Christmas Cheer and a Visit from Santa!

’Twas two nights before Christmas, and what did I see?
A room full of Mavericks, wild as can be.
The felts were laid out, the chips stacked just right,
With visions of final tables dancing all night.

The cards were in motion, the pressure was real,
Each shuffle and deal brought a new twist to feel.
Some nursed short stacks, others towered with might,
All chasing that win on a cold winter’s night.

The laughter was loud, the rivalries keen,
Bad beats were muttered, great bluffs went unseen.
Though Christmas was coming, no one would yield—
Not with pride, points, and glory still left on the field.

So two nights before Christmas, one thing was quite clear:
When Mavericks assemble, the game reigns supreme here. 🂡

And so, after the judging of the Christmas attire—a festive showdown ultimately won by George Pethers, with Amber Soper finishing a razor-thin second—the lights dimmed, the chatter hushed, and the night truly began.

Twenty-five Mavericks took their seats, a cast worthy of a holiday epic. Among them was newcomer Brad Binder, ready to make his mark; Santa Claus himself, spreading cheer and intimidation in equal measure; and a true blast from the past, as Oakley Austin, home for Christmas, made a surprise return to the felts for a little yuletide poker.

The first game unfolded like a slow burn. Every decision mattered. Every chip carried weight. Positioning was king, and the Mavericks played with calculated precision, all with one goal in mind—maximize points and set the stage for the night ahead. When the final cards fell, it was Jeremy Dunn, Candace Sutter, and last week’s champion Oliver Saylor who emerged victorious at their tables, sending an early message that this night would not be easily claimed.

Game two poured gasoline on the fire.

Gwen Pranis and Alex Goyette each seized control of their tables, but all eyes once again turned to Oliver Saylor, who—still riding the momentum of last week—refused to cool off. Another table win. Another statement. Another step closer to history.

When the points were tallied, the tension was palpable. Two clutch second-place finishes by Sylvia Pinson kept Saylor from breaking free, holding his lead to a narrow two points at eighteen. Three other Mavericks still clung to hope, but everyone in the room knew the truth—it would take a Christmas miracle to stop the heater Saylor was on.

And then… the miracle never came.

As the final game played out, Santa’s favor—or fate itself—seemed firmly behind Ollie. One by one, every player close enough to threaten exited early, their dreams of catching him slipping away with each bust-out. Calm, composed, and utterly relentless, Saylor locked up the night with a rock-solid second-place finish, leaving zero doubt about the outcome.

Oliver Saylor stood alone at the top, claiming his second consecutive nightly win and cementing his place as the most dangerous Maverick at the tables right now.

Alex “Santa” Goyette played the role perfectly, finishing second on the night, while Sylvia Pinson, whose consistency kept the pressure on until the end, completed the podium in third.

The Fall Season standings shifted under the weight of the night’s results, but one thing remains unchanged—Mike Soper still sits atop the leaderboard, holding a commanding 300-plus-point lead over Alex Goyette. Behind them, Rick Hoag, Jim Elwart, and Cliff Jones round out the top five.

But let’s be clear—this season is far from over.

With next week being a double-points night, the crown is still very much in play, and the final chapter promises fireworks.

I, for one, can’t wait to watch it unfold.

Until next week, Mavericks—
see you on the felts. 🂡