The 2025 Free Poker Community (FPN) Desert Sprint-for-Money Nationwide Championship is in swing on the Golden Nugget in North Las Vegas and noticed a one-day event play out Thursday within the type of $200 WPT Passport. Craig Ashley of Workplace Bar in Illinois battled via the ultimate desk to win a $5,000 WPT passport, $200 in money and entry into Sunday’s Championship occasion.
The $200 WPT Passport, which awarded a $5,000 passport to any 2025 WPT cease, drew 89 entrants and supplied $200 money and Championship occasion entry to gamers who made the ultimate desk.
Lower than a yr in the past, Ashley gained the FPN ‘Step within the Ring’ Nationwide Championship for $12,500 on this similar venue. It was a conflict of champions as he defeated heads-up opponent Darren Sneed, who gained final yr’s Tag Workforce occasion.
“I’m fairly excited,” Ashley advised PokerNews in a winner’s interview. “I wasn’t even certain I used to be going to play it.”
Learn About Final 12 months’s FPN Championship!
2025 FPN WPT Qualifier Closing Desk Outcomes
“They Had been Nice Gamers”
The ultimate desk included Barry Nelson, Jim Knight and Jeremy Anderson, who joked earlier within the occasion that he was the “rookie” as he practically tripled via Ashley and two-time champion Joel Smith, who went out in eleventh place close to the ultimate desk bubble, the identical place he completed when he bubbled final yr’s Championship occasion.
“They have been nice gamers,” mentioned Ashley. “They have been preventing and making it powerful.”
Ashley, who has cashed in two FPN Most important occasions however is especially a money recreation participant, had his pal Mike Mejia on the rail and the 2 will play in Saturday’s Tag Workforce occasion.
FPN Motion on the Nugget
Motion kicked off at 5 p.m. native time within the Nugget ballroom. Jack Black was among the many gamers to chip up early, however sadly for anybody hoping to play with the College of Rock, Kung Fu Panda and The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film star, it was a distinct man.
The event performed shortly with 20-minute ranges and reached the ultimate desk in a matter of hours. There have been two all-ins on the cash bubble and Steve Schreiner, whose 91-year-old dad and Tag Workforce accomplice was there to provide out “Wow Woman” rocks, was the unlucky bubble boy as Anderson doubled up on the different desk.
Robin Stene was the primary to go on the last desk as Isaac Thompson hit runner-runner two pair, however Thompson was subsequent to go after working a suited ace into the pocket kings of Barry Nelson.
Justin Web page, Anderson, and Russell Neil have been the subsequent three eliminations as stacks bought shorter. Nelson and Jim Knight adopted go well with earlier than a brief stack battle between Sneed and Ashley that noticed the latter pulling forward.
PokerNews can even be overlaying Saturday’s Tag Workforce Championship and Sunday’s Desert Sprint-For-Money Championship Most important Occasion, the place contributors will spar for a chunk of the $100,000 prize pool and $10,000 in Thriller Bounties. Each occasions will embody live-stream protection obtainable to observe on YouTube.
Keep tuned as PokerNews can be again on-site on the Golden Nugget tomorrow for continued protection of the Free Poker Community motion.
*Images courtesy Free Poker Community
Connor Richards
Editor & Stay Reporter U.S.
