JOSEPH HESLINGA/Arizona Daily Wildcat Management and information freshman Alan Horton won the championship round of the Wilbur's Underground Texas Hold'em poker tournament last night in the Student Union Memorial Center.

The first ever semester-long No Limit Texas Hold'em poker tournament ended Saturday in the Champion of Champions competitions, and the winner walked away with a $350 poker table made by a UA student.

The Student Union Memorial Center Games Room has been offering poker tournaments all semester, and the final round was completed Saturday, making freshman Alan Horton the champion.

Horton, a management and information systems freshman, took home a $350 poker table, made by a UA student by his company, B&W Poker Tables.

Competitors in the semester-long tournament competed for prizes Saturday in an invite-only, elimination-style game.

Winners took home DVDs, an MP3 player, DVD players and student union gift certificates.

Replay Entertainment in the student union, Pepsi, B&W Pool Tables and SUMC Dining Services sponsored the event, said Simran Nirh, Games Room manager.

"Everyone who participated in the championship received a prize," Nirh said.

The tournament has been going on every Wednesday night in the Games Room for 16 weeks, and 208 students participated throughout the semester.

The top 24 were exclusively invited to attend the Champion of Champions tournament, which began at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The last eight played the final round on the table that would be awarded to the winner.

Horton said he was glad to play with such good poker players, and playing with them helped him improve his game.

"It was so rewarding to play against such good poker players, and to win at the end was a phenomenal feeling," Horton said.

Horton is also happy he now has a poker table of his own, but is taking it home with him because his room in Yuma Residence Hall is too small, he said.

The top players from the semester's poker, pool and Ping-Pong tournaments were awarded trophies.

Matt Mealy, a nutrition freshman, was the top player during the semester and said he was glad the Games Room offered the tournaments and liked playing every week.

"It was fun," Mealy said. "It gave me something to do every Wednesday. It's a good idea (to offer friendly poker); it's a lot of fun and you get away from the stress of school and make a lot of friends."

Mealy said he has been playing poker for seven years and will return to the Games Room's tournament next semester.

"I have a title to defend," Mealy said.

Alan Humphrey, an environmental science sophomore, came in 10th place in the tournament and thought the games over the semester were a good idea.

"It provided a great venue for students to get together and play cards without worrying about money," Humphrey said.

Javier Escobar, a management and information systems junior, said he was impressed with the organization of the tournament and the equipment provided.

"It's great that they have (the event)," Escobar said. "They have invested in nice chips and table tops and great prizes. I will absolutely come back next semester."

The games room will also hold championship tournaments for pool and Ping-Pong Tuesday at 5 p.m., Nirh said.

Prizes for these tournaments include DVD players, portable CD players and DVDs.

The students all played friendly and cordially, wishing each other good luck and shaking hands as each person left the table.