Poker community honors Chad Brown at 3rd Annual Memorial Tourney

Last night at the Resorts Hotel in Atlantic City friends and fans of the late great Chad Brown came together to honor him at the 3rd Annual Chad Brown Memorial Poker Tournament. The event was hosted by Daniel Negreanu who said: “Chad was a close friend to me and many other people in the poker community and I’m delighted to be hosting this tournament in Chad’s honor.”

Though Brown died two years ago, his memory perseveres, the event carried a $200 buy-in, with unlimited $100 re-entries and 50% of the $38,800 raised last night will go to the TJ Martell Foundation and help fund research into the rare cancer that killed Brown.

As well as cash money, some great companies donated some fantastic prizes and everyone who made the final table had a little something extra to take home. Or in Jason Somerville’s case a PCA Main Event package. The Team PokerStars Pro outlasted a field of 87 players to claim a spadie. He faced off against PokerStars Mind Sports Ambassador Jennifer Shahade heads-up and defeated a final table that also included Fatima Moreira de Melo, Natasha Barbour, Vanessa Selbst and Rob ‘Boston Rob’ Mariano.

But last night poker was simply the vessel through which some of the greats of the game came together to pay their respects. André Akkari, Chris Moneymaker, Jason Mercier and Daniel Negreanu were just four of those who came to have fun and help raise money for a great cause.

Me between two of the best young poker ambassadors in the game. Much respect for both @JasonSomerville @JonathanLittle pic.twitter.com/NHrjgwPd6U

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) November 4, 2016

This was poker with a smile for a man who put a smile on the face of so many. Just look at the final table photo below. Have you ever seen anything like that before at a poker tournament?

Here’s a little story that shows the spirit the tournament was played in. As well as the serious prizes given to those who made the final table there were plenty of spot prizes given out for silly things. They gave a hat to the first person who went all-in with 7-2 and won. Someone tried it and lost, they gave him a hat anyway (h/t @EditressClare). Then they gave away tickets to a Godsmack concert for anyone who busted a player, but when Moneymaker took care of Negreanu he said whoever busted Fatima Moreira de Melo could have them. It was that kind of night. The right kind of night.

3rd Annual Chad Brown Memorial Tournament
Date: November 3rd
Buy-in: $200 (unlimited $100 re-entries)
Players: 87
Re-entries: 214
Prize pool: $19,400 + $19,400