Everything’s Bigger In Texas: Record-Setting Lone Star Poker Series Grabs Industry By the Horns
Houston, TX (May 25, 2021) - The first-ever $1,000,000 guaranteed poker tournament held in the state of Texas proved a roaring success. Champions Poker Club’s Lone Star Poker Series $1,300 Main Event attracted a robust field of 1,818 entries to produce a $2,090,700 prize pool - more than doubling the event’s million-dollar guarantee and setting a new record for the Lone Star State.
The entire series boasted more than $1,500,000 in guaranteed prize pools, with $2,646,085 ultimately awarded to the players across the 19-event bonanza thanks to more than 3,200 players taking to the felt at Champions Poker Club.
“We always knew of the Texas-sized appetite for poker, but the record-setting turnout to Champions Poker Club surpassed all of our expectations,” said Isaac Trumbo, Executive Vice President of Champions Poker Club. “Champions Poker Club is incredibly grateful to the poker community for its support and allowing us to showcase the best in Texas poker. In addition to all of the players, Champions Poker Club could not have achieved such success without its partners and stakeholders. We sincerely thank the Above the Felt team, PokerGO, PokerNews, and all staff from Champions Poker Club and the Lone Star Poker Series.”
The Main Event was filled with talented players and notable personalities, including Above the Felt’s Chris Moneymaker, Darren Elias, and Matt Berkey. While Moneymaker, Elias, and Berkey all finished in the money, it was Joon Park grabbing the headlines for his largest live tournament score to date, a $271,429 payday. Park, a 29-year-old South Korean, now resides in Austin after attending the University of Texas. Park struck a three-handed deal with Gabriel Andrade and Nick Shkolnik, with Andrade and Shkolnik earning $195,955 and $257,170, respectively.
Champions Poker Club awarded 150 seats to the Main Event via various satellites and promotions. One of the winners was James Duke, who earned his entry into the Main Event by winning the venue’s daily tournament leaderboard promotion. Duke turned that winning seat into a 76th-place finish in the Main Event for $3,900.
Among the other notable highlights from the series were Gerald Stogner besting a field of 409 entries in the kick-off event to win $23,742, Pedro Rios winning both the $500 Omaha-8 Championship and $400 Ultimate Monster tournaments, Daniel Lowery taking down the $600 Spring Series Saver, and Michael Lech winning the $400 Second-Chance Send Off.
“Above the Felt cannot thank Champions Poker Club enough for the first-class experience at the Lone Star Poker Series, and we are confident all players and partners would echo the sentiment,” said Tom Wheaton, founder of Above the Felt Entertainment. “The record-setting turnout, wall-to-wall action, and a genuine love for the game made for an energy that was second to none. On behalf of the entire Above the Felt team, it was a pleasure to collaborate with all members of the Champions Poker Club, Lone Star Poker Series, PokerGO, and PokerNews teams for such a one-of-a-kind experience.”
In what was truly a remarkable show of teamwork, the Champions Poker Club’s Lone Star Poker Series brought together services from Above the Felt Entertainment, PokerGO, and PokerNews.
Above the Felt Entertainment partnered with Champions Poker Club to elevate the series through strategic marketing and community engagement, highlighted by team members Moneymaker, Elias, and Berkey on site to participate in tournaments, cash games, and live streams.
PokerGO worked to provide the venue with state-of-the-art live streaming and commentary from Jeff Platt and Brent Hanks, and PokerNews’ industry-leading team of reporters was on site to provide live coverage of the Inaugural Texas State $1 Million Guaranteed Main Event.
On the heels of the record-breaking Lone Star Poker Series, Champions Poker Club is in progress of opening a new premier poker venue in Dallas, Texas, as it further expands operations across the state. Furthermore, Champions Poker Club will soon be communicating new plans for an additional location in Houston. The future is bright for Texas poker, with Champions Poker Club leading the way.
For additional information, including what’s to come for both Champions Poker Club and Above the Felt Entertainment, please visit www.Champions-Poker.com and www.AboveTheFelt.com.
About Above the Felt Entertainment
Above the Felt® Entertainment is the leading poker talent, marketing, and entertainment agency. Founded in 2021 by Tom Wheaton, Above the Felt focuses on connecting poker players, fans, and businesses across industries through its exclusive roster of talent, modern-day strategic marketing, and innovative entertainment services.
About Champions Poker Club
Founded in 2020, Champions Poker Club is an industry-leading membership card club featuring poker and other game offerings. Champions Poker Club was founded by Hall of Fame poker players Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, and Dewey Tomko in partnership with gaming industry veterans Roy Choi and Jieho Lee. The club’s flagship venue is located in Houston, Texas, and home to the state’s first-ever $1 million guaranteed poker tournament as part of the Lone Star Poker Series. Champions Poker Club is proud to showcase “How Champions Do Poker.” For more information, visit www.Champions-Poker.com.