Week 15: The Final Countdown: Five Weeks to Glory in Our Poker League

April 10, 2025April 20, 2025

As our 20-week poker league season enters its final stretch, the battle for supremacy has never been more intense. With just five weeks remaining and six coveted $10,000 WSOP Main Event seats on the line for the top finishers, the dynamic duo of Juan Rodriguez and Aaron Thivyanathan have established a commanding lead with 92 points, pulling away from the pack and positioning themselves as the clear favorites to take home the championship and represent the Elite Tampa Bay poker league at the World Series of Poker.

The race for second place, however, remains a nail-biter. Ryan Johnson currently holds the position with 76 points, but Karl Manouchakian is breathing down his neck just one point behind at 75. The tension doesn’t stop there—Jack Bittker has been the season’s most remarkable story, surging from just 16 points at the halfway mark to an impressive 73 points now. Bittker’s hot streak includes dominant victories in weeks 11, 12, and most recently in week 15, catapulting him into championship contention. With the top six (most likely) finishers earning those prestigious WSOP Main Event seats, Mohamed Lahlou rounds out a top five separated by a mere four points at 72, ensuring every hand in the coming weeks could dramatically alter the standings and potentially be worth $10,000.

Evan Vancavage sits in sixth with 68 points, while Ray Mancini holds steady at seventh with 65. Ray remains within striking distance of a top-six finish but will need to string together some impressive performances to make a serious run at the podium.

The middle of the pack features its own compelling storylines, with Donald Manns (60 points), Dave Bennett (57 points), and the team of Steve Trizis and Allen Wiseman (56 points) all fighting to crack the top tier. Meanwhile, players like Mitchell Smith (51 points) and Twitch Anderson (46 points) need a miraculous run to factor into the championship conversation, but in poker—as veterans know—anything can happen when the cards start falling.

With five weeks to go and dozens of points still up for grabs, the only certainty is uncertainty. Each week’s points structure—ranging from 14 points for a first-place finish to 1 point for ninth place, plus attendance points—means consistent final table appearances can rapidly shift the standings. Jack Bittker’s recent performance demonstrates this perfectly, as his pocket pairs have been connecting when it matters most. From JJ doubling against KK to winning with a modest 4-5, Jack’s aggressive style and timely cards have put him squarely in the championship conversation and potentially in position to secure one of those life-changing WSOP Main Event seats.

As we dive into the highlights from our most recent meetup, which featured some dramatic hands and birthday celebrations for several members (courtesy of our dedicated event coordinator Chrissy Holubeck), the excitement and camaraderie that make this league special are on full display. But the question remains: with the leaderboard this tight and the stakes this high, who will emerge victorious when the final card is dealt five weeks from now?