by Patrick
February 13-15
Times that winner Edgar Propst was elected to the University of Nebraska Student-Athlete Honor Roll.
Edgar Propst is straightforward about his poker style, identifying primarily as a cash-game player and secondarily as a tournament player.
This perspective made his recent achievement particularly meaningful.
“I only play a few tournaments a year,” Propst explained. “I’m a cash guy. The strategy and mindset are different, and it’s still a bit new for me.”
Nevertheless, he managed to navigate a massive field in the $600 Opener at the Potomac Winter Poker Open, which attracted 1,635 entries at MGM National Harbor for the series opener.
Propst late-registered on Day 1 and quickly found himself on a familiar poker roller coaster.
“I built a substantial stack early on but then lost a couple of significant pots,” he recounted. “However, my table was great, and I knew the key was to stay patient.”
By the end of Day 1, his patience bore fruit as he bagged a top-ten stack, but Day 2 brought further fluctuations.
“I lost about half my stack right away,” he said. “Then I regained it just a couple of hands later. That pretty much summed up the entire tournament.”
A pivotal moment helped him regain his footing, coupled with the confidence he carried from recently winning his first WSOP Circuit ring in Pompano Beach.
“I believe momentum matters in poker,” he stated. “Many flips went my way, but I also think I played solidly.”
As the final table formed, the narrative transitioned from simple survival to personal competition. Given the top-heavy payout structure and significant money at stake, discussions about a chop began early, but Propst emerged as the most vocal opponent. He had no intention of walking away without the trophy.
“I’m a competitor,” he asserted. “Having been a Division I track and field athlete, I felt like I had an edge, and I didn’t want to relinquish free equity.”
Time and again, he made his position clear.
“I’m open to a discussion on numbers three-handed or heads up,” he stated, “but I wanted everyone to earn it.”
This stance remained firm until Cody Walker exited in fourth place, leaving the tournament with three players. Only then did the remaining players contemplate the numbers. At that point, Matt Sherman held a slight lead of roughly two big blinds, while Propst was right behind and Liam Schmidt in third.
Still, nothing was assured.
“If they were not willing to forfeit the win, I was going to play it out,” Propst declared. “I probably wouldn’t have chopped heads up either. That’s just how I’m wired.”
Ultimately, they reached a three-way chop. Despite being second in chips by just a few blinds, Propst maneuvered his way into securing the official win, earning both the trophy and the top payout.
“It was late, and the deal was favorable,” he concluded. “We took the win.”
