With eight weeks remaining in the Fall 2025 season and an unprecedented 41 entries pushing the league to over six guaranteed $10K WSOP Main Event seats, the race for Tampa Bay poker supremacy is reaching a fever pitch. Ray Mancini continues to dominate the top spot with 57 points, but Ryan Harfouch is breathing down his neck at 55 points—and their rivalry has defined this season. James McKinnon (42 points) and David Smith (43 points) have emerged as serious contenders in the upper tier, while Week 10 saw two players make major moves. Kumar Sudhir and Stuart Phillips notched their second final table of the season, and Jack Bittker—after a slow start to this season—called in the cavalry. Last season, Jack dominated down the stretch to win a WSOP Main Event seat, and this week he brought in Asher Weinman as his first substitute of the season. Asher didn’t disappoint. With eight weeks left and the field this strong, every final table matters, and this week proved it again.
Following are some notable hands this week:
Asher Weinman, subbing for Jack Bittker, put John Capitano all in & he called with 2nd pair. Hers was better.
41 entries this week puts u at 6+ seats already! This is going to be a HUGE season!
Two tables left!
A couple of great hands for Kumar!
Kumar Sudhir AK>Dugg Hadden 99
Dugg 9th
Nick Scholz AJ>AK Tom McDonald
Tom 8th
Nick J3> A5 Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson 7th
Kumar KK> Nick JJ > Tony K8cc
Tony Pellegrini (sub for Chrissy/Marv) 6th
David S KQ>AK Dimitry
Dimitry Shamootin 5th
David Smith AJ>J8 Nick S
Nick Scholz 4th
Kumar AJ>KQ David S
David Smith 3rd
Asher Weinman and Kumar Sudhir chopped 1st!
The final table in order of finish was:
1. Kumar Sudhir/ Asher Weinman (for Jack Bittker)
2.Chop
3.David Smith
4.Nick Scholz
5.Dimitry Shamootin
6.Tony Pellegrini (for Chrissy/Marv)
7.Ryan Johnson
8.Tom McDonald
9.Dugg Hadden
Kumar Sudhir’s victory—backed by a relentless series of premium hands (AK over 99, KK over JJ, and AJ over KQ)—marks the second final table for Team Stuart Phillips/Kumar Sudhir and vaults them firmly into contention with 29 points. Meanwhile, Asher Weinman’s clutch performance in her debut as Jack Bittker’s substitute demonstrates the kind of championship-caliber play that could turn Jack’s season around. The chop between these two rising forces adds crucial points in a season where the margins matter more than ever. With Ray Mancini (57 points) and Ryan Harfouch (55 points) locked in an epic two-point battle at the top, and a crowded field of contenders including James McKinnon (42), David Smith (43), Lee Tran/Hugh Mayes (40), and Tom McDonald/Dan Johnson (36) all within striking distance, the next eight weeks promise fireworks. At over six seats already locked in and climbing, this is shaping up to be the biggest season in Elite Tampa Bay poker league history. The question isn’t just who will win—it’s how many players will punch their ticket to poker’s biggest stage.