2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley

Million Dollar Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$200,422
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$1,064,187
Entries
477
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
75,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
273
Players Left
76

RGPS CheckPoint: Million Dollar Main Resumes Tomorrow with Day 2

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Black Tarmac Treatment
Black Tarmac Treatment

The air was abuzz this morning as players began entering the room around 10:30 and were greeted with a black tarmac experience only found here at Thunder Valley. The staff was in full Top Gun uniform complete with bomber jackets and aviators while Jeff Platt and Hayley Hochstetler put on an incredible TV performance while Tana Karn and Ben Erwin joined in the commentary. The entire room was truly a spectacle to behold and the energy in the room was electric as “Boston” Rob Mariano announced, “Shuffle Up and Deal!”

Flight Crew
Flight Crew
Jeff, Tana, and Ben
Jeff, Tana, and Ben

After that, it was all business as 273 players took their seats throughout the day with 75 finding their way to a bag after ten full levels of play with a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6.

Leading the way for Day 1b after the dust settled is Ravi Udayakumar with 411,500, followed by Adam Hannula with 406,000. This puts them in third and fourth place overall when they return tomorrow for Day 2, with Paul Sampson in first (563,000) and Adam Dunkle in second (536,000), with Phatseluck Yang rounding out the top five with 388,000.

Day 1 Combined Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Paul SampsonUnited States563,000225
2Adam DunkleUnited States536,000214
3Ravi UdayakumarUnited States411,500165
4Adam HannulaUnited States406,000162
5Phatseluck YangUnited States388,000155
6Daniel TurnerUnited States384,000154
7Michael AbratiqueUnited States365,000146
8Jared JaffeeUnited States356,000142
9Bin DuanUnited States316,500127
10Aaron OvertonUnited States301,000120

Among other notables bagging up were Platt (203,000), Ethan Yau (133,000), Joey Gargiulo (100,000), and Michael Loncar (43,500).

Those who didn’t make it through the day and have missed their chance to advance include RunGood Ambassadors Lexy Gavin-Mather, Jamie Kerstetter, and Kris Burchfield.

Hayley & Joey Gargiulo
Hayley & Joey Gargiulo

The Return for Day 2 Tomorrow

With both opening flights in the books, Day 2 will take place Sundaty at 11 a.m. local time and will start at level 11 with blinds as 1,500/2,500 with a 2,500 big blind ante. The day will consist of another ten 60-minute levels of play before bagging up to return on Monday for Day 3.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage from the beautiful Thunder Valley Casino Resort until a CheckPoint Champion is crowned on Monday.

Tags: Aaron OvertonAdam DunkleAdam HannulaBen ErwinBin DuanDaniel TurnerEthan YauHayley HochstetlerJamie KerstetterJared JaffeeJeff PlattJoey GargiuloKris BurchfieldLexy Gavin-MatherMichael AbratiqueMichael LoncarPaul SampsonPhatseluck YangRavi UdayakumarRob MarianoTana Karn

Prize Pool and Payouts Announced: $200,422 for the Winner!

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Rungood Ring
Rungood Ring

With registration for this event officially closed, 477 total entries for this event created a prize pool of $1,064,187 to pay out 72 spots with a grand prize of $200,422 and a min-cash of $3,245.

PlacePayoutPlacePayout
1$200,42213-15$13,440
2$141,58516-18$11,205
3$90,31519-21$9,460
4$63,94522-24$7,855
5$49,05525-27$6,695
6$41,02528-36$5,565
7$33,90537-45$4,840
8$27,04046-54$4,245
9-10$21,50555-63$3,695
11-12$16,80564-72$3,245

Fierce Play from Kerstetter

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Jamie Kerstetter
Jamie Kerstetter

After limping preflop, three players went to a flop of 539 and action checked through to the 3 on the turn.

The small blind checked once more but then, miraculously, Jamie Kerstetter found the courage to bet 1,600 from the big blind with one player still behind!

The middle position player must have sniffed out this strong play and quickly folded while the small blind did the same to award Kerstetter the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Jamie Kerstetter us
Jamie Kerstetter
47,000
9,600
9,600

Tags: Jamie Kerstetter

Gargiulo Quacks Himself Up

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Joey Gargiulo
Joey Gargiulo

On a heads-up completed bard of 832JJ, the pot was already swelled when Joey Gargiulo bet another 25,000 into it. The action was then on big stack Paul Arguelles who went into the tank to consider this bet.

After not too much time, he tossed out some chips to make the call.

"Full house," Gargiulo announced as he tossed out 22 for deuces full of jacks and Arguelles quickly mucked.

"I guess that's how you win with deuces! Quack quack!" he joked as he raked in the pot to boost him to over 200,000.

Player Chips Progress
Joey Gargiulo us
Joey Gargiulo
215,000
175,000
175,000
Paul Arguelles us
Paul Arguelles
165,000
600
600

Tags: Joey GargiuloPaul Arguelles

Players Prepare to Take Flight in Day 1b

Checkpoint Felt
Checkpoint Felt

205 entries filled the Thunder Valley Casino Resort poker room Friday, but that number is expected to be surpassed today as the RunGood Poker Checkpoint Season Finale continues on its way toward passing its $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, the largest of the year.

The $2,500 buy-in main event saw 49 players advance from Day 1a on Friday, led by Paul Sampson who bagged 563,000 chips through ten levels of play.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayerChip CountCountryBig Blinds
1Paul Sampson563,000United States225
2Adam Dunkle536,000United States214
3Jared Jaffee356,000United States142
4Alexander Rodriguez295,000United States118
5Peter Dirksen294,500United States118
6Adam Miller284,500United States114
7Scott Mataya283,500United States113
8Joseph Mussat264,500United States106
9Yotam Shmuelov244,000United States98
10Steve Numoto240,500United States96

Sunday’s second opening flight will begin at noon local time, with another ten 60-minute levels of play scheduled.

Just as on Day 1a, players will begin with 40,000 chips at blinds of 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante.

Registration will remain open right up until the start of Level 9 with an option to re-enter once, if necessary.

Players will receive 15-minute breaks at the end of every second level, with a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6 which means they will complete the night at approximately 11 p.m. local time.

Be sure to stick with PokerNews for full coverage of the RGPS Million Dollar Main Event here at Thunder Valley Casino Resort!

Tags: Adam DunkleAdam MillerAlexander RodriguezJared JaffeeJoseph MussatPaul SampsonPeter DirksenScott MatayaSteve NumotoYotam Shmuelov