Overview
Jim Meehan (March 19, 1952 – December 6, 2018), often called "Minneapolis Jim Meehan," was an American professional poker player and former attorney. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he built a late-blooming tournament career after decades of informal play. Meehan became a familiar figure on the tournament circuit in the late 1990s and remained respected within the poker community for his steady play and long involvement with the game.
Early life and legal career
Meehan grew up in the Twin Cities region and pursued a career in law before devoting substantial time to poker. He worked for many years as an attorney, a fact often noted in profiles of his poker career and part of why he was described as a thoughtful, methodical player. His background in law preceded and informed his gradual transition into more frequent tournament play.
Professional poker career
Although Meehan began playing poker as a youth in the 1960s, he did not appear regularly in major events until the 1990s. His tournament presence increased after 1997, when he registered several deep finishes that raised his profile among players and fans. He was known for competing in limit formats and mixed-game events as well as more mainstream hold'em tournaments.
Notable results
- 1997 — Runner-up in the $3,000 limit hold'em event at the World Series of Poker, a breakthrough result that brought wider attention.
- 1999 — Third place in the $2,500 limit Omaha event at the WSOP, another high finish in a specialist format.
- Multiple cashes and respectable finishes in regional and national tournaments through the late 1990s and 2000s, reflecting a consistent presence rather than a prolific title collection.
Style, reputation and contributions
Meehan was often described as deliberate and cerebral at the table, traits attributed to his professional training as an attorney. He favored structured, limit-styled games and earned the informal nickname linking him to his hometown. While not a frequent bracelet winner, Meehan commanded respect for longevity and sportsmanship among peers and local poker communities.
Death and legacy
Jim Meehan died on December 6, 2018 in Minneapolis at the age of 66. His career illustrates one path in modern poker: a transition from a conventional profession into tournament play later in life, contributing to the diversity of backgrounds in the game. For those researching WSOP histories and the Minnesota poker scene, Meehan remains a recognizable figure whose notable finishes are recorded in tournament archives and contemporary accounts.