A New Name Rises as the Summer Season Heats Up

Rolling into Week Two of the Free Poker Network’s Summer Season, one question was on everyone’s mind:
Who would finally end Mike Soper’s three-week reign of dominance?

Twenty-five determined Mavericks took their seats, each eager to stake their claim and prove they had what it takes to topple the champ. From the very first hand, it was clear this would be one of the most competitive nights yet.

Game One ended in a flurry of big plays and bold moves, with Cliff Jones, James Ramsey, and Lewis Iler each winning their tables — loudly declaring their intent to dethrone Soper.

In Game Two, the momentum shifted again as Mike Nass, Rick Hoag, and Amanda Dudek emerged victorious at their tables. Heading into the final game, the scoreboard was razor-tight: James Ramsey held the lead with 17 points, hotly pursued by Mike Pjeter at 16. But the real drama lay just behind them — six players tied for third place and five more only a single point behind. A single misstep could send the leaders tumbling and open the door for anyone.

And as seems to be tradition, the points leader heading into Game Three was the first to fall — Ramsey down early. Could Pjeter hold on and claim the night?

One by one, contenders hit the felt, and Pjeter’s chances improved with every elimination. But the poker gods demanded a dramatic finish — and Pjeter bowed out in fourth at his table, leaving the door just slightly ajar.

It all came down to the final showdown: Cliff Jones versus Candace Sutter, heads-up for the win. If Jones took it, he would claim the night outright. But if Sutter won, the tiebreaker would hand the victory to a hopeful Pjeter.

From the rail, Pjeter watched intently, silently willing Candace to pull it off. But in the end, it was the red Georgia clay himself — Cliff Jones — who sealed the deal, winning the final game and the night!

Pjeter took a hard-fought second, with Candace Sutter earning a very respectable third.

While his winning streak was finally snapped, Mike Soper managed to hang onto the season points lead, with Cliff Jones, Jim Elwart, Lewis Iler, and Mike Pjeter rounding out the top five.

The action this season is as hot as the summer sun — and with the leaderboard this tight, it’s truly anyone’s guess who will finish on top.

Until next week, Mavericks, stay safe — and as always…
See you on the felts!