TOC 2022

 A cool and crisp January afternoon was the perfect setting for a tremendous Tournament of Champions at Pepper Street in the garage around back. 18 gambling legends, some who won tournaments others who qualified through points, gathered around to throw down in our annual thousand dollar prize pool free roll. 

Most players started with 35K in chips, but Allen R. got 40K for winning a second tournament, Jeff G got 45K for winning three tournaments and Joe got a record 50K also for winning three tourneys plus taking down Player of the Year! Nice!

With 25 minute levels and a nice flat structure, there was tons of play early on. Yours truly took a big hit when his top two pair on the flop was run down by a turn from hell, but I still had almost 50 big blinds remaining and was able to hang on for quite a bit longer.

We had a few dropouts before the second break, Jeff G, Mike C, Eric L, Kyle and yours truly were the first out, in that order. Jeff, being first to bust, went home - but then came back when we texted him about starting up a cash game!  We got underway shorthanded, and shortly there after Ian and Joe both joined us. Then, thanks to a smart and timely text by Eric, Barbara joined us! Also fantastic, my father-in-law Paul wandered in and sat down to gamble.  Poker poker poker baby!

Jason busted next and joined in the cash game shenanigans, and then in the tourney it was final table time!

Next out was Dan L, then Art (who was nice enough to stay and deal) and then Stephen B.  Lea Anne was next to fall and joined in the cash fun. 

It wasn’t bubble time when Priya busted in fifth place, the TOC only pays three, but after her exit the four remaining players made a deal for a bubble safety. So everyone left was in the money!

The first to exit with money in his pocket, was Mr. Allen R. He took home 100 bucks for fourth place. Actually he didn’t go home, he took an immediate left turn to the cash game!

And then there were three remaining, and they battled for quite a while before Jerry, who at one point had all of the chips, succumbed in third place for $200.

He seemed happy enough, but chose not to join us for cash. At this point there was something going on that has never happened before. There were enough players to have two tables of cash game play, plus of course the heads up battle that was raging in the tournament.

The battle between Stuver and Josh was quite prolonged and intense. Since the host was knee-deep in the cash game streets, they had to shuffle and deal themselves. So I know it was tiring. The chip lead went back-and-forth more than once, and with 8 PM approaching Stuver proposed a deal. They were both about even in chips, but Josh had a slight advantage. Stuve offered 1st place money to Josh, $400, and he would take the second place cash ($300) and the trophy!

Josh it turned out was as tired as Stuver, and was happy enough to take the cash and concede the title. And we had our winner! The guy who supposedly hates tournaments, but always seems to cash when he plays and now takes down the big one. Very gracious of Josh, but also smart because he gets an extra hundred bucks. Well done the both of you!

The tourney was over by 8, the cash game continued until well after 9! Now that’s some gamble!

All in all the event was a tremendous success, I am so so appreciative of all of you who came out to gamble. I appreciate the folks who just stuck around for the tournaments, and of course I also really appreciate the hard-core gamblers who threw down in cash. Most of all I am grateful for each and every one of you for always making it fun!

I am super excited about a full new year of poker goodness in the garage around back. We have a cash game coming up this Friday the 13th, and then our first regular tournament of the year on Saturday the 21st, 5:30 PM. Don’t forget, a slightly higher entry fee of $60 and no dinner break, so eat before you come!

Until then, have a very Happy New Year and peace and we out!