Katie Goode-McLean from IL Wins $2500 WSOP Circuit Package in Fall Season Championship

The Free Poker Network Fall Season Championship concluded with Illinois player and host Katie Goode-McLean (KTRyRy333) claiming the title after defeating Minnesota’s Emma Sassen heads-up. Katie outlasted a field of 173 players to earn the championship and a $2,500 World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event prize package.

The prize package includes a $1,700 buy-in to a 2026 WSOP Circuit Main Event and an $800 travel allowance. The World Series of Poker Circuit offers players the opportunity to compete in officially sanctioned events across the country, with winners earning one of the most respected achievements in tournament poker. Katie already has her sights set on the Grand Victoria Casino, where the WSOP Circuit will stop in April. The Ladies Event is scheduled for April 10, followed by the Main Event on April 11. With her recent momentum and proven ability to perform on big stages, all eyes will be on Katie to see if she can bring home another “W.”

Katie's final table run was anything but easy, featuring several of the Free Poker Network’s strongest competitors. Women players dominated the table, with Emma Sassen finishing second, Tannia Peterson placing fifth, Rachel Simpson finishing seventh, and Heidi Ristow finishing eighth, once again showing that the ladies of FPN are among the most formidable competitors in the network.

In addition to her success as a tournament player, Katie is also an active Free Poker Network host in Illinois. She regularly runs and plays games at McBride’s Morris and The Office Bar & Grill, balancing her role as a community leader with consistent results on the felt.

The event also highlighted the continued success of the Peterson family. Former national champion Nels Peterson saw his daughter Emma Sassen finish runner-up and his wife Tannia Peterson place fifth. The strong showing followed another recent family milestone, as Peterson’s son Ryne finished third in the Clash of Kings and Queens National Championship last month, underscoring the competitive depth within the household.

Players looking to compete in future championship events can qualify by finishing in the top 15 percent of any Free Poker Network seasonal leaderboard. The Winter Season Championship is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 12:00 PM Central Time.

Here are the rest of the top 9 players at the final table, who also snagged travel rebates.

1st: Katie Goode (KTRyRy333) Minooka IL - $$2500 WSOP Circuit Package
2nd: Emma Sassen (EmmaS9) Sartell MN $500 Travel Rebate
3rd: Mike Marek (Seadog1971) E. Grand Forks MN $300 Travel Rebate
4th: Mike Meier (Soup-Natzi) Bismark ND $200 Travel Rebate
5th: Tannia Peterson (snakebite37) Sauk Rapids MN $100 Travel Rebate
6th: Richard Malsam (Fender) Bismark ND $100 Travel Rebate
7th: Rachel Simpson (superRach) Wilmington DE $100 Travel Rebate
8th: Heidi Ristow (SylvaLange) Cambridge MN $100 Travel Rebate
9th: Hermen Lopez (LP5) Perham MN $100 Travel Rebate