TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

With her face resting on her hand, Lindsey Henderson of Ashland City ponders her next move during the Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament at Bellevue Mall. Photo by Mike Strasinger.

Thanks to those who know when to holdem and know when to fold 'em, the Harpeth Youth Soccer Association could very well break the house in the weeks to come.

Over the next seven weeks, a Texas HoldEm poker tournament will take place at the Arcade and Billiard Superstore in Bellevue Mall. All proceeds will benefit HYSA.

Poker players entering the tournament pay a $10 entry fee and in return are handed a stack of chips representing $5,000. Proceeds from the entry fees for the tournament will go toward scholarships for the HYSA.

"Our scholarship fund benefits those who can't pay to play soccer," HYSA executive director Cannon Mayes said. "The entry fees people pay will go to cover the costs of playing in the league and uniforms."

The idea was the brainchild of Arcade and Billiard Superstore owner Roy Elder, who has acquaintances playing in the league.

 

"It's the same type of tournament you see them playing on ESPN and in Vegas," Elder said. "This is just a way for our store to get its name out there and benefit the community."

The tournament will be played on consecutive weekends with a champion emerging each time. In the eighth week, all former champs will return for the final round that will determine the best of the best.

"Its just about bragging rights," Elder said. "That will be something for one person to be able to say they beat out all the other poker players who took part."

A group of around 30 players participated in the opening round of the tournament last weekend. Elder said the store could accommodate as many as 60 people at a time and that's what they are expecting as word spreads.

Mayes said a smallish rub permeated the brass at the HYSA because of the issue of mixing the words "gambling" and "youth" in the same context. But it was kyboshed once the tournament's bottom line was firmly established.

"We talked about it as a group and a board," Mayes said. "And all we're doing is accepting money from someone who was kind enough to do this. We really appreciate what the tournament is doing for the league. We feel like the HYSA provides a service in the community and this is just a way that the community supports us."

Mayes went on to say that he would not be participating in the actual playing but was planning on being a volunteer dealer, of which the tournament is still in need.

"We've had a very favorable response from this," Elder said.