MARK WAITE / PVT Poker players wait the next hands to hit the felt, as dealer Doug Gregory shuffles the deck, at the DARE benefit tournament Wednesday in the Pahrump Nugget Convention Center. Advertisement

It may have been April Fool's Day, but poker players in the Pahrump Valley weren't kidding around.

In a Texas no-limit hold'em tournament designed to benefit the DARE program, a total of 77 players participated in the tournament, contested in the convention center in the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino. Eight tables were set up in the center, with all but three seats filled.

Conservative estimates were that 40 to 50 players would compete, but the room quickly filled; an additional table had to be added.

Out of the $40 entry fee, $20 went to DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). Don Boulden, the Nye DOA officer, and Jeff Von Alst, the poker room manager, were excited and happy with the turnout.

Shawn Frederickson, a Valley Electric Association member, won the tournament, which started around 6:20 p.m. and finished at midnight; he earned $308 out of the $770 prize pool. Bob Mercer earned $231 for his second-place finish. Ron Nygren was third and pocketed $154 and Frank Polansky was fourth and earned $77.

According to post-tournament comments, there are plans to make this tournament an annual event, to be played on April 1 each year.