2023 RGPS Tunica

RGPS Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2023 RGPS Tunica

Event Info
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$373,360
Entries
718
Players Left
1
Average Chip Stack
21,540,000
Total Chips
21,540,000
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
293
Players Left
35

From Bubble Boy To Chip Leader; Darbouze Leads Day 1b in The RGPS $600 Tunica Main

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Dawson Darbouze
Dawson Darbouze

A total of 293 entrants came out to play The RunGood Poker Series Tunica $600 Main Event in Flight 1b. This guarantees a smashing of the $200,000 guarantee set on the prizepool. With registration still open in the final flight that began at 6 p.m. a final prizepool will not be tallied up until late into the night. Only 35 players from this flight will be joining the 23 from the last flight on Sunday, September 3rd at noon.

Leading the way is Dawson Darbouze who ended his day with 560,000. Darbouze had built up a large stack last night in the prior flight, but as the day winded to a close, he was sent out the door by Chris Moneymaker when his pair and flush draw combo did not come home. This time, he spun up the biggest stack of the night as the Haiti-born player continues his new hot streak on the live poker scene, after a deep run in the Tulsa WSOPC Main Event. He now looks to add a deep RunGood main score to his growing resume.

Top Ten Chip Counts Day 1b

PlacePlayerChip Count
1Dawson Darbouze560,000
2Forrest Kollar518,000
3Shannon Hamblen470,000
4Chance Lawson457,000
5Raymond Riley421,000
6Jacob Tittle404,000
7Carl Masters395,000
8Michael Sanders359,000
9Chris Dunn331,000
10David Mann304,000

Three former RGPS Tunica Champions found bags as defending champion Kevin Broadway (202,000), Tiffany Keathley (281,000) and Max Le (144,000) all survived to the end of the day. Others who found their way included Forrest Kollar (518,000), Michael Sanders (359,000), Donnie Phan (255,000), and WPT champion Mark Davis (240,000). Each one of them looking to add a RunGood ring to their resumes from this leg of the tour.

Forrest Kollar
Forrest Kollar ended his day with the second largest stack after spending much of the day on the shorter stack.

Not all were fortunate enough to find a bag in this flight. Brian Frenzel, Daniel Lowery, Donovan Dean, and Matthew Higgins were among the casualties. With registration open in the final flight, it seems likely that these faces will pop into the final flight in the hopes to bag up.

This flight went well past what the previous flight bagged as far as levels go. Play ended with 5:40 left in Level 14 in the previous flight, with blinds at 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big blind ante. The 23 players from that flight and the 35 players from this flight will return on noon this Sunday to combine with the final flight of the tournament. They will return to this level unless the final flight finishes before this one.

Coverage of The RunGood Poker Series Tunica Main Event will take a break. Check back in later tonight to PokerNews for continued coverage of the final flight.

Tags: Brian FrenzelCarl MastersChance LawsonChris DunnChris MoneymakerDaniel LoweryDavid MannDawson DarbouzeDonnie PhanDonovan DeanForrest KollarJacob TittleKevin BroadwayMark DavisMatthew HigginsMax LeMichael SandersRaymond RileyShannon HamblenTiffany Keathley

Kollar's Lovely Ladies

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Forrest Kollar
Forrest Kollar

A player in early position called while Forrest Kollar moved all in from the hijack for 140,000 which saw the big blind call and the initial limper called for less.

Early position: 77
Forrest Kollar: QQ
Big blind: AA

Kollar was in trouble and needed help, which materialized on the Q104106 runout for the RGPS regular to hop to an above average stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Forrest Kollar us
Forrest Kollar
370,000
285,000
285,000

Tags: Forrest Kollar

Michael McCullough wins Event #2: $200 Series Opener for First RGPS Ring

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Michael McCullough
Michael McCullough

The first official open event of The RunGood Poker Series came in the form of Even #2: $200 Series Opener No-Limit Hold’em. A total of 130 entrants came out to play, building a prizepool of $20,800 and paying out 17 spots.

After a heads up deal was made, Michael McCullough chopped with Michael Sengdetka to take home his first RGPS ring as well as $4,433. A career best for the Alabama resident, and his first RGPS cash, making him eligible for the RGPS player of the year race.

PlaceNamePrize
1Michael McCullough$4,433
2Michael Sengdetka$4,432
3Jessica Roberts$2,478
4John Holley$1,780
5Carl Masters$1,316
6Kevin Grinder$1,002
7Kenod Bowie$786
8Alan Wiggins$636
9Patrick Neil$532

Tags: Alan WigginsCarl MastersJessica RobertsJohn HolleyKevin GrinderMichael McCulloughMichael SendetkaMichael SengdetkaPatrick Neil

Davis Trending Upward

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Mark Davis
Mark Davis

A player opened to 10,000 in late position which saw WPT champion Mark Davis call in the cutoff while another player called in the big blind.

The flop came out J72 and the big blind checked to the late position player who bet 5,000. Davis raised to 17,000 which saw the big blind call, while the late position player jammed for 30,000. Davis asked for a count before moving all in himself for just shy of 200,000.

