North Carolina Central East Regional Championship
NC-Central East
Saturday, March 14th, 2026
Registration Opens: 10:30am
Tournament Starts: 12:00pm
TD's: Donna Phillips, Rad McClendon, Katrina Hopkins
Cleveland Draft House
461 Shotwell Road
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 659-5500
DEFENDING TOP 3
Dustin Andersen
Hannah Pounds
George Mcilmurray
CLICK HERE FOR THE QUALIFIED PLAYER LIST
Event and Venue Overview
The Regional Championship brings together players from across your area - this event is what you have been playing for all season! Enjoy great poker, party with your friends, and earn the opportunity to play in the ultimate World Tavern Poker tournament, the National Championships.
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Cleveland Draft House is a great WTP venue with spacious areas for the Regional weekend. There will be plenty of drink selections, plenty of parking, and much more. Plus, Cleveland Draft House has an amazing, top-notch staff to make this one of the best destinations with a great atmosphere to hang out with your WTP Family.​
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Drink specials include:
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Vegas Bomb ($8.50)
Cherry Bomb ($7.00)
Red Bull ($3.00)
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Early Bird food specials include:
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Bacon/Egg/Cheese on Bun ($5.00)
Breakfast Wrap - Eggs, Cheese, Peppers, Onions, Baccon ($5.00)
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More menu items will be available as well!
Participating WTP Bars and Prize Info
Big Daddy's Bar & Billiards
Big Daddy's Bar & Billiards - Saturdays
Bronze and Oak Liquor Lounge
Capital Cabaret
Carolina Ale House (Falls Of Neuse)
Carolina Brewing Company - Wendell
Cleveland Draft House
Cleveland Draft House - Garner
Cleveland Draft House (Clayton)
County Seat Sports Grille
Dssolvr Durham Taproom
First Street Tavern
Lonerider
My Bar
On After (Formerly known as H8ters)
On After Sundays
Palace Pointe
Palace Pointe - Fri
R & R Brewing
Saints and Scholars Pub
Seven Horsemen Billiards
Sophie's Grill & Bar
Strike and Barrel
The Corner Tavern - Cary
Upper Deck Sports Pub
VFW Post 670
VFW Post 670 - Wednesday
Prizes awarded at this Regional Championship include:
1st PLACE: 3 Nights Hotel & 2 Access Passes to OPEN 2026
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2nd PLACE: 3 Nights Hotel & 1 Access Pass to OPEN 2026
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3rd PLACE: 2 Access Passes to OPEN 2026
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4th thru 6th PLACE: 1 Access Pass to OPEN 2026
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The Top 10% of the player field earn seats in the National Championship Finals at OPEN 2026 this November!
Event Schedule
SATURDAY, MARCH 14th
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10:00am: Last Chance Tournament
The Top 10% move on to the Regional Championships. Only those who have yet to qualify can play.
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10:00am: TD SmackDown Tournament
This tournament is open to NC-Central East TD's from the previous and current seasons to say thank you for all that you do! The winner earns the TD Smackdown framed print!​
DEFENDING CHAMPION: CINDY WILLIAMS
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10:30am: Registration Opens
Regional Championships are for qualified players only. You must be 21 years of age or older to play. Please have your photo ID with you at registration.
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11:45am: Registration Closes
12:00pm: Regional Championship Tournament
There will be Regional Awards and some brief announcements prior to start time.
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TBA: Sit-N-Go Tournaments
Get knocked out of Regionals? Stick around for single-table events!
Season 2-2025 Winners
CHAMPION: DUSTIN ANDERSEN
2. Hannah Pounds
3. George Mcilmurray
4. Joseph Shambley
5. Daniel Cornett
6. Hunter James
7. Dwayne Williams
8. Ann Martin
9. Charles Lambert
10. Alan Watkins
11. Tony Walsh
12. Cathy Patterson
13. Amy Williams
14. Erwin Foja
15. Debra Superville
Previous Regional Champions
Season 2-2025/26: DUSTIN ANDERSEN
Season 1-2025: CURTIS JONES
Season 2-2024/25: CHRISTOPHER REMINGTON
Season 1-2024: BRITTANY THACKER
Season 2-2023/24: SCOTT POPE
Season 1-2023: GARY McKINNEY
Season 2-2022/23: ANDREW WILLMAN
Season 1-2022: MICHAEL GADSON
Season 2-2021/22: VICTORIA SMITH
Season 1-2019: AZIZ KOC
Season 2-2018/19: NANCY ANDERSEN
Season 1-2018: SHAWN McMICHAEL
Season 2-2017/18: MARK HUDSON
Season 1-2017: DWAYNE WILLIAMS
Season 2-2016/17: MIKE MILEWSKI
Season 1-2016: MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Season 2-2015/16: JON OUELLETTE
Season 1-2015: LARRY CHAVIS
Season 2-2014/15: SCOTT BOOTH
Season 1-2014: MIKE HANCOCK
