Shawn Sparks Wins RunGood Poker Series Global Championship

Shawn Sparks

Shawn Sparks is the winner of the first-ever RunGood Poker Series Global Championship, taking down the $675 buy-in Main Event during the 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas vessel.

Sparks bested a field of 159 players who had three starting flights to qualify for Day 2. The final table resumed Saturday with Sparks leading the final seven players, and the tournament went almost two whole levels before the first elimination.

After Lauren Bunch doubled twice in a row, Cash Carpenter doubled as well but eventually fell in seventh place — getting pocket tens in against Heckenkamp's aces. Down to six, Sparks won a massive pot and knocked out two players when he was the third person all in against Eric Bunch and Shane Fuller. Sparks hit a queen on the river to win the pot and eliminate both Bunch and Fuller and regain the chip lead four-handed.

Sparks managed to earn himself the official win once Lauren Bunch was eliminated in fourth place. Sparks, Tim Krisher and John Heckenkamp found themselves with fairly even stacks and decided to chop three ways, but threw Sparks a little more for holding the chip lead. Sparks takes home $21,417 and the specially-made RunGood chip set and case, while Heckenkamp and Krisher each take home $20,416.

Shawn Sparks Wins RGPS Global Championship on Royal Caribbean Cruise 101
Left to right: Tim Krisher, Shawn Sparks, and John Heckenkamp

This is Sparks' second recorded cash. Earlier this year, he won $13,284 and a WSOP circuit ring in a $365 No-Limit Hold'em ring event at the March 2018 WSOP Circuit stop in Tulsa, OK.

RunGood Poker Series Global Championship Full Payouts

PayoutsNamePrize
1stShawn Sparks$21,417
2ndJohn Heckenkamp$20,416
3rdTim Krisher$20,416
4thLauren Bunch$8,258
5thEric Bunch$6,160
6thShane Fuller$4,675
7thCash Carpenter$3,608
8thJustin Gardenhire$2,830
9thBrandon Butler$2,257
10thScott Buller$1,828
11thRobert Shuptrine$1,828
12thJules Cornelius$1,828
13thEric Thompson$1,505
14thNeil Peters$1,505
15thCody Pack$1,505
16thGrant Hinkle$1,258
17thRon Miller$1,258
18thBlair Hinkle$1,258

That's a wrap for the tournament poker portion of the RGPS Global Championship cruise, but the party went on as the RunGood Crew continued to celebrate a successful season. You can follow the fun on Twitter and make sure you join us for our next cruise with a date to be determined.

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  • Sparks won $21,417 after a three-way chop with John Heckenkamp & Tim Krisher aboard the @RGPokerSeries cruise.

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