Jon Lattergrass New FPN National Champion
On an unseasonable cold day in Las Vegas FPN players from all over the country packed into the Golden Nugget poker room for their shot at becoming the next FPN National Champions and winning the coveted $10,000 poker package. Altogether a total of 123 people played. With the tournament starting at 10am local time spirits were high and everyone was having a lot of fun. Samantha Chase from Fargo, ND took all the pressure off everyone by being the first player eliminated. For being first out Samantha received a fresh crisp $100 bill. An hour into the tournament Debbi Edwards from Illinois stood up and made the announcement she won her first hand of the tournament. Players in the poker room had a good laugh and applauded Debbi for her first win.
We were saddened to learn the news that former Dakota Poker League state champion Joyce Whitmore from Hope, ND passed away unexpectedly at the end of January. Back in 2007 before the formation of FPN things were separated by state champions. Joyce beat the whole state of ND to win a $10,000 WSOP Main Event Seat. She played that summer and held the title for the longest lasting FPN player ever in the WSOP until 2015. Joyce made it to day 3 playing some unbelievable remarkable poker just falling short of making it into the money. Joyce played in multiple leagues in her area and will be missed at the tables. 
Yesterday the Free Poker Network lost one of our most instrumental poker league reps since the beginning after a long battle against cancer. Rod "The Rodster" Lovig (50) from Norfolk, NE was one of the most avid players, friend, and poker enthusiast the game has ever seen. Since the beginning days of the Nebraska Poker League Rod was a huge success all over the state in signing up new bars and making friends along the way with anyone who had a passion for sitting at the tables. He traveled across the state including SD and Iowa to expand the league and the game as best he could. He would constantly be at every league game he could making sure bars were promoting the game correctly and making sure players knew when and where to be. He would pile players into his car and drive 50 miles just to play in a league game.
Poster boy and national champ Jimmy Miles from Rochester, MN has qualified and will defend his title! Nearly 150 players have qualified for a shot at winning the $10,000 Poker Package which includes $2,000 cash, $5,000 worth of tournament buyins, as well as air/hotel, limo, dinner, and show tickets! Who will win?? The field is chock full of great players and former champs, including the original league champion Derek Melicher (pictured, 2005) who famously busted to Phil Ivey. Derek went on to a career in poker world which has included business management of the Heartland Poker Tour and recently America's Poker Tour. We look forward to reuniting with Derek!