Garry Merrinette takes down Game of Cards Championship
Garry Merrinette of Illinois outlasted Joel Smith of Minnesota and the rest of the championship field of 117 to "take the throne" in the Game of Cards national championship tournament held at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. For his accomplishment, Garry won the grand prize, a coveted $10,000 main event seat and a chance to win millions. Garry earned his spot in the championship by winning the Tournament of Champions at Muggs 'N Manor in Addison, IL, a league which draws about 35 players every Wednesday night.
It was feast or famine for Garry during the regular season, he won 3 tourneys during the Game of Cards promotion, but only qualified for the playoffs in one month and came up short in the regional tourney. However, winning the Mugs N Manor Tournament of Champions catapulted Garry directly to the national final plus a travel voucher since Mugs N Manor is an Elite Sponsor (Super-TOC location).
We are only days away from possibly crowning a new NATIONAL CHAMPION! The reason why we can't say we will be crowning a new National Champion is because Rob Maier (MN)(pictured) will be in the field. In FPN history we have never had a two time National Champion, however Rob will have the opportunity to not only become the first person to win it twice, but also do it back to back. He’s not the only one that has the opportunity though as former National Champions Joel Smith (MN) and Debbie Boltena (SD) will also be in the field. 
Reigning National Champion Rob Maier has put one of his poker buy-ins he won in the FPN Rounders Nat'l Championship to good use, by making the final table of the recent MSPT Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN) event. Rob missed out on the first place prize of $109,000 but his final table showing paid $7,631. There were a total of 526 entrants. Rob was knocked out when his A-K went up against the all time MN all time money leader with over $2.7M in career earnings Blake Bohn's 10-10.
Details for the new poker league promotion have been released (regular season begins April 1st), and there are some new wrinkles that will make the 2018 FPN Championship event the most exciting ever! Whoever takes this contest down will earn $25,000 CASH, the biggest grand prize in the history of the league! While most of the qualifying structure hasn't changed (about 60-70 players will qualify directly for the 2018 FPN Championship Main Event AND earn a Travel Voucher), there are some new ways to qualify at the national event.