$675 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2019 RunGood Poker Series Hard Rock Tulsa
$675 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2019 RunGood Poker Series Hard Rock Tulsa
Winner
Buy-in
$675
Prize Pool
$223,200
Entries
372
Level
25
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
50,000
Entries
372
Players Left
1
Sam Washburn Wins RGPS Hard Rock Tulsa Main Event for $51,328
Level 25
: 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
The penultimate stop of the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) “Game 7” Season wrapped up Sunday night at the Hard Rock Tulsa. It concluded with 59-year-old retiree Sam Washburn of Arkansas emerging victorious in the $675 Main Event, which attracted 372 entries and offered up a $223,200 prize pool.
According to HendonMob, Washburn had $219,170 in tournament earnings entering the stop, all of which have come since the beginning of last year. That is when he kick-started his poker career by winning the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event for a career-best $188,068. Now he has a Signature Championship Ring to go with his circuit ring.
“I feel great. I’ve been wanting to win one of these rings,” Washburn said after the win. “I’ve had pretty good success. I just started playing circuit events two years ago. I’ve just had good luck. I walk around on a cloud every day I’m so happy with how it’s going.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Washburn | $43,022* |
| 2 | Justin Gardenhire | $40,000* |
| 3 | Blair Hinkle | $21,092 |
| 4 | Matt Waxman | $14,620 |
| 5 | Steve Lamphear | $11,048 |
| 6 | Greg Jennings | $8,593 |
| 7 | “Boston” Rob Mariano | $7,142 |
| 8 | Bernard Lee | $5,915 |
| 9 | Gary Snyder | $5,000 |
| 10 | Alberto Perez | $3,817 |
*Denotes heads-up deal.
Day 2 saw 70 players return to action, but only 45 of them would get paid. Among those to fall before the money were Mark Lafata, Bob Mather, and Brent Harrington, just to name a few.
Once Tony Caudill exited as the bubble boy the eliminations came quick. Some players to cash but fall short of the final table were Duster Ellis (12th - $3,817), Grant Hinkle (14th - $2,879), Eric Bunch (21st - $1,786), RGPS Hard Rock Tulsa $180 Deepstack champ Daniel Lowery (24th - $1,786), Keith Ferrera (28th - $1,451), Michael Sanders (31st - $1,451), Johnnie “Vibes” Moreno (36th - $1,451), and Jared Ward (41st - $1,228).
Final Table Action
Alberto Perez was the first to exit the final table after getting his stack all in preflop with ace-queen and failing to get there against the pocket tens of Blair Hinkle. Not long after, Gary Snyder was coolered out of the tournament when he ran pocket kings smack dab into Justin Gardenhire’s aces, and then Bernard Lee exited losing ace-seven to Gardenhire's pocket kings.
“Boston” Rob Mariano of Survivor fame was the next to fall after his tens were cracked by Gardenhire’s nines all in preflop, and then the short-stacked Greg Jennings, who was fresh off winning the RGPS Downstream Main Event, followed him out the door in sixth place after his pocket tens failed to hold against Matt Waxman’s king-jack in a coinflip situation.
Steve Lamphear then lost a race of his own with ace-queen to Hinkle’s jacks to bust in fifth place, and then Waxman bowed out in fourth losing flopped top pair to the two pair of Washburn.
Three-handed play lasted a while with Gardenhire on the short stack before hitting three doubles, the last of which vaulted him into the chip lead. It happened when he got it in preflop with Big Slick against Hinkle’s pocket sevens. Gardenhire made a wheel to win the pot, while Hinkle went bust a short time later to see his hopes of winning back-to-back RGPS Main Event titles (last weekend he won the RGPS CardPlayer Cruise) and his fourth of 2019 come to an end.
Gardenhire began heads-up play with a slight chip lead over Washburn, but the latter reversed it with ace-king holding against ace-queen. The duo then worked a deal that saw Gardenhire finish in second place for $40,000 while Washburn claimed the Signature Ring and $43,022 in prize money.
“It’s tough. I like it. I love the competition,” Washburn said of the tough final table. “I’m just a rec player so playing with these guys it’s an honor, and I learn so much every time I play with them.”
The final stop of the RGPS “Game 7” season will take place at Harrah’s North Kansas City from December 3-8 and will culminate with a $575 buy-in, $100K GTD Main Event.
A Deal is Struck
Level 25
: 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
The final two players have opted to work a deal to put an end to the tournament. Justin Gardenhire will officially finish in second place for $40,000 while Sam Washburn will become the RGPS Hard Rock Tulsa champ for $43,022.
Stay tuned for a recap of the action.
All In and a Call
Level 25
: 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Sam Washburn open-jammed for 2.2 million and Justin Gardenhire snapped him off.
Justin Gardenhire: 
Sam Washburn: 
It was a cooler but the 
flop made things interesting. Gardenhire had the inferior kicker but he flopped a diamond flush draw. Fortunately for Washburn, neither the 
turn nor 
river hurt him and he doubled into the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,400,000 | 2,200,000 |
|
3,000,000 | -2,300,000 |
Level: 25
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 50,000
Blair Hinkle Eliminated in 3rd Place ($21,092)
Level 24
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Blair Hinkle raised the button and then called off for around 500,000 after Sam Washburn moved all in from the big blind.
Sam Washburn: 
Blair Hinkle: 
Hinkle got it in good but fell behind on the 
flop. The 
turn gave Hinkle a Broadway draw but he missed his outs when the 
bricked on the river.
With that, Hinkle's hopes of winning back-to-back RGPS Main Event titles (last weekend he won the RGPS CardPlayer Cruise) and his fourth of 2019 came to an end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,100,000 | 750,000 |
|
Busted |
Third Double Vaults Gardy Into Chip Lead
Level 24
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Justin Gardenhire went from crumbs to a full loaf of chips thanks to three doubles.
In the most recent, Gardy got his stack of 2.195 million all in preflop and was racing for his tournament life against Blair Hinkle.
Blair Hinkle: 
Justin Gardenhire:
Gardenhire wouldn't hit either of his overs but the 
flop was just as good as he made a wheel to double into the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,400,000 | 2,600,000 |
|
|
2,350,000 | -150,000 |
|
|
600,000 | -1,800,000 |
Another Double for Gardy
Level 24
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Blair Hinkle raised the button to 80,000 and Justin Gardenhire three-bet to 205,000 from the small blind. Sam Washburn came along from the big, Hinkle did the same, and it was three-way action to the 
flop.
Gardenhire was first to act and moved all in for 570,000. Washburn called, Hinkle folded, and the cards were turned up.
Justin Gardenhire: 
Sam Washburn: 
Gardenhire had the lead with a pair of eights but Washburn was drawing to an open-ended straight draw. Fortunately for Gardy, neither the 
turn nor 
river hurt him and he shipped a much-needed double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,500,000 | -1,500,000 |
|
|
1,800,000 | 700,000 |
Gardenhire Doubles
Level 24
: 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Blair Hinkle moved all in from the small blind to put the pressure on the short-stacked Justin Gardenhire in the big. The latter called off for 525,000 and the hands were turned up.
Justin Gardenhire:
Blair Hinkle:
The board ran out and Gardenhire filled up to double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,400,000 | -500,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 | 575,000 |
Level: 24
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 40,000