Over the weekend, 9/11 first responder Mike Kosowski took home the top prize on the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” after defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up. Also in the running was Father Andrew Trapp of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Garden City, South Carolina.
An article that appeared on the website of WMBF News on Monday relayed the tremendous amount of support that Trapp had during his run in the poker game show, which aired on five Sundays following FOX’s coverage of the National Football League. The church is preparing for a $6.5 million renovation and Trapp stated that he would have used his $1 million prize money for the makeover. The South Carolina news outlet remarked, “Overcrowding isn’t the only pressing issue at the Garden City church. Should a strong hurricane blow through the area, there’s a possibility St. Michael’s wouldn’t be standing in the aftermath.”
About $4 million has been raised so far for the renovations and Trapp’s $1 million win would have resulted in ground being broken. Trapp took home $100,000 on the show’s first episode and a portion of the money will be given to the church. Trapp spoke on the generosity of the congregation’s members, telling WMBF, “The parishioners have all been really generous and digging down deep – especially in a time of recession.”
Parishioner Candy Griffith told WMBF in a video interview, “Our church family has grown. We’re sitting at over 3,400 families.” Trapp told the news outlet that his six-figure payday would go a long way: “$100,000 will be a huge help… [The money will go for] a couple of beautiful stained glass windows, antique stained glass windows… It’s going to take some time and a lot more sacrifice. Hopefully sometime in the next couple of years, we’ll finish raising that money.”
According to the news outlet, Trapp mastered poker during his days in the seminary. He caught the industry by storm as a religious figure proficient in the game. He explained, “It’s kind of like if I were to go on ‘Jeopardy’ or ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire,’ but instead of trivia questions to win prize money, they’re playing cards.” Footage of Trapp analyzing other players during their journey to the Challenge of Champions aired. The final four-handed table saw Trapp battle Kosowski, liquor salesman Brian Barboza, and Iraq war veteran Denny Luna for a chance to play Negreanu heads-up for $1 million.
Trapp reached heads-up play against Kosowski and gambled in his final hand. Trapp called pre-flop with 6-7 and Kosowski checked his option holding 9-5. The action flop came 9-8-4, giving Trapp and up and down straight draw and Kosowski top pair. Trapp reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out a “Little Engine that Could” reference before Kosowski put him all-in. Trapp called with his tournament life on the line and, needing to catch a five, seven, or ten by the river, watched as an ace hit. His rosary appeared on multiple occasions throughout his appearance.
Trapp scooped the first pot of the Challenge of Champions after making trip sevens and told WMBF, “I wanted to start off being a little bit cautious, but a little aggressive as well. I was mainly trying to think good poker strategy, play smart, try to look at the other players to see what they’re doing, their faces and everything. I was definitely praying a lot too.” Kosowski went on to defeat Negreanu and earn $1 million. He plans to donate part of it to charity.
“PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” has been renewed for Season 2, although no air dates have been released by the world’s largest online poker site. A representative of the show told Poker News Daily that format changes were being considered and it would likely be “a few months” before any further details were announced.
