2023 RGPS Graton Casino

$800 Main Event
Day: 1ab
Event Info

2023 RGPS Graton Casino

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa
Prize
$90,330
Event Info
Buy-in
$800
Prize Pool
$730,100
Entries
1,043
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Players Info - Day 1ab
Entries
393
Players Left
50

Rodriguez Leads The First Two Flights; Lowery, Stanford, and Johnson Bag Big

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Noel Rodriguez
Noel Rodriguez

A total of 236 players came out for the first flight of The RunGood Poker Series Graton Casino $800 Main Event in Rohnert Park, California, ensuring that 30 players from that flight would find their way to a bag and come back on Sunday March 5th. The following flight saw 157 entrants come out, making way for 20 players to bag and already the prize pool has amassed $275,100. Given the guarantee was set at $250,000, the prizepool is expected to be massive as the following two flights kick off tomorrow at 11 AM and 5 PM.

Leading the field with the only bag over 600,000 is Day 1a’s chip leader Noel Rodriguez who ended his flight with 799,000. Rodriguez is no stranger to the RunGood Poker Series, as he holds a RGPS ring of his own, as well as tournament lifetime earnings that are well over $200,000. A main event run deep run seemed in the cards for Rodriguez as his ace-three cracked his opponent’s ace-jack, which was followed by a massive spin up of chips that had him tripling his stack within minutes. With his bag, he could be setting himself for his first RGPS Main Event title in this massive field.

Jonathan Warta (577,000),Daniel Lowery (576,000) and recent RGPS PLO champion Cody Stanford (507,000) also bagged over 500,000. Lowery and Stanford possess numerous RGPS accolades, with Lowery holding more tour titles than anyone else. Their massive chip stacks going into the final day bode well for their chances of more RGPS big titles.

Day 1ab Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayerChip Count
1Noel Rodriguez799,000
2Jonathan Warta577,000
3Daniel Lowery576,000
4Cody Stanford507,000
5Tomas Padilla500,000
6Marco Johnson418,000
7Danny Jon417,000
8Ekasit Aroonrungrudsamee416,000
9Peter Pap412,000
10Rickey Evans357,000
Alex Loncar
Alex Loncar burst the bubble late at night with pocket queens, ensuring no hand for hand play.

Tomas Padilla (500,000) ended up bagging the chip lead of Day 1b after a late night clash with Kyle Kitagawa saw his pocket fives hold against Kittigawa’s ace queen. After that, the eliminations went quickly and Alex Loncar (322,000) sent home the final player of the night when her queens held up to make the flight bag up prior to hand for hand play. WSOP bracelet winner Marco Johnson (417,000) played many pots late at night to give him a massive stack, making him the only player bagging up with a WSOP bracelet. Others that found bags in these first two flights included Rickey Evans (357,000), Julian Ruvalcaba (317,000), Taylor Pollard (312,000), Bill Murray (193,000) and Bilguun Odgerel (79,000).

The days were not kind to everyone as many players fell by the wayside. Players like Michael Loncar, Josh Prager, Ian Steinman, Shirin Oksooi, and Lon McEachern all will have to look to tomorrow’s flights in the hopes to bag up for the massive prize pool. Play ended with 15:16 left in Level 15 with blinds at 4,000/8,000 and an 8,000 big blind ante.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series at Graton Casino in Rohnert Park, California. Also be sure to check out the concurrently running RunGood Poker Series at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.

Tags: Alex LoncarBilguun OdgerelBill MurrayCody StanfordDaniel LowertDaniel LoweryDanny JonIan SteinmanJonathan WartaJosh PragerJulian RuvalcabaKyle KittigawaLon McEachernMarco JohnsonMichael LoncarNoel RodriguezPeter PapRickey EvansShirin OksooiTaylor PollardTomas Padilla

Loncar Ascending The Counts

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Alex Loncar
Alex Loncar

Blinds: 3,000/5,000 Ante: 5,000

Alex Loncar raised to 10,000 in middle position while a player in late position called. Action folded over to the cutoff where a player moved all in for 73,000 which saw Loncar move all in to isolate and her opponent folded.

