As the sun set early on a crisp fall evening, a dedicated group of Mavericks, fresh from exercising their voting duties, turned their attention to a much-anticipated night of poker at The Mayfield Tavern. What began as a slow start soon turned into one of the most exciting and well-attended poker nights yet, with 23 players—including newcomers Tony Garner and Drew Bovee—coming together for some intense action.

Veteran players were eager to show the rookies how the game is played, and they didn't disappoint. Rick Hoag and Cliff Jones made strong statements early, each dominating their respective tables in the first game. As the night progressed, the competition grew fiercer, with each player gunning for the top spots.

In game two, Jones continued his impressive run with a second table win, while Steve Herston secured a victory at his table, leaving no doubt that the night would be full of twists and turns. As the players entered the final game, Jones led the field with 24 points, followed closely by Hoag with 23 points and Jim Elwart with 19. The final round saw the leaderboard remain largely unchanged—Elwart was the first to bow out, followed by Hoag, leaving Jones to finish strong and claim the night’s victory.

Despite a strong push from Lewis Iler, who came close to toppling the leaders, it was Jones who emerged victorious, with Hoag and Elwart finishing second and third, respectively. Iler rounded out the top four, securing a solid position as the night concluded.

The league standings saw some significant changes, with Cliff Jones surging to the top spot, followed by Mike Baker, Amanda Dudek, Jason Owen, and Candace Sutter in the second through fifth positions. With two more double points nights on the horizon, the competition is wide open as we approach the midway point of the Fall Season—it's anyone’s game to win.

Congrats to all the top finishers, and as always, see you on the felts next week!

Mavericks Battle it Out as Cliff Jones Surges to the Top at The Mayfield Tavern