2022 Free Poker Network National Championship

Over the weekend at Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas, Roger Lens and Christopher Waszczyk finished in the top two spots to win the grand prize in the 2022 Free Poker Network World Series or Bust National Championship.

They each won a $10,000 seat into the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and $1,000 cash for their victories.

Lens is from Sioux Falls and was a South Dakota State Champion to initially qualify for this tournament. He also earned additional starting chips following his team’s deep run in the Tag Team Championship the previous night. Waszczyk qualified for the tournament by being an Illinois State Champion and started the day with the minimum amount of chips, which proved to be enough for him.

This event attracted 160 qualifiers to the Grand Ballroom at Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas, and the players were all hoping to finish in the top twenty spots to win a poker package, with prizes totaling over $50,000. The third-to-twentieth-place finishers earned players a $1,500 poker package, but only Waszczyk and Lens could claim the grand prize of a $10,000 seat into the 2022 WSOP Main Event and $1,000 cash.

The Free Poker Network began in 2005 and was created by Brook Lyter. FPN allows players to earn points while playing poker in recreational leagues at bars in 17 states around the country. Players qualify for prizes and trips to major events by playing in their local FPN league.

FPN WSOB National Championship Final Table Results

Action of the Day

After nine hours of fun poker, 160 players were narrowed down to 21 and those still contending were one elimination away from the prizes.

The bubble boy ended up being Don Mahoney, who got it in good, but lost to a turned flush. That locked up poker tournament packages for each of the remaining 20 players. About an hour later, the final table was reached and the players converged on a live-streamed final table.

Some of the notables to make the final table included Jimmy Miles and Joel Smith, both of whom are former FPN National Champions. North Dakota’s Cody Slusher also made a deep run in this tournament and has previously won the Dakota Poker Tour POY.

Andrew Adami was the first player gone at the final table when Slusher found some help with his dominated hand. Former FPN National Champions Smith and Miles fell in eighth and seventh, respectively, as they came up short in their pursuit for another victory.

Wayne Corlew hit the rail next after being left short by Slusher’s rivered flush, and Steve Fugelstad said goodbye in fifth when Lens turned a straight against him. Nick Kehren lost the rest of his chips next when getting them in against Slusher’s trips, and that set up a three-handed battle, where only two could win the grand prize.

In three-handed play, Lens mostly looked to be the clear leader and it appeared likely to be between Waszczyk and Slusher on who would be the first eliminated. Eventually, Slusher was willing to risk his stack with ace-queen against Lens’ ten-four. Unfortunately for Slusher, a ten appeared on the flop and he failed to improve, eliminating him in third, which was still good for the $1,500 poker package.

Lens and Waszczyk rejoiced and celebrated with their rails, as the qualifier-only tournament resulted in each of them getting $1,000 cash and punching their ticket into the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event, where they may potentially play for millions of dollars thanks to the Free Poker Network.

Congratulations to all of the winners in this year's Free Poker Network World Series or Bust National Championship!

Tags: Andrew AdamiChristopher WaszczykCody SlusherJimmy MilesJoel SmithRoger LensSteve FugelstadWayne Corlew

Cody Slusher raised to 150,000 and Roger Lens three-bet shoved with him covered. Slusher called quickly.

Cody Slusher:
Roger Lens:

The board ran out and Lens made a pair of tens to knock Slusher out of the tournament in third place.

The top two finishers, Lens and Christopher Waszczyk, have both won the $11,000 tournament package. Slusher takes home the $1,500 tournament package for third place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roger Lens	2,000,000 500,000	500,000
Cody Slusher	Busted

With near 100,000 in the pot and on the board, Cody Slusher bet 100,000 and Nick Kehren called.

The turn was and Slusher checked. Kehren bet 100,000 and Slusher check-raised with a shove.

Kehren was covered and went into the tank briefly before he called. Slusher turned over for three sixes, and Kehren had for a pair of queens.

The river was no help for Kehren and he was knocked out the tournament in fourth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cody Slusher	1,100,000 560,000	560,000
Nick Kehren	Busted

Steve Fugelstad jammed in his 130,000 stack and Roger Lens called in the small blind.

Steve Fugelstad:
Roger Lens:

The board ran out to give Lens a turned straight and eliminate Fugelstad. Fugelstad will take home a $1,500 tournament package for his run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roger Lens	1,450,000 150,000	150,000
Steve Fugelstad	Busted

Wayne Corlew limped from early position and Cody Slusher raised to 80,000 on the button. Corlew called.

The flop came and Slusher ended up getting his 509,000 remaining chips in and was at risk.

Cody Slusher:
Wayne Corlew:

Slusher needed help to stay alive, and although the turn gave his opponent two pair, Slusher could still make a flush.

"Diamond!" an unknown spectator yelled out.

Sure enough, the spiked the river to send the huge pot to Slusher and give him over a million chips, while Corlew was left with less than a single big blind.

On the next hand, Corlew was in the big blind with his remaining chips and was against Nick Kehren.

Wayne Corlew:
Nick Kehren:

The board ran out to take the rest of Corlew's chips and end his run in sixth, good for a $1,500 tournament package.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cody Slusher	1,180,000 505,000	505,000
Nick Kehren	560,000 -30,000	-30,000
Wayne Corlew	Busted