Bonnie Bona Climbs Back to Win FPN Clash of Kings & Queens National Championship

The 2026 Free Poker Community Vegas Nationwide Championship at Golden Nugget Las Vegas reached its conclusion on Sunday as Bonnie Bona took down the FPN Conflict of Kings & Queens Nationwide Championship Major Occasion for $25,000.

The Illinois resident was right down to lower than a giant blind with two tables remaining, however she claimed all the best way again to victory to defeat heads-up opponent Tammy Quade ($10,000) and third-place finisher Ryne Peterson ($5,000), who simply turned 21 and was seeking to change into the youngest FPN champion in historical past.

“I bought fortunate. Very fortunate,” Bona, who earlier within the sequence completed eighth within the Royal Court docket championship, informed PokerNews about her miraculous comeback. “Folks doubled me up, it was good.”

The occasion, which was the second FPN championship of the sequence, drew 392 runners and had a prize pool of $58,700. The ultimate desk additionally included South Dakota’s Scott Fitch (ninth – $1,000), Frenchman Herve Brajon ($sixth – $1,000) and two-time FPN champion Joel Smith ($fifth – $1,000) who placed on a clinic this pageant by making three last tables and profitable the Tag Crew Championship.

Kings & Queens Nationwide Championship Remaining Desk Outcomes

Kings & Queens Conflict on the Golden Nugget

Even the qualifiers who did not make it to Las Vegas for the championship had higher runs than Eric Reinhardt, who had his aces cracked twice by Marvin Rumer in a succession of occasions that left him steaming and screaming.

There have been different early highlights, together with Suzzanne Barsaloux going runner-runner to make a full home and crack a flopped set, Brad Henkin doubling up with six-four suited, a hand he dubbed the “Elgin Nuts.”

The cash bubble did not take lengthy to burst as a short-stacked Donna Dale moved all in with ace-ten suited, making a no-good flush as Patrick McGuire rivered a full home. The bustouts picked up from there with all gamers within the cash and assured not less than $300.

Dan Eddy and up to date Tag Crew Champion Nikki Smith had been eradicated by Ryne Peterson in a double knockout on the last two tables, and some extra eliminations adopted earlier than the colourful Rae Gibbs of Texas fell on the ultimate desk bubble.

Gibbs, who performed with a group of crystals behind her chips, misplaced a giant hand to Joel Smith and bought her last chips in with pocket fives in opposition to the ace-king of Peterson. The 21-year-old flopped a straight as Gibbs was despatched out in tenth place.

Smith went out in fifth place when his ace-six could not maintain up in opposition to Bona’s king-queen, marking the tip of a spectacular sequence that noticed him ending seventh within the Royal Court docket Nationwide Championship and profitable the Tag Crew Championship.

The younger Peterson, who’s the son of FPN champion Nels Peterson, had his run finish in third place after he doubled up Bona. He shared hugs together with his mother and pop and went to test on his older sister, Emma Sassen, who was on the last desk of the first-ever FPN Women Championship.

Bona, who informed PokerNews she has performed Texas Maintain’em for over ten years and primarily performs on-line and at X’s & O’s Sports activities Bar, had a giant heads-up lead in opposition to Tammy Quade and sealed the deal in just some arms.

“I simply was affected person and waited for my playing cards and hit my moments,” mentioned Bona.

Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Exterior Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for 3 International Poker Awards for his writing.