"Let's play a big one," Davis told the big blind "Somebody's gotta catch Moneymaker."

The big blind tossed his hand away, saying he folded a jack.

Opponent: 88
Mark Davis: AJ

The turn of 4 left Davis with a 100% chance of winning the pot before the 9 river even came off. Davis now sits as one of the biggest stacks in the field as he aims to bag.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mark Davis us
Mark Davis
278,000
43,000
43,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Mark Davis

Higgins Soars With Rockets

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Matthew Higgins
Matthew Higgins

Donovan Dean raised to 2,000 in middle position which saw three player behind call. In the small blind, Matthew Higgins looked down at AA and raised to 10,000 which saw Dean fold and one of the callers move all in for 28,100 effective and Higgins snap called.

Opponent: 99
Matthew Higgins: AA

The board ran out as no help to the nines and Higgins got a decent boost to his stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Higgins us
Matthew Higgins
64,200
64,200
64,200
Profile photo of Donovan Dean us
Donovan Dean
34,600
34,600
34,600

Tags: Donovan DeanMatthew Higgins

Gargiulo Outflops Cordell

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Joey Gargiulo
Joey Gargiulo

Mike Cordell raised to 1,600 in early position which saw action fold to Joey Gargiulo on the button who called and the button called as well.

The flop came out 643 and action checked over to Cordell who bet 2,500 and Gargiulo raised to 10,000. The small blind folded and Cordell moved all in for 24,600 which Gargiulo called.

Mike Cordell: AA
Joey Gargiulo: 52

The turn of K had Cordell drawing dead against Gargiulo's flopped straight and Cordell did not stick around for the Q river card and Gargiulo took down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Joey Gargiulo us
Joey Gargiulo
86,500
33,400
33,400
Profile photo of Mike Cordell us
Mike Cordell
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Joey GargiuloMike Cordell

Sanders Gets Some Value

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders

Action was picked up in a four way pot with Michael Sanders in the small blind and Loi Hoang in the big blind with 2,500 in the middle.

The flop of 998 saw action check around to the 7 turn where Sanders bet 1,000 which Hoang and the hijack called.

Action checked through on the 3 river as SAnders turned over Q8 for nines and eights which was good for the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Loi Hoang us
Loi Hoang
32,100
Profile photo of Michael Sanders us
Michael Sanders
26,300
-3,700
-3,700

Tags: Loi HoangMichael Sanders

Flight 1b Of The $600 RGPS Main Event Begins At 11 a.m.

Emily Berglund
Emily Berglund

Today begins the second day of starting flights of the RunGood Poker Series Contenders Tunica $600 Main Event at Horseshoe Hotel and Casino. A total of 184 entrants fired in yesterday’s flight, seeing 23 players make it to Day 2, which will resume tomorrow, Sunday September 3rd at noon. Players unhappy with their ending total of the day, can choose to play another flight and have it be best bag forward, meaning a double bag will result in the bigger of the two stacks playing on Day 2, and the smaller one accepting a minimum cash.

Leading the way is none other than 2003 WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker, who ended his day with 1,285,000. Moneymaker’s start to the day was strong and the momentum continued throughout the day as he ended the day with triple what Jacob Schiros (421,000) ended the day with who is his next closest opponent. Others that found bags at the end of the day include BJ McBrayer (387,000), Morgan McBrayer (259,000), Emily Berglund (144,000), Walker Miskelly (118,000), and Pam Belote (81,000). Each one of them guaranteed a payout, but each looking for the title.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayer NameCount
1Chris Moneymaker1,285,000
2Jacob Schiros421,000
3BJ McBrayer387,000
4Edward Hill382,000
5Jacob Foley336,000
6Peter Rouviere285,000
7Morgan McBrayer259,000
8William Tubbs227,000
9Thomas Montoya218,000
10Stuart Breakstone166,000

Players expected to fire today include Daniel Lowery, Ashley “PokerFaceAsh” Frank, Dawson Darbouze, Kyle Cartwright, Cody Stanford, and Donnie Phan, each of whom looking for greater success in this second flight. Those who do not bag will have one more chance in the form of the third flight, beginning at 6 p.m. today.

Players will begin the tournament with 30,000 chips with levels beginning at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante. Levels will escalate once every 30 minutes, with a 10-minute break occurring every four levels, then every three levels after level 8. Players will have the option to enter in as many times as they wish in the first eight levels of the tournament. Play will continue until the field plays down 12.5%, then the remaining players will bag up for Sunday, September 3rd where they will all be in the money.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding the RunGood Poker Series.

Tags: BJ McBrayerChris MoneymakerCody StanfordDaniel LoweryDawson DarbouzeDonnie PhanEdward HillEmily BerglundJacob FoleyJacob SchirosKyle CartwrightMorgan McBrayerPam BelotePeter RouviereStuart BreakstoneWalker MiskellyWilliam Tubbs