Kenny Dang Bags Overall Day 1 Chip Lead of RGPS Contenders Tunica $575 Main Event
Two full starting flights played to their conclusion Saturday inside the Horseshoe Casino Tunica for the 2022 RunGood Poker Series Contenders Tour Tunica $575 Main Event. Noon's Day 1b drew 245 entries and 7 p.m.'s Day 1c added another 173 to that tally, bringing the grand total to 602 entries for the tournament.
Coming into the day, Nashville's Donnie Phan (213,000) was the one to catch, and at least a handful of players did so with Richard Bolden (291,500) bagging the Day 1b chip lead to begin that trend. However, Day 1c chip leader Kenny Dang eclipsed that number, finishing play with 352,500 after a late-night surge saw multiple players' stacks end up becoming part of his.
In total, 61 players advanced from the first flight and another 43 made it through later in the evening. Barry Schultz (280,000), Thomas Canter (246,000), and ClubGG qualifier Hao Zhu (225,500) also finished with stacks above that of Day 1a chip leader Phan.
A perfect 25% of all three flights made it through their respective days, meaning 150 players from the 602 total entries will return for Sunday's Day 2 at noon local time to play down to a winner. Other notables on that list include RunGood Ambassador Julie Cornelius (187,500), BJ McBrayer (145,500), Mark Kehrees (126,500), former RGPS Tunica Main Event Champion Tiffany Keathley (117,500), and Event #5 ($200 Double Green Chip Bounty) Winner Chad Marsh (82,000).
Of the 150 to advance, 63 will make it into the money, with a first-level payout good for $1,023. Meanwhile, the eventual champion will earn $66,849, the RunGood Trophy, and a seat to the 2022 RunGood Pro-Am set to be played later this year at the PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas. Complete payout information has been provided below.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $66,849 |
| 2 | $42,592 |
| 3 | $25,886 |
| 4 | $21,070 |
| 5 | $17,308 |
| 6 | $13,696 |
| 7 | $10,686 |
| 8 | $8,428 |
| 9 | $6,171 |
| 10-12 | $3,913 |
| 13-15 | $3,161 |
| 16-18 | $2,408 |
| 19-27 | $1,806 |
| 28-36 | $1,505 |
| 37-45 | $1,204 |
| 46-54 | $1,114 |
| 55-63 | $1,023 |
PokerNews will be back at it again Sunday to take you through to the finish line, so be sure to come back then.
and the player on the button quickly called. Both players checked through 
and the board completed with 
. Heinze reached for chips and threw 6,200 onto the felt, sending his opponent into the tank. Half a minute later, the player folded and the pot was shipped Heinze's way.
. The original raiser continuation-bet 3,000 and Cornelius raised to 11,000, receiving a call.
and the original raiser led out, sliding his stack of 33,000 forward onto the felt. Cornelius went into the tank for over a minute.
came in compliant fashion and the pot was shipped her way.
and Terrano checked to Reynolds, who continuation-bet 3,200. The hijack called and then Terrano announced a check-raise to the minimum value of 6,400. Reynolds called and the hijack thought for a few moments before folding.
and Terrano continued for 12,000. Reynolds announced he was all in and Terrano called.
with heads-up action between Chad Marsh in the hijack and an opponent in the small blind. A small pile of chips was already in the middle and Marsh bet 3,500 after his opponent checked to him. The small blind called and the river came 
, where both players checked.
and Claus bet 6,000. Dunn made the call, and action checked through the river 
to take the hand to showdown.
for a flopped top pair, top kicker that became nines up on the board-pairing river. Dunn shook his head and sent his cards to the muck, finding himself below 10,000 after losing the hand.
and Mofield checked. Claus continuation-bet 2,300 and Mofield check-jammed for 8,200.
and scooped the double at Claus's expense.
