Venue Drawing
Quake
Carl Runberg
Joey Nyberg
Matt Gangi

MC Pub-
Chad Morris- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Al Wuori
Dennis Yaritz
Josh Robertson
Irene Goldberg

Little Village Pub-
Steve Getty- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Rita D
Carl Runberg
Al Wuori
Tim Fyksen

Mad Jacks-
Paul Newburger- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Michael P Nelson
Larry Panek
Dawn Christensen
Brian P

Park Place-
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip + $500 Bonus Overall points leader
Nate Muller
Josh Sortino
Kirk Woodbeck
Dennis Yaritz

Scratch Pizzeria-Monday
Mike Schoeder- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Bryan Stanton $500 Bonus Chip New Venue Drawing
Tom Smith
Carl Runberg
Anthony Nordquist

Scratch Pizzeria-Friday
Joey Nyberg- Bar Winner $500 Bonus Chip
Bryan Stanton
Carl Runberg
Amber Sauber
Irene Goldberg

Wild Card Qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifiers
James Bealka $500 Bonus Chip New Venue Drawing
Ken Hagel
Marie Arver
Michael Gale
Bonnie Woodbeck
Heidi Bealka
Casino
David Rathke
Mingo
James Anderson
Craig Tekse
Lizzo my Bizzo
Chuck Moses
Jeff Sinna
Anthony Yanez
Mark Haiden
Zack Ostertag
Bobbie Jo Meegan
Mike Leonida
Nick Domeier

New Venue Drawing Winners
Amanda Rae
John Drees
Dawn Knox

The April-June 2024 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Jersey’s Bar & Grill in Inver Grove Heights at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season April-June. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Chanhassen Legion
Paul Neuberger-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Robin Kerber
Bjorn
Mike Whaylen
Mike Venteicher

Dog House
Richard Allen- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Keith Peterson
Carl Runberg
Michelle Lundquist
Mark Haiden

Jerseys
Liz Duray-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Bryan Stanton
Peter Taft
Joey Nyberg
Elijah Duray

Little Village Pub
Chuck Moses-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Rita D
Steve Getty
Mark Haiden
Richard Allen

Mad Jacks
Paul Neuberger-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Craig Tekse
Michael P Nelson
Jason Dalrymple
Miguel

Park Place
Nick Domeier-Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Heidi Bealka
Nate Muller
Carl Runberg
Jennie Peterson

Wild Card qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifiers)
James Bealka
Deanna Olson
Anthony Yanez
Dan Gunderson
Warren Kahle
Dennis Yaritz
Tarise Rodgers
Adam Greshowak
Courtney New
Marvin Keen
Ken Hagel
Jane Neuberger
Jason Holland
Leroy Graunke
Wheels
Rock Wilder
David Rathke
Jake D
Shawn Van Hamm
Michael Gale

The April-June 2024 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Dog House Bar & Grill in Maplewood at 2pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Here are the qualifiers from the previous season April-June. These plus the TDs are eligible to play. $200 winner takes all.

Chanhassen Legion
Al Wuori- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Paul Neuberger
David Rathke
Jan Haase
Mike Whaylen

Dog House
Ken Hagel- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Collin Gohl
Deanna Olson
Jennie Peterson
Carl Runberg

Jerseys
Wheels- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Carl Runberg
Switch
Jodi Zachary
Elijah Duray

Little Village Pub
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
James Bealka
Chuck Moses
Daniel Jr
Ken Hagel

Mad Jacks
Paul Neuberger- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Stacy Jackson
Michael P Nelson
Ernie Christensen
Bill Wermager

Park Place
Nate Muller- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Dan Gunderson
Dennis Yaritz
Kirk Woodbeck
Marie Arver

Wild Card Qualifiers
(Most overall points of non-bar qualifiers)
Heidi Bealka
Liz Duray
Tom Ellerman
Michael Gale
Bonnie Woodbeck
Irene Goldberg
Warren Kahle
Ned Johnson
Joey Nyberg
Mike Beberg
Adam Greshowak
Bob Hinnencamp
Jeff Sinna
Asha Samuel
Lizzo my Bizzo
Mark Haiden
Nick Domeier
Steve Thompson
Leona Woodworth
Anthony Yanez

The October-December 2022 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 at Park Place Sports Bar in St. Paul Park at 1pm.

The Tournament of Champions is a $200 Winner Takes All tournament open only to those who have qualified by placing in the top 5 point finishers at one (or more) of our poker locations, the top 10 overall point leaders who did not qualify at their bar, as well as our Tournament Directors. The overall point winner from each location will receive an additional $1000 bonus chip for their efforts.

