An Orbit with 2019 PSPC Platinum Pass Winner Brandon Welter

Last December, Minnesota's Brandon Welter was at the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 9 finale at Canterbury Park. It was there that a Platinum Pass was awarded after a random drawing of eight players, who then engaged in a heads-up flip-a-ment. Welter survived the three rounds and suddenly found himself with a $30K Platinum Pass to the Bahamas.

While there, he competed against some of poker's best, and not only did he make the money, he made the first pay jump before falling in 151st place for $35,000. Forced to take some vacation hours from his job back in Minneapolis, Welter opted to hop on a place down here to Hollywood, Florida to try and win himself another Platinum Pass.

We recently spent an entire orbit with Welter, who was sitting with 17,000 in chips. Here's what we observed.

Hand #1 (Big Blind): The under-the-gun player raised to 1,500 and an early-position player called. The player on the button came along and Welter folded from the big blind.

Hand #2 (Small Blind): A middle-position player limped before the button raised to 1,800. Welter called out of the small blind, the player in the big did the same, and the limper came along to make it four-way action to the flop, which checked around.

Welter then checked the turn and the big blind bet 2,400. Two folds put action back on Welter and he called to see the river. Welter paused for a few beats before betting 6,300, which matched his opponent's remaining stack. The player in the big blind thought for a bit before calling off with the for trip kings. Unfortunately for him, it was no good as Welter rolled over the for a full house and the win.

Hand #3 (Button): The player in the cutoff raised to 1,500 and Welter folded.

Hand #4 (Cutoff): A middle-position player limped and Welter folded.

Hand #5 (Hijack): Two players limped before Welter folded.

Hand #6 (Lojack): The under-the-gun player moved all in for 8,500 and everyone folded, including Welter.

Hand #7 (Middle Position): An early-position player limped and Welter folded.

Hand #8 (Early Position): Welter folded.

Hand #9 (Under the Gun): Welter folded.

It was a relatively lowkey orbit for Welter aside from the second hand he played in which he stacked a player. Welter ended the orbit with approximately 30,000 in chips.