Poker News

By Ivonne D'amato

STATE COLLEGE -- A deluge of snow Saturday could not keep almost 90 men and women from putting on their best poker faces for the Kards for Kids Poker Tournament at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center.

The charity event -- the participants anted up $200 registration fees -- raised more than $13,000. The money will benefit four local organizations, the Juniata Valley Council of Boy Scouts, the Centre County Youth Services Bureau, the State College YMCA and Kid Tech, a nonprofit agency that designs science- and engineering-centered curricula.

The grand prize, won by Tony Santalucia, of State College, was a weeklong trip to Hilton Head, S.C. Other prizes included a three-month car lease from McIntyre Chevrolet, a grill, a trip to Split Rock in the Poconos, a year of free cable from Adelphia and fly-fishing lessons.

But there was more at stake than money for charity and prizes: Bragging rights, too, were up for grabs, said Bob Murphy, who heard about the event from his brother-in-law and came all the way from Cleveland to take part in it.

"You always have the consolation it's for a good cause, but ... you don't want to be the first one out. So you try to hold on and make (it) through the first round. You just want to get through to the second round to be able to spend some time (at the table) and enjoy it," he said. "You can't lose."

Anne McQueary, participating in her second tournament, agreed.

"It's just for the fun of it, and it's for a worthwhile charity event," said McQueary, who was joined at the event by her husband and son.

There were three different types of poker games played during the tournament -- five-card stud, seven-card stud and five-card draw -- "to help change things up," said John Ford, one of the event's organizers.

As an added bonus, and because the inclement weather was keeping people in the building, a Texas Hold'em tournament was included.

During the daylong event, each player was given $100 in chips and placed at tables of eight. Once a player ran out of chips, they were out of the tournament. The final eight players received prizes, and donations to the local charities will be given in the name of the last four players, said event coordinator Joyce Hartsock.

What started five years ago with just 32 players included 87 players this year. The popularity of televised poker games has helped to bolster the interest in the annual event, said Joe Thomas, general manager of the Ramada Inn.

The event, themed "Have a Heart for Kids," was the brainchild of Thomas, along with fellow State College residents Ford and Ken Fogelman.

"It really has grown, and all our focus is always on the kids," said Ford, who won the tournament two years ago.