Royalty Visits the Maverick Poker League

As we barrel into the final month of the Free Poker Network’s Fall Season, twenty-four hardened Mavericks stepped out into the biting autumn wind and into The Mayfield Tavern—each one hoping to rattle the standings yet again. Last week’s double-points frenzy had detonated the leaderboard, leaving Mike Soper clinging to a slim advantage. The question hung in the air as cards hit the felt: What would tonight do to the race for the crown?

The action opened cautiously. These players know each other’s tendencies inside and out, and nobody was eager to make the first big mistake—
nobody except James Ramsey, that is.

The Attica gunslinger lived up to his legend, refusing to let anything as trivial as “bad starting cards” stop him from firing off early shots. True to form, he was the first casualty of Game One. When the dust finally settled, the pace-setters emerged: Mike Nass, Lew Iler, and Rick Hoag each captured their tables with crisp, calculated play.

Game Two brought plenty of fireworks—and sent a couple of players packing—but the remaining twenty Mavericks were treated to something unforgettable. While Mike Baker and Maxx Atwell secured their table wins, the hand that set the entire Tavern buzzing belonged to Jeremy Dunn and Cliff Jones.

Both players tangled in a pot that started innocently enough:
Flop: 10 A 8 — both checked.
Turn: J — and suddenly, everything changed.

Jeremy, holding K-Q offsuit, had just hit Broadway. He shoved confidently, fully expecting to drag a monster pot.

Cliff snap-called… and flipped over K Q.

Not a straight.
Not a flush.
Not even a straight flush.
A ROYAL FLUSH.

The room erupted. Jeremy laughed it off—because honestly, how do you get mad at someone making the purest hand in poker?

With the adrenaline still pumping, Game Two wrapped up and the points count revealed Mike Baker on top, clinging to a two-point edge over a pair of chasers, with five more lurking close behind.

Game Three, however, had plans of its own.

Several contenders stumbled early, including Baker, who bowed out mid-pack. Rick Hoag followed shortly after. But the story of the night—the headline, the exclamation point—belonged to Royal Flush Jones. Riding the momentum of that unbelievable hand, Cliff stormed through his final table, locked up the nightly win, punched his ticket to the TOC, and earned his spot in the weekly FPN National Online Championship Tournament.

Congratulations to Cliff on an iconic night! And props as well to Mike Baker, who grabbed second, and Jim Elwart, who snagged a strong third-place finish.

For the third straight week, the leaderboard was shaken like a snow globe—this time with Rick Hoag climbing all the way to the top after a night of steady, impressive finishes. Trailing behind are Mike Soper, Cliff Jones, Alex Goyette, and Amber Soper, rounding out a top five separated by mere whispers of points.

With just four weeks remaining, this Fall Season is shaping up to be a photo finish. No clear favorite. No safe leads. No guarantees.

Just a group of Mavericks chasing glory on the felt—one hand, one night, one break at a time.

What a night.
Be safe, Mavericks—and we’ll see you back on the felt!