Mark Edwards captured the bestbet Jacksonville Summer Series Main Event title in early September, besting a field of 285 players in the $1,500 tournament. Edwards, a pro from Orlando, said he usually plays cash games but told bestbet’s events coordinator Jeremiah Curtis he likes to play tournaments to prove to his mom he’s “legitimate.” A $100K payday, from a $384K prize pool, will go a long way to proving his legitimacy, too.
The Jacksonville poker scene is no stranger to Edwards, who was runner-up in Event 1 of the Spring Series, which attracted 900-plus players. He also has a World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
At the final table, Edwards eliminated seven players, including bestbet regulars Thad McNulty, Jerome Hall, Sean Winter and Diem Pham, plus one-time November Niner and current Ante Up Player of the Year leader John Dolan. When play was heads-up against Pham, Edwards had a 3-to-1 chip lead. After a few hands, Diem went all-in and Edwards called her with Q-10. Diem had A-8, but a queen on the river gave Edwards the title.
The Summer Series had nearly 20 events and attracted players from all over the country, including a whopping 600-plus entrants for Event 1, which Jeremiah Pierce of South Carolina won.
And Jacksonville bestbet isn’t finished this year with its fine poker series. Its Jacksonville Fall Series kicks off later this month (Oct. 25) and runs through Nov. 11, culminating with the WPT main event Nov. 9-13, which will be a player of the year tournament and streamed live.
EBRO GREYHOUND PARK: Be sure to check out the poker room over Halloween weekend for some great cash giveaways.
— Chaz Allen is Ante Up’s North Florida Ambassador. Email him at anteup.chazallen@gmail.com.
WPT Regional/bestbet Jacksonville Summer Series, Aug. 24-Sept. 10
Event 1 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 609 • Pool: $121,601
Jeremiah Pierce, $13,563
Event 2 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 108 • Pool: $21,600
Mike Bozeman, $4,817*
Event 3 • $230 Omaha/8
Entries: 66 • Pool: $13,200
Ben Carli, $2,360*
Event 4 • $230 Bounty
Entries: 103 • Pool: $15,450
Joshua Thompson, $5,229
Event 5 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 68 • Pool: $13,600
Derek Bowers, $5,229
Event 6 • $340 NLHE
Entries: 560 • Pool: $168K
Larry James, $30K
Event 7 • $150 AIOF
Entries: 85 • Pool: $10,200
Ed Mroczkowski, $2,004*
Event 8 • $560 NLHE
Entries: 82 • Pool: $41K
William Dias, $8,303*
Event 9 • $340 PLO/8
Entries: 75 • Pool: $22,500
Ryan Gelsomino, $4,948
Event 10 • $340 Bounty
Entries: 84 • Pool: $25,200
Thomas O’Neill, $3,638
Event 11 • $340 6-Max
Entries: 46 • Pool: $13,800
Ken Raborn, $5,246
Event 12 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 72 • Pool: $14,400
Rico Cunningham, $5,472
Event 13 • $560 NLHE
Entries: 36 • Pool: $18K
Max Jones, $4,010
Event 14 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 42 • Pool: $8,400
Joe Jeanin, $3,612
Event 15 • $340 NLHE
Entries: 46 • Pool: $13,800
Joe Jeannin, $4,254
Event 16 • $340 Bounty
Entries: 67 • Pool: $20,100
Rich Gilliland, $5,026
$1,500 Main Event
Entries: 285 • Pool: $384,750
Mark Edwards, $107,730
Event 18 • $230 Bounty
Entries: 73 • Pool: $14,600
Mary McWilliams, $4,163
* Denotes chop or deal
