Snow, biting cold, and true Michigan winter grit proved no match for a Maverick on a mission — Tuesday Night Poker at The Mayfield Tavern was on, and nothing was going to stop it.

Despite the conditions, twenty-seven Mavericks answered the call, packing the tavern for a night that quickly turned into something special. The evening opened with a little tease about an upcoming February–March special promo, just enough to get the buzz going, and then came the magic words: “Shuffle up and deal.” From that moment on, it was game on.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, Tyler Macsuga, Jim McQueen, and Rick Hoag burst out of the gates fast and furious, each claiming a table win and immediately planting their flag at the top of the leaderboard. The tone was set early — this was not going to be a quiet night.

As game two kicked off, the question hanging over the room was simple: who was going to challenge the early leaders? Only Lewis Iler answered the call, as both Tyler Macsuga and Rick Hoag doubled down on their dominance, repeating their game-one performances and creating real separation from the field.

When the points were tallied, the picture was crystal clear. Macsuga and Hoag sat tied at seventeen points, a full three points ahead of “The Silent Assassin” Sylvia Pinson and Matt Gingell. Catching them was going to take something special.

And then… the momentum shifted.

Tyler Macsuga would be the first to fall, his shot at the nightly win slipping away. Not long after, TSA exited the race as well, leaving just two names standing: Gingell and Hoag.

Hoag finished with a fifth-place table result, opening the door just wide enough for Matt Gingell to make a final charge. Gingell battled hard, finishing third at his table, and when the dust settled the scoreboard told a dramatic story — a dead tie at twenty-two points.

A tiebreaker was needed.

When it was all said and done, Rick Hoag emerged victorious, capturing the nightly win in thrilling fashion. Congratulations to Rick Hoag on a well-earned victory, and to Matt Gingell for a heart-pounding second-place finish. Third place honors went to Tyler Macsuga, who set the pace early and never faded quietly.

Just three weeks into the Winter Season, the overall standings have already seen a shake-up. Rick Hoag now sits atop the leaderboard, with Jim Elwart, James Ramsey, Dale Pinson, and Sylvia “TSA” Pinson all close behind and ready to strike.

If this feels familiar, it should. Just like last season, this Winter campaign is shaping up to be wide open, fiercely competitive, and impossible to predict — and I, for one, can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

For any Mavericks who may have missed the Facebook post about the upcoming special promo, be sure to head over to the page and check it out.

Until next week — stay safe, stay warm, and we’ll see you on the felts!

Mavericks Do What Mavericks Do