Poker Tournament Argument Leads to Assault Charge

Most people would probably agree that a 7^th place finish in a poker tournament usually isn’t anything to argue about (unless, of course, you’re dealing with the World Series of Poker or another major event). But two men in North Dakota got into an argument over just that, leading to a charge of aggravated assault.

The incident occurred at the Hillsboro Sports Bar in Hillsboro, North Dakota. William Mooney was playing blackjack on December 16 of last year, when he told the dealer – with whom he was personally acquainted – that he had finished in seventh place in a recent local Texas Hold’em tournament.

According to witnesses, the problems began when fellow blackjack play Dale Czapiewski – who was reportedly intoxicated – asked Mooney if he felt a seventh place finish was worth bragging about. Mooney replied that he wouldn’t brag about such a finish; instead, he was just having a conversation with the dealer.

Apparently, Czapiewski continued insisting that Mooney was bragging about his finish, which didn’t sit well with Mooney. He asked Czapiewski what place he had taken in the last tournament he played in, after which Czapiewski said they should take it outside. The two would reportedly fight for a few minutes before other customers at the bar broke up the scuffle.

However, Mooney wasn’t done yet. He returned to the scene minutes later with what was described as a steel baseball bat. Mooney allegedly hit Czapiewski several times, and while Czapiewski was not seriously injured, he was knocked to the ground, after which Mooney drove away.

This led to a felony charge of aggravated assault against Mooney, which was filed Thursday.

For the record, neither player appears to be a serious tournament poker player. While William Mooney does not appear in the Hendon Mob Poker Database, Dale Czapiewski is credited with one 9^th place finish in a $300 event at the 2010 Midwest Poker Classic, earning him $650.