$700 Main Event Day 1bc | 2023 RGPS Iowa

11-19-2023 05:17 UTC-12

Neighbors Leads A Stacked Field; Two Council Bluffs Champions Remain Going Into Day 2

Liam Gannon

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Play is set to begin for The RunGood Poker Series Road Trip $700 Main Event at The Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This iteration saw a total of 546 entrants in the field, all with their eyes set on Day 2 and what would eventually become the $327,600 prizepool. Only 67 players survived going into the second day, with each one of them guaranteed $917 and all eyes on the first place prize of $63,305.

Leading the way is Gabe Neighbors who ended his day with 766,000 just a few short weeks after winning his first WSOPC ring. He is now matching it with a first RGPS cash and a chip lead coming into day 2. Others who found bags included Mark Lafata (430,000), Jason Crews (415,000), two-time RGPS Main Event Winner Blair Hinkle (345,000), Ben Ludlow (322,000), Ashley “PokerFaceAsh” Frank (236,000), Angela Jordison (215,000), and Michael Marder (166,000). Each one of them with eyes on the latest RGPS title.

Place	Player	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Gabe Neighbors	766,000	76
2	Cody Bartlett	705,000	70
3	Derrick Plumage	697,000	69
4	David Gallimore	553,000	55
5	Mark Laughlin	513,000	51
6	Lionel Jiang	496,000	49
7	Ted Forshey	440,000	44
8	Mark Lafata	430,000	43
9	Robert Whitney	426,000	42
10	Jason Crews	415,000	41

Two gentlemen familiar with this title are two-time RGPS Council Bluffs champion Derrick Plumage (697,000) and defending champion Joshua Kopp (279,000). Plumage can become a three-time champion here today with a win, while Kopp can join Plumage in what would only be the second player to win back to back RGPS Main Events at the same location.

Play ended with 25:57 left in Level 16 with blinds at 5,000/10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante in the first flight, with all flights ending at roughly the same time. Levels will be 30 minutes each with a 15-minute break at the conclusion of every four levels.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series Road Trip $700 Council Bluffs Main Event. Be sure to also look at the RGPS event in San Diego running at the same time.

Tags: Angela Jordison Ben Ludlow Blair Hinkle Cody Bartlett David Gallimore Derrick Plumage Gabe Neighbors Jason Crews Joshua Kopp Lionel Jiang Mark Lafata Mark Laughlin Michael Marder Robert Whitney San Diego Ted Forshey

11-18-2023 21:02 UTC-12

Neighbors Leads Field Into Day 2 Of The RGPS Council Bluffs Main Event

Liam Gannon

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

A total of 177 players came out to play the final flight at the RunGood Poker Series Road Trip $700 Main Event at The Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This saw a total of 546 players in this iteration of the main event, leaving a field of just 67 to return on Day 2 for the massive $327,600 prize pool. The 67 surviving players will be all guaranteed $917, with $63,305 at the top of the prize pool for the winner.

Leading the way is Gabe Neighbors who ended his day with 766,000. Neighbors has had a relatively eventful year as far as poker is concerned. Winning his first WSOPC ring just a few weeks ago, Neighbors has now collected his first RGPS cash in the main event. With his massive stack coming into the second day of play, he looks to make this cash a big one.

Day 1c Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Chip Count
1	Gabe Neighbors	766,000
2	Ted Forshey	440,000
3	Mark Lafata	430,000
4	Blair Hinkle	345,000
5	Jackson Turrentine	294,000
6	Jacob Long	278,000
7	Papa Karn	247,000
8	David Caron	237,000
9	Ashley Frank	236,000
10	Orlando Guerrero	230,000

Others who found their way into Day 2 included Ted Forshey (440,000), Mark Lafata (430,000), Two-Time RGPS Main Event Champion Blair Hinkle (345,000), Papa Karn (247,000) last iteration’s runner up David Caron (237,000) Ashley “PokerFaceAsh” Frank (236,000), Scott Buller (212,000) and Michael Marder (166,000). Each one of them looking for a piece of RGPS history.

Not all saw fortune smile as players like Nate Steuer, Ryan Remmes, Shaun Emery, Kevin Berthelsen, and Brian Winter will all have to look to another stop for a victory in a Main Event.

