June 24, 2011 —The Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel hosted its fifth annual Poker Tournament of Champions Wednesday, June 22 in the Diamond Mountain Willow Room.

Beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding at 9 later that evening, the tournament hosted the top 50 players from the nearly year-long season.

Mary Iturria walked away victorious as the first woman in the local poker tournament to take the prize and left the table $12,642 richer.

People filled the Willow Room in the hopes the win the pot and the final table had plenty of folks surround the last 10 players.

Iturria, Byron Sundberg, Greg Blakeman, Robert Ramer, Diana Gagliardi, Tony Anaya, Kevin Overholtzer, Shirley Wright, Doyle Lowry and Cort Cortez were the last 10 players to survive in the tournament and all received a cash prize.
Trina Housewright was the final dealer for the players.

The casino supplied food and beverage for the players and Claire Chambers, (casino employee), said the poker tournament is like their New Year’s celebration as they stay with the players all-day long.

The new poker season will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 6 at the Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel and continue through June, 2012.