Big Easy XX

June 15, 2019

Twenty! Twenty years of fun, mayhem, and camaraderie. The tournament is almost as old as some of the new players! And instead of winners and losers at the BET, Everyone Wins! This year all participants purchased something special commemorating the 20^th^ year. Imagine the pride you will feel when a friend or family member is on the stand for arson, holding up the beautiful Zippo™ lighter they stole from you. As in all items available for purchase, it is not only functional but also classy and windproof.

Typically described as the most memorable day of the year for some people, the day starts out strong. 26 people fighting it out for the coveted title of the Big Easy Tournament Champion. And it was not luck, that got them here, only the ones with the most unnerving skill, dedicated to serious poker playing, serious food eating, and serious drinking get to make it into the BET. With this sense of competitiveness, it is almost a tragedy to see 25 dreams shattered. But for one skillful player, a champion emerges.

We missed the World-Famous Lance's Homemade Chili this year, but Red's renowned store-bought boudin, and Ralph's Sliders, joined with some store-bought meatballs allowed the group to start out the day right.

After seeing old friends and catching up with new ones, we read the rules. We missed a participant that would not make it this year, Mr. "Duff" C, but his legacy lived on; before he passed, he put a bounty on Kevin D and Michael C. (As an aside, the BET participants, under the guidance of Kevin D, raised $500 for a donation in Duff's memoriam. A class act Kevin D, a class act.) We used the upgraded almost-patented seat randomizer and the Game Began!

Although the game is geared to produce only one champion, it also boasts of having a moral victory... the winner of the "First Out" award! A whopping $1.00 was awarded to John M. for being 1^st^ out! The envy in the tournament room was almost overbearing. It was almost embarrassing seeing the affection that Mike C had for John M after he won. Mike C was really choked up over it.

This year's side pots remained in multiples of 5. Loudmouth Mike C continued to coerce people in and managed the side pots.

4 of a kind or greater: Ralph H gets it!

2-4: David W wins it big!

During the game, service was performed by just one Nick, who was running ragged trying to keep everybody fed and hydrated! We went back to our roots, and cooked steaks again. Chef Matt grilled them to perfection, with green beans, potatoes, and garlic bread.

The game started back with 21 people following the dinner break. We had 20 rebuys this year. As usual, after dinner the antes escalate, but not nearly as much as the friendly slurs!

And the BET got to enjoy another treat from Mike C, when at approximately 8:13 PM, he was able to expel gas that that he exclaimed 'he had been waiting on.' Although he didn't state when he had started waiting on it, the committee agreed it may have been since last tournament.

The field narrowed to 2 tables at 7:45 PM. Those 14 people played with ~ $9200 chip value in play, the game went back and forth. The tables were at 4 people each at 10:13. With anticipation building on who would be the one out to form the Final Table. And at 10:22PM, Johnny R goes out to form the Final Table.

- In the money & The Final Table-

The BET committee payed all Final Table spots this year, and still funded the coveted first-out award!

The onset of the Final Table comprises John B, Mike C, David W, Ralph H, Mitch C, Ed S, and the venerable Frank P.

David W goes down at 10:43 for 7^th^ place!

Ralph H goes down at 11:04 for 6^th^ Place, beaten by Ed S with 4 J's!

John B goes down at 11:50 for 5^th^ Place.

Frank P goes down at 11:53 for 4^th^ Place.

Mitch C goes down at 11:58 for 3^rd^ Place.

12:15, Ed S and Mike C battle it out... 7 stud didn't do Ed any favors. All-in bet and Ed loses, making Mike C the BET XX Champion! 4 times in 20 years, Mike C has made it count!

A big BET XX congrats to Ed S for 2^nd^ place!

And congrats to Kevin D for being awarded the Perennial Loser Trophy!