Qualifiers are listed below:
Cedarvale Fitz
Bryan Stanton -Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Angela Doyle
Myke Zurn
Sandi Raines
Cory LaBelle

Chanhassen Legion
David Rathke- Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Paul Neuburger
Leona Woodworth
John Weiman
Bob Hinnenkamp

Dog House
Jennie Peterson- Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Jeff Sinna
Collin Gohl
Quake
Michael Gale

Jerseys
Wheels- Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Jodi Zachary
Carl Runburg
Kevin H
Joey Nyberg

Mad Jacks
Paul Neuburger- Overall Points leader $1000 bonus chip/Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Michael P Nelson
Craig Tekse
Chester Hollie Jr
Lorraine Hamilton

Park Place- Friday
Carl Runberg- Bar Winner $1000 bonus chip
Zach Ostertag
Ken Dirks
Kirk Woodbeck
McScarry

Park Place- Wednesday
Nick Domeier- Bar Winner $1000 Bonus Chip
Nate Muller
Mike Beberg
Jennie Peterson
Dennis Yaritz

Wild Card qualifiers (most overall points of non-bar qualifers)
Mike Schoeder
Shawn Zuniga
Brooke McDermott
Alex P
Deanna Olson
Shane Grass
James Bealka
Amanda Rae
James Phillips
Irene Goldberg
Thomas Ewalt
Karam
Kathy Caron
Peter Taft
Jan Hasse

Registration is now open for our Cinco de Drink-o themed tournament on Saturday, May 7th at 2pm. This event will be hosted by Park Place Sports Bar in St. Paul Park. The prize pool will be $200 including $25 to the winner of the consolation game. Additionally, first place will receive an auto entry to the Tournament of Champions!!!

We will be offering a $1000 bonus chip for players who come to the event dressed in their most festive Cinco de Drinko attire!

To register for this event, you must EMAIL SFPTSpecialtyTourney@gmail.com

Please do not send FB messages/texts/calls to register. All registration must be received via email. If you do not have access to email, you may ask someone else to email the registration for you, just be sure your first and last name is included. See you at the tables!

We know you’ve all been anxiously awaiting the new schedule, but before we share the returning locations, we think it’s important to acknowledge and share some information with all of you. The COVID-19 pandemic happened. It affected all of us. Some of us lost jobs, some of us lost businesses, and some of us lost loved ones. Life changed. Between masks, staying at home, not going out to dinner or the movies or to the bar to play poker, to hoping to see loved ones again soon…it was all very stressing.

Straight Flush also had some stresses. When the stay-at-home orders shut down our venues, it also shut us down. We were unable to provide services to the bars that provide the revenue for the large prizes awarded at our state tournaments. We also chose to not collect outstanding revenue from our bar partners as a gesture of good will. We wanted them to use their funds to pay their staff and try to keep their doors open in any way possible, so that we could come back and play again. It didn’t help everyone, as some bars and restaurants couldn’t whether the storm.

Unfortunately, these gestures didn’t leave us with much left in our bank account either. We are basically starting over at square-one. You’ll notice quickly not all of our venues have chosen to return at this time, or return at the same level, or have pursued other options with no plans to bring poker back at all.

Prior to the shut-down, we were getting ready for a state tourney. Unfortunately, that season will have to become null and void. That state tournament will not be played. This is hugely disappointing for us, but we couldn’t predict the impact the pandemic would have on our revenue stream from the bars. Closed bars with no games means no funds to pay for those prizes. Running Aces, a huge supporter and sponsor of the prizes for the state tournaments was also closed and is not able to help in their usual contributions at this time.

Players who had already won trips, etc. at the previous state tourney, for the June 2020 WSOP will receive compensation in lieu of the trip. This was most important to us to make happen. We have four great venues starting again next week, June 21st-24th. They will be offering the nightly prizes as usual, however no player points will be given at this time. Monday’s at American Legion Post 580 at 7p in Chanhassen, Tuesday’s at Jersey’s Bar & Grill at 7p in Inver Grove Heights, Wednesday’s at Park Place Sports Bar at 7p in St. Paul Park, and Wednesday’s at Mad Jacks Sports Cafe at 7p in Brooklyn Park.

We need to have a few more bars up and running to be able to offer the same quality of prizes we have in the past. If our math is correct, look for the league and points to start up again in October…playing for a trip to WSOP 2022…In order for that to happen, we have to show these bars again how much we support them. Bring new players, meet early for dinner or drinks, support the location while playing poker. (READ: SPEND MONEY IN THE LOCATIONS.) Be respectful of their tireless and overworked staff! TIP YOUR SERVERS.

Remember, Straight Flush poker is NOT FREE POKER. Our venues are paying to host these weekly tournaments and if they don’t see a return on their investment, there is no incentive for them to keep hosting.

In the meantime, we are working on some specialty tourneys with bigger prizes to fill the gaps in the schedule. Let us know if you have any ideas for those. Let us know if you are interested in being a TD or have a new venue that may want to try poker with us.Most of all, thanks for being patient with us and the bars while we get Straight Flush rolling again…we’re coming back and hopefully, we will be back just as strong as ever very soon.