Supplied<\/p>\n
James Gargan took out the top prize of $2000 after winning the inaugural Freezeout Texas Hold'em tournament held in New Plymouth on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Keen interest from poker players means a new tournament is likely to become a regular fixture on New Plymouth's social calendar.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, theFreezeoutTexas Hold'emtournament was a sell-out, with 32 people signing up to compete for a prize pool totalling $5000.<\/p>\n
Organiser Damian Gould said there had been a \"fantastic\" response to the first tournamentand there was already a waitinglist for the next one, which is planned for Marchand then monthly thereafter.<\/p>\n
\"It went off without a hitch.\"<\/p>\n
LIAM COURTENAY\/STUFF<\/p>\n
The Freezeout Texas Hold'em tournament is set to become a regular event after selling out on Saturday. Hwera's Karen Angell, fourth from the left, was the only female competitor.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:*High stakes poker tournament to be held in Taranaki*South Island men take home massive poker wins in two countries*Player turns $35 into $1.1 million at Auckland casino on one poker game<\/p>\n
James Gargan, from Omata, was crowned winner of the inaugural competiton, taking home the $2000 prize.<\/p>\n
JasonWathallclaimed second spotnetting $1350, while the only female competitor out of the 32 entrants, Karen Angell, placed third and tookhome $850.<\/p>\n
LIAM COURTENAY\/STUFF<\/p>\n
Mark Lahood, of New Plymouth, didn't given anything away as he played his hand. <\/p>\n
Each of the32 players paid the$175 buy-in for the tournament, which was held at theNew Plymouth Club.<\/p>\n
Gould came up with the tournament idea as he andsome friends had beenlooking for somewhere to play since returningto New Plymouth after a stint living inAustralia.<\/p>\n
ANDY JACKSON\/STUFF<\/p>\n
Poker tournament organiser Damian Gould says Saturday's competition went off without a hitch. (File photo)<\/p>\n
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Read the original post:<\/p>\n
Plenty of interest in new poker tournament - Stuff.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Supplied James Gargan took out the top prize of $2000 after winning the inaugural Freezeout Texas Hold'em tournament held in New Plymouth on Saturday. Keen interest from poker players means a new tournament is likely to become a regular fixture on New Plymouth's social calendar. On Saturday, theFreezeoutTexas Hold'emtournament was a sell-out, with 32 people signing up to compete for a prize pool totalling $5000 Continue reading