“How do you spell competitive? Tonight, folks, it’s spelled M-A-V-E-R-I-C-K!”

That was the tone in the air at The Mayfield Tavern as twenty-five fired-up Mavericks took their seats for what would become one of the most dramatic NLH nights of the season. The chips were crisp, the stakes were high, and the tension? You could cut it with a river card. Game One opened like a heavyweight bout. Stepping into the spotlight were Alex Goyette, Tyler Macsuga, and Mike Pjeter, each throwing early haymakers and chalking up table wins. The message? If you want the top, you gotta go through us. But hold on—because Game Two flipped the script. Enter Scott Sutter, Lewis Iler, and Steve Cooper, storming the field like a trio of underdogs who didn’t get the memo to stay quiet. Their wins sent the standings into chaos and set the stage for a finale that had fans sliding to the edges of their chairs. Heading into Game Three, the leaderboard looked like something straight out of a Hollywood screenplay: Iler and Goyette tied at fourteen, a jaw-dropping six players just one point behind, and another lurking only two back. You couldn’t ask for a tighter race if you drew it with a protractor. Then — the drama hit. Tyler goes out first. Moments later, Iler falls. And then the eliminations come one by one, like dominoes in slow motion. With the room buzzing, Steve “Coop” Cooper takes down his game three table, throwing the entire night into a pressure cooker. Suddenly the math becomes beautifully brutal: Only one man can stop him — Scott Sutter. Win, and he wins the night. Lose, and the crown goes to Coop. Scott steps up. Focused. Locked in. A look in his eye like a man ready for his moment. But across the table stands James Ramsey, cool as November ice. They battle. They trade blows. The cards fall… And Ramsey delivers the knockout punch. With that, Steve Cooper becomes the nightly champion, sweeping game three and claiming victory with a performance that will be talked about for weeks. Alex Goyette takes second, Amber Soper grabs third, and Scott — after nearly stealing the show — settles for fourth, all decided by razor-thin tiebreakers. Tonight proved once again: In Mavericks poker, anyone can beat anyone, and nothing is guaranteed but drama. As we close in on the end of month two and roll toward our next double-points night, the overall standings are tightening like a final-table shove. George Pethers still clings to the lead, but Amber Soper, Rick Hoag, Mike Pjeter, and Alex Goyette have all surged forward, turning the top five into a pressure cooker of its own. And next week? Double points. High stakes. Higher nerves. And the potential for absolute chaos. Until then, Mavericks — stay sharp, stay safe, and as always… WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE FELTS!