11th Annual MET (Memorial Euchre Tournament)

You’re Invited!

It’s time for the 11th Annual Memorial Euchre Tournament (MET)! The MET honors the memories of George Parke, Chad Phillips, Bill Leutzinger and Bill Klein -- four incredible men who belonged to our euchre community.

Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026
Time: Tourney starts @ 12:00 NOON! (10:45am complimentary brunch buffet; sign-ins till 11:45am)
Place: Duffy’s Tavern & Grille, 420 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614

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Progressive Euchre Tournament:
The basics: 1) show up, 2) pay $30 entry fee [in advance to secure your spot] 3) sign in, and 4) enjoy complimentary brunch buffet, paid beverages (individual tabs) and socialize. Sign-ins will be shutoff at 11:45am, no exceptions. We’ll start promptly @ NOON. This is a 52-56 player tournament. No partner in advance needed. Experienced players ONLY.

💺 >>To reserve your seat:<<
1) Please RSVP to Buzz at [mark@markbazzetta.com](mailto:mark@markbazzetta.com); please include your cell phone number and email address with your reservation.
2) PREPAY your $30 entry fee via Zelle (773.420.8694) or Venmo (@buzzvail). Registration is through Buzz only.

▶️ CA$H prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places! 🥇 🥈 🥉 Gift card for 4th place!
▶️ 50/50 raffle and raffle for gift cards 🎟️
▶️ BRING CASH! 💰

🎟️ At the end, we will draw TWO (2) tickets for the 50/50 raffle – 1st drawing: 50% of the money goes to the winner; 50% goes to the American Cancer Society & 2nd drawing: Pair of Cubs tix to a 2026 game @ Wrigley Field (graciously donated by Lisa Yee). No limit on the number of raffle tix you may buy.

💳 Three (3) $25 Duffy’s gift cards as well as four (4) Customer Appreciation parties will be raffled off!

Food & Drink Specials (subject to change):
• $5 Domestic Drafts 🍻
• $7 Glasses of House Wine 🍷
• $7 House Bloody Marys 🍹
• $7 Mimosas 🥂
• $7 Well Cocktails 🍸
• Complimentary Brunch Buffet (from 10:45-11:45am) 🍳

Progressive Euchre:
For each round, each player will draw a card (e.g., Ace of Hearts partners with Ace of Diamonds; they play against Ace of Spades + Ace of Clubs and sit at Table 1). 2H+2D against 2S+2C @ Table 2, etc. After each round, each player will redraw (you may have the same partner/opponents).
Schedule consists of 6-8 rounds (TBD on date of tourney, dependent on # of players). Follow schedule, record your points, if you’ve won/lost/tied, and have fun! TOP THREE (3) highest total scores win.

• The Basic (Hoyle) rules of Euchre are applied. "Screw the dealer" is in; other variations (e.g. "ace-no-face", "farmer's hand", etc.) are out. First BLACK Jack is dealer.
• Standard format is slightly varied. Progressive euchre: Each player is possibly partnered up w/a different player each round. Each round, every player deals TWICE (8 deals total), then follows their schedule to next round.
• A successful loner is worth 4 pts. A euchre on a loner is worth 4 pts. A renege is 2 pts (4 pts on a loner).
• You may score more than 10 pts in a round. It behooves you to score a lot…and often!

Since the inception of this tournament, we've donated a portion of the proceeds, totaling ~$17,000+ to the American Cancer Society! Let's add to that total!
Cheers,
Buzz, Jody & Yamuna

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George was a man who would partner with anyone. Sure, he had the winning spirit like all of us do, but he was always out for the fun and enjoyment of the game. So, in the spirit of George's philosophy toward the game, this is a random progressive euchre tournament — there are no traveling partners.
"George Parke, to many, Grandpa George (or simply GG) died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family, March 8, 2013. Honorable man, proud grandfather, loving Dad, awesome father-in-law, great neighbor and a friend to many."

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To say that Chad was awesome just wasn’t enough. He was so awesome; he truly deserved the title Captain Awesome. Whether it was a night out for euchre, trivia, board games, escape rooms, karaoke, sports, concerts or simply hanging out, he always tried to make anyone there feel welcome and made sure everyone had fun. With so many cherished memories he created in life, I’m sure it’s hard to pick which ones to reminisce about. But I think what we can all agree upon is how much more awesome he made this world. His death has left a huge hole in a lot of lives, but if we keep the memories of his awesomeness alive, he’ll always be with us.

Chad “Captain Awesome” Phillips passed away March 25th, 2022. His life was cut short, but the number of memories he created was plentiful. To help honor his memory, and love for euchre, we invite all to come out and play some euchre and share stories…which I’m sure there will be plenty. [Tribute by: Jason Wright]

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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Leutzinger, a beloved member of our euchre community, who passed away on October 21, 2024.

Bill was not only a skilled and passionate player but also a spirited presence at every game. His love for euchre was matched by his friendship, laughter, and sportsmanship. Whether winning with grace or losing with a smile, Bill made every match more exciting. He loved “Green Room Euchre” and played many post-league nights for money. He will be greatly missed at our tables, but his spirit will always be a part of our games. [Tribute by: Yamuna Reddi]

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Bill Klein passed away unexpectedly in July 2025. He was a master at cards and enjoyed all the Euchre groups he played with over the years. Bill enjoyed the random selection of contenders and enjoyed meeting new people while playing a game he loved. He taught all his nieces and nephews the game, and they were always a highlight during their visits. Gone way too soon, but he did enjoy his life to the fullest. [Tribute by: Char Heinke]