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$800 Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2026 The Gateway Poker Classic
$800 Main Event
Day: 1b
Players Left 205 / 507
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
1
1,082,000
2
693,000
7
379,000
8
302,000
Level 18
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
Phil Boyd stormed to the top of the leaderboard on Day 1b of the RunGood Poker Series Gateway Poker Classic $800 Main Event.
Boyd became the first player to eclipse the million-chip milestone, ending the second opening flight with 1,082,000 and far ahead of the rest of the 22 players who survived the day. The High Ridge, Missouri native capped off his triumphant day inside the Hollywood Casino by knocking out Robert Weeks on the money bubble.
Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Boyd | United States | 1,082,000 | 68 |
| 2 | Mike Bell | United States | 693,000 | 43 |
| 3 | Travis Gillihan | United States | 644,000 | 40 |
| 4 | Ben Miller | United States | 606,000 | 38 |
| 5 | Janelle Rettig | United States | 474,000 | 30 |
| 6 | Keith Heine | United States | 453,000 | 28 |
| 7 | Stephen Dolle | United States | 379,000 | 24 |
| 8 | Andreas Kastanas | United States | 302,000 | 19 |
| 9 | Peter Brooks | United States | 286,000 | 18 |
| 10 | Lance Brendel | United States | 286,000 | 18 |
Mike Bell is his closest challenger with 693,000, while Travis Gillihan (644,000) completes the podium. Gillihan won a massive pot when he turned a straight and snap-called a shove on the river to bust an opponent, and he stayed near the top of the leaderboard for the rest of the day.
Others to secure a spot on Day 2 include Ben Miller (606,000), Janelle Rettig (474,000), 2023 RunGood St. Louis champion Keith Heine (453,000), and Paul Fehlig (203,000). Among those to fall short of the money were Papa Karn, WSOP November Niner Dennis Phillips, WSOP bracelet winners Jason Simon and Brent Gregory, Michael Estes, and RunGood ambassador Chris Audrain.
The 179 entries on Day 1b brought the total field up to 284 through the first two starting flights. There are still two more flights tomorrow, and they are expected to be the biggest yet as the field should grow substantially by the time the prize pool is announced. All surviving players return for Day 2 on August 9 at noon local time to play down to a champion. The action will pick up on the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights, and Day 1b happened to end at nearly the same time as yesterday with 25 minutes remaining in Level 18 with blinds of 8,000/16,000 and a 16,000 big blind ante.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow for what promises to be a busy day, so stay tuned for further updates.
Level 18
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
Level 18
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
Robert Weeks moved all in for 86,000 in middle position and Phil Boyd called in the big blind.
Robert Weeks: A♠Q♠ 
Phil Boyd: K♠7♥
Boyd took the lead on the K♥4♣4♥ flop with two pair, while Weeks hit a pair on the Q♦ turn. The river was the J♠, and Weeks couldn't catch up as he was eliminated on the money bubble.
The remaining 22 players are currently bagging up their chips for the night.
Level 18
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante
William McCracken was recently eliminated to bring the field down to 23 players. Action is going hand-for-hand until there is one more elimination.
Level: 18
Blinds: 8,000/16,000
Ante: 16,000
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Phil Boyd three-bet to 75,000 in the hijack and Mike Bell called under the gun.
The flop came 5♠6♦8♠ and Boyd continued for 60,000. Bell called, and the 10♥ fell on the turn.
Boyd then bet 125,000, and Bell folded this time. "Do you want to see it or not?" Boyd asked Bell, and he eventually turned over A♠7♠ as he took in the pot.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Jerry Anderson moved all in for 123,000 in the hijack and Charles Telle called on the button.
Jerry Anderson: J♠10♠
Charles Telle: 6♥6♠
Anderson picked up straight and flush draws on the Q♠4♠8♥ flop, while the turn was the 7♦. The J♥ fell on the river, and Anderson improved to a pair to win the pot and double up.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Travis Gillihan raised to 23,000 in the hijack, Owen Hunn stuck in his last 43,000 on the button, and Gillihan called.
Owen Hunn: Q♥9♥
Travis Gillihan: A♠7♠
The Q♠6♠6♦ flop gave Hunn two pair and the lead, while Gillihan picked up a flush draw. The 8♥ turn was safe for Hunn, while the river was the 3♥ and he held on to secure the double up.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Phil Boyd bet 25,000 from under the gun on a flop of 4♣J♥5♥ and Peter Brooks called in middle position.
The turn was the J♦ and Boyd checked over to Brooks, who bet 32,000. Boyd called, and the 3♠ fell on the river.
Boyd then bet 75,000, and Brooks called. Boyd showed A♠J♠ for trips, and Brooks mucked.