Play ended with 25:57 left in Level 16 with blinds at 5,000/10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante in the first flight and with all the flights ending at roughly the same time, this was the earliest ending flight. The 67 players will return at noon tomorrow to play down to a winner.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series Road Trip $700 Council Bluffs Main Event. Be sure to also look at the RGPS event in San Diego running at the same time.

Tags: Ashley Frank Blair Hinkle Brian Winter David Caron Gabe Neighbors Jackson Turrentine Jacob Long Kevin Berthelsen Mark Lafata Michael Marder Nate Steuer Orlando Guerrero Papa Karn Ryan Remmes San Diego Scott Buller Shaun Emery Ted Forshey

11-18-2023 14:20 UTC-12

Laughlin Leads The Final 23 Players Of Day 1b; Kopp Looking for Back To Back

Liam Gannon

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

The RunGood Poker Series Road Trip $700 Council Bluffs Main Event has seen its second flight of play conclude at The Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This first flight saw 180 entrants come out for their shot at a bag and the second flight saw 189 players go for a piece of the $200,000 guaranteed prizepool. After the dust settled, just 23 players remained with their hopes intact while all others will have one final chance tonight in the final flight.

Leading the way is Mark Laughlin who ended their day with 513,000. Laughlin spent much of the early chunk of the tournament on the short stack. It wasn’t until a triple up he had through defending champion Joshua Kopp (279,000), and knocking out Brian Winter shortly afterwards where he defined himself as one of the flight chip leaders. Laughlin final tabled this event in 2020, finishing in 6th place for $7,990. With this stack today, he looks to better the finish he had back then with a massive score.

Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts

Place	Player	Chip Count
1	Mark Laughlin	513,000
2	Lionel Jiang	496,000
3	Robert Whitney	426,000
4	Robbie Kent	404,000
5	Tyler Bock	351,000
6	Ben Ludlow	322,000
7	Andre Allen	315,000
8	Joshua Kopp	279,000
9	James Girouard	265,000
10	Shane Fuller	260,000

Kopp also found a bag and will be looking to match Derrick Plumage’s feat of winning two RGPS main events in a row. Others that found bags included Ben Ludlow (322,000), RGPS St. Louis Champion Andre Allen (315,000), Yashveen Mudireddy (242,000), Angela Jordison (215,000), and Maxx Holland (195,000). Each one of them looking to carve a piece of RG history as the season winds to a close.

Not all saw fortune favor them. Players like Mark Lafata, Michael Marder, Mallory Johnson, Mo Nuwwarah, former RGPS Council Bluffs main event champion Nate Steuer and WSOP bracelet winner Blair Hinkle. With one more opportunity tonight in the final flight, they will try once more to secure a bag to make Day 2 of this event.

Defending champion Joshua Kopp found a bag to keep his chances at a back to back title alive.

Play ended with 25:57 left in Level 16 with blinds at 5,000/10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante in the prior flight. This flight went longer than the previous flight, so all will be returning to this level barring an early end on the final flight.

PokerNews coverage will now go on a pause. Check back in later tonight for coverage of the final flight. Also be sure to check out all updates with the concurrent RGPS main event that is running in San Diego at Jamul Casino.

Tags: Andre Allen Angela Jordison Ben Ludlow Blair Hinkle Brian Winter Derrick Plumage Joshua Kopp Mallory Johnson Mark Lafata Mark Laughlin Maxx Holland Michael Marder Mo Nuwwarah Nate Steuer San Diego Yashveen Mudireddy

11-18-2023 13:56 UTC-12

Ludlow Eliminates The Last Player Of The Night

Liam Gannon

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

A player moved all in for 77,000 on the button and in the big blind Ben Ludlow called to put him at risk.

Opponent: A♣K♣
Ben Ludlow: 6♥6♠

The board ran out 9♥5♠3♣7♣J♠ and the ace-king could not improve, sending the pot to Ludlow.

Stay tuned for a flight recap and end of day chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Ludlow	322,000 163,000	163,000

Tags: Ben Ludlow

11-18-2023 13:26 UTC-12

Allen Scoops One; Hand For Hand Begins

Liam Gannon

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

A player in the cutoff moved all in for 65,000 and in the big blind, Andre Allen called to put him at risk.