Opponent: {8-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}
Alex Loncar: {j-Clubs}{j-Hearts}

The flop of {10-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{q-Hearts} provided some sweats for the pocket jacks in the form of a flush draw, but the turn {5-Clubs} and river {4-Clubs} ensured the jacks a win and Loncar found herself rising up the chip counts late in the night.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Alex Loncar us
Alex Loncar
345,000
277,000
277,000

Tags: Alex Loncar

Daniel Roncancio Wins Event #4: $200 Ambassadors Bounty

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Daniel Roncancio Wins Event #4: $200 Ambassadors Bounty
Daniel Roncancio Wins Event #4: $200 Ambassadors Bounty

The third event of The RunGood Poker Series in Graton was the $200 Ambassador's Bounty, which kicked off on Tuesday February 28th. A total of 258 players found their way to enter this third tournament of the series, creating a prize pool worth $41,280.

Players were awarded bounties for knocking out specific players in the tournament. These bounties ranged from $50 of store credit and a PokerGo subscription, to $1,000 in cash. Players that were listed as bounties included Daniel Lowery, Cody Stanford, and Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano who finished in 11th place for $795

32 players found their way to a payout and at the end of it all, Daniel Roncancio made a deal with Keith Choy and Nicholas Diaz where Roncancio took home the ring and first place for his first RGPS ring.

PlacePlayerPrize
1Daniel Roncancio$6,995
2Keith Choy$6,995
3Nicholas Diaz$6,115
4John Fujii$2,575
5Denis Lee$1,990
6Ricardo Parada$1,645
7James Siller$1,385
8Wilson Sam$1,155
9Matthew Ho$940

Tags: Cody StanfordDaniel LoweryDaniel RoncancioDenis LeeJames SillerJohn FujiiKeith ChoyMatthew HoNicholas DiazRicardo ParadaWilson Sam

"To Be Continued"

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Rickey Evans
Rickey Evans

Blinds: 1,000/2,000 Ante 2,000

Rickey Evans raised to 6,000 under the gun and a player on the button called with Shirin Oskooi in the big blind calling as well.

The flop came out {6-Spades}{j-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} and action checked over to Evans who bet 5,000 which only Oskooi called.

Oskooi checked the turn of {2-Diamonds} and Evans sized up to the tune of 7,000, which saw Oskooi quickly fold.

Immediately after the hand, the floor came over and moved Evans, who then said "to be continued," before leaving the table.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Rickey Evans us
Rickey Evans
135,000
42,000
42,000
Profile photo of Shirin Oskooi us
Shirin Oskooi
67,000
12,000
12,000

Tags: Rickey EvansShirin Oskooi

Denzel Suntay Wins The 6-Max NLH $10,140

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Denzel Suntay Wins The $300 6-Max NLH
Denzel Suntay Wins The $300 6-Max NLH

The second event of The RunGood Poker Series in Graton was the $300 6-Max NLH, which kicked off on Tuesday February 28th. A total of 152 players found their way to enter this first tournament of the series, creating a prize pool worth $38,000.

19 players found their way to a payout and at the end of it all, it was Denzel Suntay winning his first RGPS ring. Bringing his total lifetime earnings closer to $100,000 on Hendon mob, with his biggest first place cash.

$300 6-Max Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Denzel Suntay$10,140
2Aaron Brosamle$6,600
3Ashkin Lajevardi$4,420
4Norman Yeung$3,030
5Charles Gould$2,175
6Canada Mugindge$1,600
7Anthony Reeser$1,220

Tags: Aaron BrosamleAnthony ReeserCharles GouldDenzel SuntayNorman Yeung

Ruvalcaba Finds An Eight

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Julian Ruvalcaba
Julian Ruvalcaba

Julian Ruvalcaba raised to 8,500 from middle position which saw one player call, while another from the small blind moved all in for 19,500. Ruvalcaba moved all in to isolate and the other player folded.

