The Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame today announced the class of 2015. Blake Bohn and ‘Minneapolis’ Jim Meehan are the newest members of the elite group of poker players that have made an impact in the industry.
Blake Bohn, a Mid-States Poker Tournament professional from Savage, Minn., has had success as a cash-game player since the 1990s. He first made a splash on the tournament scene in 2005 when he cashed in two events at Canterbury Park’s Fall Poker Classic, just missing the $1,000 main event’s final table. He had his first World Series of Poker cash in the main event in 2010, and by 2012 had several regional first and second-place finishes.
Bohn began 2013 by besting a field of 392 at the Chicago Poker Classic’s main event, winning $288,171, starting a break-out year where he would go on to win more than $800,000, including a second-place finish in the $1,500 WSOP No Limit Hold ‘Em event, 15th place in the prestigious $111,111 WSOP One Drop High Roller Event, and first place in the Ante Up $1,100 event at Running Aces Casino in Columbus, Minn.
2014 was also a phenomenal year, seeing Bohn catch a $50,000 second place in the MSPT event at Running Aces, another WSOP final table, and two big final-table paydays including a Borgata World Poker Tour event, and a seventh-place finish in the $5,300 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open.
So far this year Bohn has had two WSOP cashes, including a 23rd place finish in the WSOP 10K Main Event for more than $260,000. He also had a third-place finish at the MSPT event at Maryland Live, and most recently a first-place finish at MSPT in Tama, Iowa. 2015 isn’t over yet and Bohn is still very much in contention for the MSPT Player of the Year with the season-ending event at Canterbury Park this weekend.
“Since 2010, Blake’s name has been commonplace in the Minnesota poker scene. There is no denying the poker skill he has, and his results prove it,” Tristan Wilberg, Casino Shift Manager/Casino Marketing Advisor for Running Aces Casino said.
In the past three years Bohn has had six cashes over $200,000, bringing his total tournament earnings to date to more than $2.3 million.
“Blake played his first live poker at Canterbury Park back in 2000. It’s always very exciting to see our local heroes have success nationally or internationally. Blake’s dedication to the game is very apparent and his success is well-deserved,” Michael Hochman, Vice President of Casino Operations for Canterbury Park said.
‘Minneapolis’ Jim Meehan has been playing poker since the 1960s. He went to law school in St. Paul, and worked for 20 years as a lawyer before going into “semi-retirement” as a professional poker player. After much success as a local and regional rounder, Jim hit the poker tournament scene in the early 1990s, scoring big in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, including a second-place finish in 1997 WSOP $3,000 Hold ‘Em event, cashing $115,800.
In 2003, he battled an all-star field at the final table of the WSOP $2,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em Event, including Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Sexton, and Kathy Liebert, to win the coveted bracelet and $280,000.
Meehan arrived at two more WSOP final tables in 2004, getting fifth place in each for a total of $62,000. He had an amazing 17 cashes in 2005, including 10 final tables totaling more than $200,000, bringing his total tournament winnings to more than $1.4 million.
“Minneapolis Jim has cashed an astonishing 21 times in WSOP events since 1997,” said Hochman. “He’s an absolute character at the table. He’s not afraid to chat a little, and typically keeps the table in stiches.”
“When the poker world thinks of Minnesota, they think of ‘Minneapolis’ Jim. Numerous times, while traveling, I have been asked if I know him, and I’m happy to say that I do,” said Wilberg. “His entertaining personality and the skill he displays make him unforgettable at the table.”
Bohn and Meehan join Lyle Berman, the first inductee in 2013, and Mike Schneider who last year was inducted, as members of the Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame.
The Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame is governed by a board consisting of poker industry professionals, poker players, and poker media. It was created in 2013 to recognize Minnesota poker players who have met the following criteria:
* The nominee must have a strong Minnesota connection, either by birth or residence.
* The nominee must have played consistently amongst acknowledged competition.
* The nominee must have withstood the test of time.
* The nominee must have played at a high level, consistently well, gaining the respect of peers.
* Or the nominee must have significantly contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker in Minnesota.
