Bonnie Bona Climbs Back to Win FPN Clash of Kings & Queens National Championship
The 2026 Free Poker Network Vegas National Championship at Golden Nugget Las Vegas has reached its conclusion as Bonnie Bona took down the FPN Clash of Kings & Queens National Championship Main Event for $25,000.
The Illinois resident was down to less than a big blind with two tables remaining, but she claimed all the way back to victory to defeat heads-up opponent Tammy Quade ($10,000) and third-place finisher Ryne Peterson ($5,000), who just turned 21 and was looking to become the youngest FPN champion in history.
"I got lucky. Very lucky," Bona, who earlier in the series finished eighth in the Royal Court championship, told PokerNews about her miraculous comeback. "People doubled me up, it was good."
The event, which was the second FPN championship of the series, drew 392 runners and had a prize pool of $58,700. The final table also included South Dakota's Scott Fitch (9th - $1,000), Frenchman Herve Brajon ($6th - $1,000) and two-time FPN champion Joel Smith ($5th - $1,000) who put on a clinic this festival by making three final tables and winning the Tag Team Championship.
Kings & Queens National Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bonnie Bona | Illinois | $25,000 |
| 2 | Tammy Quade | Minnesota | $10,000 |
| 3 | Ryne Peterson | New York | $5,000 |
| 4 | Chris Nelson | South Dakota | $2,000 |
| 5 | Joel Smith | Minnesota | $1,000 |
| 6 | Herve Brajon | France | $1,000 |
| 7 | Perry Peyerl | Fargo, ND | $1,000 |
| 8 | Justin Moore | New Bethlehem, PA | $1,000 |
| 9 | Scott Fitch | South Dakota | $1,000 |
Kings & Queens Clash at the Golden Nugget
Even the qualifiers who didn't make it to Las Vegas for the championship had better runs than Eric Reinhardt, who had his aces cracked twice by Marvin Rumer in a succession of events that left him steaming and screaming.
There were other early highlights, including Suzzanne Barsaloux going runner-runner to make a full house and crack a flopped set, Brad Henkin doubling up with six-four suited, a hand he dubbed the "Elgin Nuts."
The money bubble didn't take long 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 house. The bustouts picked up from there with all players in the money and guaranteed at least $300.
Dan Eddy and recent Tag Team Champion Nikki Smith were eliminated by Ryne Peterson in a double knockout at the final two tables, and a few more eliminations followed before the vibrant Rae Gibbs of Texas fell on the final table bubble.
Gibbs, who played with a collection of crystals behind her chips, lost a big hand to Joel Smith and got her final chips in with pocket fives against the ace-king of Peterson. The 21-year-old flopped a straight as Gibbs was sent out in tenth place.
Smith went out in fifth place when his ace-six couldn't hold up against Bona's king-queen, marking the end of a spectacular series that saw him finishing seventh in the Royal Court National Championship and winning the Tag Team Championship.
The young Peterson, who is the son of FPN champion Nels Peterson, had his run end in third place after he doubled up Bona. He shared hugs with his mom and dad and went to check on his older sister, Emma Sassen, who was at the final table of the first-ever FPN Ladies Championship.
Bona, who told PokerNews she has played Texas Hold'em for over ten years and mainly plays online and at X's & O's Sports Bar, had a big heads-up lead against Tammy Quade and sealed the deal in just a few hands.
"I just was patient and waited for my cards and hit my moments," said Bona.
That wraps up PokerNews coverage of an exciting FPN Vegas Championship festival at the Golden Nugget. Check out the live reporting portal for other highlights from the weekend.