As they say, time flies when you’re having fun — and Tuesday night proved it. Twenty-six Mavericks filled the tables at The Mayfield Tavern as the Free Poker Network Winter Season officially crossed the two-thirds mark. Not just any night, either — it was Double Points Night. With the season standings tighter than a river bluff, the question hung in the air: Would someone plant their flag and claim dominance?

Game One: Setting the Tone

The opening round wasted no time delivering fireworks. Veterans and fresh faces alike made their presence known as Jim Elwart and Maxx Atwell each captured table wins, while a relative newcomer, Steve Rayba quietly took down his own table and announced, “I belong here.” The race was on.

Game Two: The Gauntlet Thrown

If Game One was a statement, Game Two was a declaration. Elwart doubled down, securing his second consecutive table win and throwing the gauntlet squarely at the field. Meanwhile, Mike Pjeter and last week’s nightly champ Jim McQueen claimed their own victories, ensuring the leaderboard would remain anything but settled.

The Final Stanza: Pressure Poker

Heading into Game Three, Elwart led the pack, holding a slim two-point edge over Pjeter. McQueen and “The Silent Assassin” lurked just one point back. But seasoned Mavericks know one thing all too well — the chip leader entering the final game should never get comfortable.

And sure enough, the script flipped.

McQueen was the first contender to fall. Elwart followed soon after. Pjeter exited next, and suddenly the night’s outcome rested in the hands of a select few.

Sylvia Pinson battled her way to a strong third-place finish at her table, keeping herself squarely in the mix. But all eyes turned to Table Three, where a head-to-head showdown would determine the night’s champion.

It was Dale Pinson vs. Mike Soper — winner take all.

The chips moved back and forth in classic duel fashion, tension building with every hand. The math was simple: if Soper wins the table, he wins the night. In the end, Soper found the edge he needed, sealing the table victory — and with it, the crown for the evening.

The Final Tally

Mike Soper – Nightly Champion
Sylvia Pinson – Just one point behind
Jim Elwart – Strong showing with two table wins

With the dust settled, the season standings shifted once again. Jim Elwart surged into the overall lead, overtaking Rick Hoag, while Cliff Jones, Dale Pinson, and Lewis Iler rounded out a fiercely competitive top five.

The Stretch Run

Now we head into the final month of Winter Season play. Five weeks remain — including one more Double Points Night to close it out. The margin between first and sixth? Just 200 points.

Read that again.

Two. Hundred. Points.

It’s anyone’s title to claim.

And let’s not forget — there’s more on the line than just season glory. Nightly wins, weekly and monthly online codes, and of course the special St. Patrick’s Day Freeroll are all waiting in the wings.

This race is tightening. The tension is building. The question remains:

Who wants it more?

Until next week…
See you on the felts, Mavericks.

No Mercy at The Mayfield