button in SafariHands of the Week: Bad Beats & a Nasty Counterfeit from the PokerNews Cup RGPS Thunder Valley
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Over the weekend, the $400 buy-in, $250K GTD PokerNews Cup at Thunder Valley Casino Resort drew a field of 901 entries and offered up a $306,340 prize pool. Peter Thao entered heads-up play against Farzad Abbaszadeh and closed it out for the title, along with the PokerNews trophy and $48,340 top prize
$400 PokerNews Cup Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xiong Thao | United States | $48,340 |
| 2 | Farzad Abbaszadeh | United States | $32,000 |
| 3 | Vijesh Suseela | United States | $23,800 |
| 4 | Elijah Obel-Jorgensen | United States | $17,800 |
| 5 | Khamla Kounlavouth | United States | $13,500 |
| 6 | Vy Nguyen | United States | $10,300 |
| 7 | Jeevandeep Singh | United States | $7,900 |
| 8 | Christopher Johnson | United States | $6,100 |
PokerNews was on-site throughout, capturing live updates, and during that time, some big hands were witnessed by poker reporter Josh Noy. Here's a look at five big hands from the 2026 PokerNews Cup at RGPS.
Thao Rivers Valle on the Day 1a Bubble
On Day 1a, it was Level 14 (4,000/8,000/8,000) whenThao raised to 20,000 from under the gun, and Abel Valle stuck in his last 8,000 in the big blind.
Abel Valle: K♠10♠
Xiong Thao: 9♦8♥
Thao took the lead on the 8♦3♠J♣ flop, while Valle found a better pair on the K♦ river. The table then reacted as the 8♠ hit the river, giving Thao trips to eliminate Valle on the money bubble.
Holloway Done & Dusted
On Day 1b, it was Level 12 (3,000/5,000/5,000) when our very own Chad Holloway moved all in for 35,000 from the hijack, and was at risk when James Lee shoved his larger stack in the small blind.
Chad Holloway: A♠6♣
James Lee: 4♥4♦
After getting several shoves through, Holloway was flipping for his tournament life. The A♣K♣8♦ flop gave Holloway the lead, but Lee spiked the 4♠ turn to make a set. The 5♣ river was a formality, as Holloway wished the table good luck on his way to the rail.
Fujisaka Busts on the Bubble
On the Day 1b money bubble in Level 14 (4,000/8,000/8,000), Travis Fujisaka moved all in for around 80,000, and Daniel Evans called in the small blind.
Travis Fujisaka: J♥J♦
Daniel Evans: A♥K♣
The classic flip saw Evans hit a pair on the river of the 8♠Q♥8♣7♣K♥ board, sending Fujisaka out on the direct money bubble.
Awwad Counterfeited
On Day 2, just 14 players remained in Level 24 (50,000/100,000/100,000) when Farzad Abbaszadeh raised to 150,000 from middle position and was met by a three-bet to 400,000 by Ryan Awwad, who left himself just 50,000 behind. The former then moved all in and the latter called off.
Ryan Awwad: 5♦5♥
Farzad Abbaszadeh: K♥Q♥
The 9♥7♦9♣ flop kept Awwad in the lead, as did the J♦ turn, but disaster struck on the river when the 7♣ spiked to counterfeit Awwad and send him out the door in 14th place for $3,440.
Kings No Good for Vy Nguyen
With just six players remaining, it was Level 28 (100,000/200,000/200,000) when Vy Nguyen raised to 400,000 from under the gun, representing much of his remaining stack. Elijah Obel-Jorgensen announced all in from the cutoff, and Nguyen called his remaining chips.
Vy Nguyen: K♣K♥
Elijah Obel-Jorgensen: A♥K♦
Nguyen turned over his pocket kings, but was unable to dodge the A♠5♣4♥ flop as Obel-Jorgensen made top pair. The 8♣ turn and 8♥ river completed the board, confirming Nguyen's exit in sixth position for $10,300.
