Virginia North East Regional Championships
VA-North East & DC
Sunday, March 1st, 2026
Registration Opens: 10:30am
Tournament Starts: 12:00pm
TD: Donna Phillips
Aroma Restaurant Bar & Banquet
12821 Fair Lakes Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22033
240-401-7029
DEFENDING TOP 3
Jim Pugh
Matthew Kistler
Yibeltal Belachew
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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Aroma Restaurant Bar & Banquet 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, Aroma 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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Specials will be announced soon!
Participating WTP Bars and Prize Info
Applegate's at Wyndham Garden
Aroma Restaurant Bar & Banquet
Babylon Falls Church VA
Backyard Grill
Blue Iguana
Crystal City Sports Pub
Crystal City Sports Pub Monday
Da'Bergs
Hard Times Cafe & Cue
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern Mondays
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern Saturdays
Mulligan's Pub On The Green
Pike Cornerstone
Shooters Sports Bar Fridays
Shooters Sports Bar Saturdays
Shooters Sports Bar Wednesdays
Silk Restaurant @ Clarion Hotel
Spirits American (Formerly JPs)-Wed
Spirits American (Formerly JPs)-Sun
The Artemis
The Old Fire Station #3
The Old Fire Station #3-Wed
The Old Fire Station #3-Sun
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, 5th, 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
SUNDAY, MARCH 1st
10:00am: TD Smackdown Tournament
This event is for current and assistant TD's from Season 2 2025 at VA-NE/DC bars only to reward their hard work all season long!
DEFENDING CHAMPION: x
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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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10:30am: 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.
11:45am: Registration Closes
There will be Regional Awards and some brief announcements prior to start time.
12:00pm: Regional Championship Tournament
Who's going to become the NEXT VA-NE Regional Champion?
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TBA: Tag Team Tournament
Grab a partner and take part in this hilarious game with switches during live hands! Points count in National rankings!
Season 1-2025 Winners
CHAMPION: JIM PUGH
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2. Matthew Kistler
3. Yibeltal Belachew
4. Tony Tripi
5. Michael Maciejewski
6. Shannon Mathews
7. Don Racine
8. Karim Abdullah
9. John Seaman
10. Gene Lee
11. Catalina Muller
12. Jennifer Margiotta
13. John Holt
14. Joe Weston
Previous Regional Champions
Season 1-2025: JIM PUGH
Season 2-2024/25: SEAN FLOYD
Season 1-2024: ERIC ROBINSON
Season 2-2023/24: MIKE HEFFNER
Season 1-2023: JOHN ERNST
Season 2-2022/23: LORI VALKENBURG
Season 1-2022: TONY VENTO
Season 2-2021/22: RANDY PALMER
Season 2-2020/21: OSEI AMPADU
Season 1-2019: ADAM NATHAN
Season 2-2018/19: ELENA CURRENCE
Season 2-2017/18: MAURICIO CAMPOS
Season 1-2017: MICHAEL CERINO
Season 2-2016/17: CHUCK CHEREL
Season 1-2016: BRUCE McLELLAND
Season 2-2015/16: BECKY BENNY
Season 1-2015: SAHIL SHAH
Season 2-2014/15: KATHRYN DAY
