August 14th, 2025 – Tampa Bay Elite Poker League

In a night that perfectly captured the unpredictable nature of tournament poker, David Smith emerged victorious in our third week of Fall league action, climbing to a tie atop the leaderboard with defending co-champion Dan Goonin. The evening was marked by dramatic confrontations, crushing bad beats, and one of the most exciting final table battles we’ve seen all season.

Before we dive into the action, our thoughts are with Ray Mancini and his family during this difficult time. Tony Pellegrini graciously stepped in as a substitute, continuing our league’s tradition of supporting one another both at and away from the felt.

Early Drama Sets the Tone

The night’s most heartbreaking moment came early when Eric Buel found himself in an impossible situation. Holding quad kings – one of the most powerful hands in poker – Eric checked it down against Dan Johnson, only to watch his monster hand go uncompensated. As if that wasn’t cruel enough, poker’s pendulum swung again when Dan Goonin sent Eric to the rail shortly after. Sometimes this game just isn’t fair, and Eric learned that lesson the hard way.

And the he was sent to the rail by Dan S.

Poor Eric.

The Road to the Final Table

As the field condensed toward the final table, players began positioning themselves for the crucial late-game battles. The tension was palpable as chip stacks grew and shrunk with each passing orbit, setting up what would become one of our most memorable final tables of the season.

Pivotal Moments Shape the Endgame

The final table opened with fireworks as Mitchell Smith and Dan Goonin clashed in a massive confrontation. Mitch’s pocket aces held up in what could have been a tournament-defining pot. Adding intrigue to the hand, Josh Nicholson later revealed he had folded pocket jacks preflop – a decision that looked brilliant in hindsight but surely left him wondering “what if.”

The action continued when Chrissy Holubeck doubled through Ryan Harfouch in a crucial spot, keeping her tournament hopes alive and adding to the mounting pressure at the final table.

The Elimination Cascade Begins

9th Place: Kevin James – Kevin’s tournament ended when his K-J couldn’t outdraw Dugg Hadden’s superior holding. It was a tough way to go for Kevin, who had been building momentum throughout the evening.

8th Place: Dan Goonin – In one of the night’s most shocking eliminations, the defending co-champion saw his tournament end when Ryan Harfouch’s pocket aces held up against Dan’s K-T suited. It was a devastating blow for Dan, who had entered the night tied for the chip lead in season points.

7th Place: Chrissy Holubeck – Despite her earlier double-up, Chrissy couldn’t maintain her momentum. Josh Nicholson’s A-T proved too strong for her 5-4, sending her home in 7th place.

6th Place: Ryan Harfouch – After eliminating Dan Goonin with pocket aces, Ryan found himself on the wrong end of a classic race. Dugg Hadden’s A-K outran Ryan’s A-J, marking a dramatic shift in the tournament’s momentum.

5th Place: Mike Ozer – Dugg Hadden continued his surge, eliminating Mike Ozer when his K-J dominated Mike’s Q-J. With each elimination, Dugg was building the stack that would carry him deep into the final stages.

Four-Handed Drama

4th Place: Mitchell Smith – Despite his early success with pocket aces, Mitch’s tournament ended when David Smith’s A-K suited proved superior to his Q-9. David was beginning to assert his dominance as the final table reached its climax.

The Classic Three-Handed Battle

3rd Place: Josh Nicholson – The final elimination before heads-up play provided one of the night’s most dramatic moments. In what can only be described as a classic confrontation, David Smith’s A-K held against Josh Nicholson’s pocket queens. It was the kind of hand that separates champions from runners-up, and David proved he had the cards when it mattered most.

Heads-Up for the Championship

2nd Place: Dugg Hadden – The final hand of the tournament saw David Smith complete his remarkable run when his pocket queens held up against Dugg Hadden’s A-T. It was a fitting end to a night filled with dramatic confrontations, and David had earned every bit of his victory.

Final Results – Week 3 (August 14th)

1. David Smith – A masterful performance from start to finish
2. Dugg Hadden – Excellent play throughout, building a massive stack before the final confrontation
3. Josh Nicholson – Solid tournament until running into David’s hot streak
4. Mitchell Smith – Early power play with aces couldn’t carry him to victory
5. Mike Ozer – Steady play earned him a final table cash
6. Ryan Harfouch – Eliminated the defending champ but couldn’t capitalize
7. Chrissy Holubeck – Battled hard with a short stack
8. Dan Goonin – Tough night for the defending co-champion
9. Kevin James – Another solid showing from a consistent performer

Leaderboard Implications & Emerging Trends

With his victory, David Smith catapults to the top of our season standings with 17 total points, tying Dan Goonin for the early lead despite Dan’s disappointing 8th-place finish. Dugg Hadden’s runner-up performance moves him into serious contention with 15 points, while Josh Nicholson’s third-place finish keeps him in the hunt.

Key Statistical Trends After Week 3:

The Elite Tier Emerges: Five players have separated themselves with 15+ points: Dan Goonin and David Smith (tied at 17), followed by Oran Haynes and Tom “A6” McDonald (16), and Dugg Hadden, James McKinnon and Ryan Harfouch (15). Remarkably, Dan Goonin leads with an incredible 8.5 points per week average despite playing only two tournaments.

Consistency Champions: Among regular attendees (3 weeks played), David Smith leads the points-per-week rankings at 5.7, followed closely by Oran Haynes (5.3) and Dugg Hadden (5.0). This trio has found the secret to sustained success in our competitive field.

Participation Patterns: We had an incredible turnout of 58 players in Week 1 when we allowed both team representatives to play, followed by solid fields of 41 unique players in both Week 2 and Week 3. The player mix has been dynamic, with new members joining in Week 2 and some Week 1 players returning after missing Week 2. This healthy rotation keeps the competition fresh while maintaining strong weekly attendance.

The Rebuy Report: David Smith and Dimitry Shamootin lead the league with 2 rebuys each, showing that even top performers sometimes need a second chance. David’s ability to overcome early setbacks and still lead the standings demonstrates the value of persistence.

IMPORTANT LEAGUE DEADLINE: Next Thursday, August 21st, marks the final opportunity to join our Fall season. All league fees must be paid in full by next week – no exceptions. Don’t miss your chance to compete for those WSOP Main Event seats!

The race for those coveted WSOP Main Event seats is intensifying with each passing week. David Smith has announced himself as a serious contender, while the early season leaders are learning that consistency will be key over the long 18-week haul.

The beauty of tournament poker was on full display in Week 3 – from Eric Buel’s cruel quad kings to David Smith’s championship performance. As we head into Week 4, one thing is certain: this season is far from decided.

See you at the felt next week, where anything can happen and usually does.

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Our thoughts remain with Ray Mancini and his family during this difficult time. The Tampa Bay Elite Poker League family extends our deepest condolences and support.