On September 6, 2006 at 7:00 PM most of the founding members met for the first annual TCPA Texas State No Limit Holdem Poker Championship tournament. TCPA intends to sponsor the tournament annually. Only members of TCPA can participate for cash and prizes and bragging rights as the Texas State No Limit Texas Holdem Champion. Tournament participants were Vernon Harrison, Mike Lavigne, Paul Mayes, Larry Wright, Tex Flaniken, Tex Thompson and Bennett Flanagan.

Photos of the game are elsewhere on this website. The tournament got off to a slow pace with everyone playing very conservative and tight. Initially there were not very many confrontations and stack sizes remained about the same. Just good solid poker being played.

The first two hours saw only two all in’s with the all-in hand winning. Mike and Paul were beginning to accumulate chips with a good run of cards. At the break at 9:00 PM all participants were still in the hunt with Tex Thompson being the shortest stack. Chip leaders were Mike Lavigne and Paul Mayes. On the first hand after the break Tex Thompson got all his remaining chips in the pot with J 9 against Paul’s Q J. A queen on the flop and on the river eliminating Tex as the first casualty. Ten minutes later Bennett Flanagan got all his remaining chips in with Q 9 against Paul’s Q J. Bennett’s fate was sealed as his kicker failed him when the final board was Q 6 8 2 5.

On the next hand Vernon Harrison got all his money in with pocket nines against Larry Wrights a J. After a flop of A J 3 and no help on the turn and river Vernon joined the railbirds. Larry was now the chip leader. A few minutes late Mike reraised with pocket tens and was called by Larry holding 8 4 suited. The flop came J 4 4. Mike bet all-in and Larry called. When the cards were turned over Mike found himself drawing dead to a two outer. With no help on the turn or river Mike was eliminated. Larry was officially on fire.

About thirty minutes later Paul went all in from the button position when he held 10 7 suited. Larry held KQ and the flop was Q 3 5 leaving Paul drawing dead. Heads up action between Tex Flaniken and Larry Wright lasted only sixteen hands. Tex got all his money in with pocket 4’s and Larry held K J suited. When the flop came 8 2 J, Tex was down to a two outer. The turn and river did not bring any help for Tex and Larry Wright holding the best hand at the end with a pair of Jacks won the First Texas Card Players Association Championship tournament.

Congratulations to Larry Wright of McQueeny Texas, the first TCPA Texas State No Limit Holdem Champion.