Opponent: K♥9♦
Andre Allen: 4♠4♦

The board ran out 10♠8♣6♥5♦J♣ and Allen faded all of the pair outs and the straight draw to scoop the pot.

The tournament has now progressed to the hand for hand portion of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andre Allen	256,000 85,000	85,000

Tags: Andre Allen

11-18-2023 12:43 UTC-12

Winter Falls To Laughlin

Liam Gannon

Level 14 : 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Action was picked up on the turn in a pot between Brian Winter on the button and Mark Laughlin in the big blind.

On a board of 8♥K♦10♠6♣, Lauglin checked over to Winter who bet 30,000 which Laughlin called.

The river came the 9♥ and Lauglin checked over to Winter once more who moved all in for 71,000 which Lauglin quickly called, which prompted a wince from Winter.

Brian Winter: A♦2♦
Mark Laughlin: 10♣9♦

Laughlin had made two pair on the river and called Winter's last bet to eliminate Winter from the tournament.

At another table, Blair Hinkle was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Laughlin	365,000 220,000	220,000
Brian Winter	Busted
Blair Hinkle	Busted

Tags: Blair Hinkle Brian Winter Mark Laughlin

11-18-2023 12:28 UTC-12

Laughlin Triples Up While Kopp Knocks Out Fouts

Liam Gannon

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Michael Fouts raised to 12,000 in the cutoff which saw defending champion Joshua Kopp three bet on the button to 35,000. In the small blind Mark Laughlin moved all in for 47,000 which saw Fouts move all in for 165,000 and Kopp asked for a count then put in the chips to call to put both players at risk.

Mark Laughlin: A♦A♥
Michael Fouts: A♣K♣
Joshua Kopp: K♥K♠

The board ran out 10♥6♦4♣3♦J♣ and the aces held up for Laughlin to scoop the main while Fouts was eliminated by Kopp in the side.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joshua Kopp	279,000

Mark Laughlin	145,000
Michael Fouts	Busted

Tags: Joshua Kopp Mark Laughlin Michael Fouts

11-18-2023 11:20 UTC-12

"Somebody Call An Ambulance"

Liam Gannon

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Eric Douglas moved all in for 15,000 from middle position which saw Brett Slezak move all in for 36,500 from late position and Charles Aron called on the button while all subsequent action folded.

"Somebody call an ambulance," Slezak said with a smile on his face as he turned over his cards "but not for me."

Eric Douglas: Q♥5♥
Brett Slezak: K♥K♠
Charles Aron: A♦J♣

The board ran out 10♣9♦5♦J♦10♦ and the script was flipped as Slezak's kings were cracked by Aron's rivered flush. Aron raked in the pot at the expense of Slezak and Douglas who wished their opponent's well as they exited the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charles Aron	134,000
Brett Slezak	Busted
Eric Douglas	Busted

Tags: Brett Slezak Charles Aron Eric Douglas

11-18-2023 10:53 UTC-12

Nuwwarah Fires Three Streets

Liam Gannon

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

A player in middle position called and action folded to Mo Nuwwarah in the big blind who checked his option.

The flop came out K♥7♣3♣ and Nuwwarah bet 3,000 which his opponent called.

Nuwwarah bet a second time on the Q♣ turn, this time to the tune of 12,000 and his opponent called once more.

On the J♦ river, Nuwwarah bet again and sized up to 27,000 which saw his opponent ponder his decision while counting out the chips before tossing his hand into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mo Nuwwarah	225,000 206,000	206,000

Tags: Mo Nuwwarah

11-18-2023 10:37 UTC-12

Ludlow Sends One Home

Liam Gannon

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

Ben Ludlow raised to 5,000 from middle position and a player in the cutoff and another player in the small blind came along.

The flop of 10♥5♦9♣ rolled out where the small blind led out for 15,000 and Ludlow clicked it to 30,000. The cutoff folded which prompted the small blind to move all in for 49,500 and Ludlow called.

Opponent: 7♠5♠
Ben Ludlow: A♥10♦

The board ran out 4♠J♠ and the ace-ten held up for Ludlow to add to his growing stack.