Opponent: {k-Clubs}{k-Diamonds}
Julian Ruvalcaba: {8-Hearts}{8-Spades}

"There are no more eights left in the deck," another player at the table said prior to the flop being dealt. That was proven quickly false as the flop rolled out {8-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}, followed by the {3-Clubs}{a-Spades} turn and river. His opponent tapped the table and left while Ruvalcaba quickly ascended the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Julian Ruvalcaba us
Julian Ruvalcaba
286,000
234,700
234,700

Tags: Julian Ruvalcaba

Frenzel Finds A Double

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Brian Frenzel
Brian Frenzel

Daniel Lowery raised to 5,000 in early position which saw one player in the hijack call. In the small blind, Brian Frenzel moved all in for 54,000 which saw Lowery fold and the hijack player call.

Brian Frenzel: {k-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}
Opponent: {a-Hearts}{3-Hearts}

The board ran out {j-Spades}{8-Clubs}{q-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} and Frenzel connected with the jack on the flop to make the best hand and double through his opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Frenzel us
Brian Frenzel
123,000
58,000
58,000

Tags: Brian FrenzelDaniel Lowery

Gene Rindy Wins The Seniors Event For $9,710

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Gene Rindy Wins The RGPS $250 Seniors Event
Gene Rindy Wins The RGPS $250 Seniors Event

The first event of The RunGood Poker Series in Graton was the $250 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em, which kicked off on Tuesday February 28th. A total of 276 players found their way to enter this first tournament of the series, creating a prize pool worth $55,200.

35 players found their way to a payout and at the end of it all, it was Gene Rindy who took home the first place after a four-handed deal. Rindy has had tournament cashes dating all the way back to the 2000s, but this remains his best first place finish score at $9,710 and his first RGPS ring.

PlacePlayerPrize
1Gene Rindy$9,710
2Mark Solomon$7,000
3Brendan Turner$5,790
4Brando Braden$5,720
5Gregory Pincombe$2,655
6Scott Kawahara$2,200
7Timothy McAfee$1,850
8Stacy Jardin$1,545
9William Murray$1,235

Tags: Brendan TurnerGene RindyGregory PincombeMark SolomonScott KawaharaStacy JardinTimothy McAfeeWilliam Murray

Kyaw Calls Down Correctly

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Pe Kyaw
Pe Kyaw

Action was picked up on the flop between three players including Kendra Lock in middle position, Pe Kyaw in the cutoff, and another player in the small blind.

The flop of {a-Clubs}{7-Spades}{j-Diamonds} saw action check to Lock who bet 4,000, and both players called.

The small blind checked the {q-Diamonds} turn which saw Lock bet again, to the tune of 12,000 which only Kyaw called.

The river {4-Clubs} saw Lock move all in for 40,600 effective and Kyaw went into the tank. He thought through his decision as The Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm" played in its entirety. As soon as the song finished up, he said call and Lock grimaced saying "you've got it."

Pe Kyaw: {q-Spades}{j-Hearts}
Kendra Lock: {7-Clubs}{6-Clubs}

Kyaw's two pair was good for the pot, and he scooped a massive pot to double at the expense of Lock.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Pe Kyaw us
Pe Kyaw
123,100
123,100
123,100
Profile photo of Kendra Lock us
Kendra Lock
1,400
-42,900
-42,900

Tags: Kendra LockPe Kyaw

Lock Wins By Folding Out Better

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Kendra Lock
Kendra Lock

Action was picked up on the flop in between four players including Kendra Lock in the small blind with 4,300 in the center.

The board read {j-Spades}{10-Spades}{9-Clubs} and both Lock and the big blind checked to the first position player who bet 2,500 which a player in the hijack called.

In the small blind, Kendra Lock raised to 12,000 which saw the big blind call, while the other two players folded.

The turn of {k-Diamonds} saw Lock move all in for 15,400 and the big blind folded. Lock turned over {a-Clubs}{a-Diamonds} and the under the gun player slammed the table, implying he folded better while the hijack said "I folded jacks up."

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kendra Lock us
Kendra Lock
44,300
44,300
44,300

Tags: Kendra Lock