PokerOrg’s Pick 3 contest has wrapped up with Chris Jones of RecPoker’s 'Team 5by5' winning the $30,000 first prize, thanks in large part to newly-crowned two-time bracelet winner, Mark Darner.
The package includes entry into the $25,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, ten nights' accommodation here at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, and complimentary buffets.
The contest tasked entrants to choose a team of three players competing in the $2,500 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty event, with the team of players that earned the most money from their collective cashes winning for their team owner.
The final sweat
From a field of 1,259 Pick 3 team entries, just four teams remained in the hunt for the grand prize as Day 3 of the tournament began on Monday. Each team had one of four remaining players in the field of 18 returnees on whom their contest hopes rested.
Midway through the day, the contest was down to just two entries.
Jones had Darner, a WSOP Bracelet and Circuit ring winner, who earned his seat into the event via a win in the WSOPC Cherokee High Roller tournament.
Dan Ross, a well-known West Coast tournament reporter was his last competitor, whose hopes rested with Vera Dong, who won the WSOPC Graton High Roller.
Darner and Dong both made the final table, with whoever lasted longer winning the contest for their owner. It was fitting that while sitting side by side at that final table, Darner was the player to eliminate Dong when his king-queen won a flip against Dong’s pocket fours to win Jones the contest.
Jones: 'I cannot believe this is even real'
PokerOrg reached out to Jones for his reaction to winning a trip that includes entry into the biggest tournament of his life.
“I love this game so, so much," Jones said. "I love thinking about it, challenging myself with it, and playing it. And I love watching those who play it at the highest level.
"I never in a million years dreamed I'd have a chance to play in a room with those same people. I’m already such a fan of what PokerOrg does, but I can't thank them enough for this opportunity. This is a recreational poker player's dream!“
We also spoke to Darner on dinner break, who was excited to hear what his deep run in the tournament had won Jones.
"That's awesome! Let's go, Chris! Hopefully I'll be in that event too. Thanks for having faith in me."
Darner gets it done!
In a perfect end to the day and the tournament, Jones indeed will likely be seeing Darner in the Super Main Event, as his guy took care of his own business, seeing through the rest of the final table to win the bracelet!
It was his second of the year, after winning a $2,500 no-limit hold ‘em event at this summer’s World Series of Poker for just under $500,000. This win earned him $350,000 plus bounties, so he’ll have plenty to buy into the WSOP Paradise marquee event later this week.
Congrats to both Darner and Jones on their big wins on Monday.
