$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2023 RGPS Joplin
$600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2023 RGPS Joplin
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$348,330
Entries
683
Level
31
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
108
Players Left
13
Lewis Dominates To Lead Day 1a Of The RunGood Poker Series Joplin Main Event
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The RunGood Poker Series Checkpoint $600 Main Event at Downstream Resort and Casino outside of Joplin, Missouri, concluded its first of four flights today. A total of 108 players came out to get a piece of the $100,000 guaranteed prizepool, with only 13 players able to secure a bag. Those 13 survivors will return on Sunday, April 16th to play for the ring.
Leading the way is Jael Lewis who bagged up (680,000) at the end of the day. Lewis found herself winning a massive hand in the first level when her kings beat two players kings and from that point on, she never lost the chip lead in the tournament. The RGPS ring winner is no stranger to winning in tournaments, as her lifetime earnings clear $60,000 on Hendon Mob, but a deep RGPS Main Event run, would fit nicely into her already existing list of accolades.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jael Lewis | 680,000 |
| 2 | Brandon Wagner | 544,000 |
| 3 | Jesse Jones | 399,000 |
| 4 | Brant Jolly | 300,000 |
| 5 | Mark Martin | 172,000 |
| 6 | Jackson Holtgraves | 161,000 |
| 7 | Michael Miller | 158,000 |
| 8 | Kevin Strunk | 154,000 |
| 9 | Michael Kennedy | 152,000 |
| 10 | Sarah Renko | 149,000 |
Lewis will have a hard worn path in front of her as a few notables found themselves alive at the end of the night with her. Players like Brandon Wagner (544,000), Jesse Jones (399,000), Brant Jolly (300,000), Michael Miller (158,000), Sarah Renko (149,000), and Jeffrey Copeland (121,000) all are looking for a place in RGPS history. For former RGPS Joplin Champion Mark Martin (172,000), it will be for a second title at this very stop, a feat accomplished only by one player in RGPS history.
Fortune didn’t favor all, as many players like Daniel Lowery, Preston McEwen, Brian Frenzel, Joey Gargiulo, Ashley “PokerFaceAsh” Frank, and WSOP bracelet winner Grant Hinkle could not find their way to a bag despite their best efforts. Players will have ample opportunity to fire again on the following two days of flights.
Play ended with 10:02 left on the clock in level 15 with blinds at 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 big blind ante, meaning that Day 2 players(who are already guaranteed a min cash) will return at this time barring another flight ending earlier than this one. Stay tuned for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series Joplin Main Event.
End of Day 1a Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
680,000 | 135,000 |
|
544,000 | 64,000 |
|
399,000 | |
|
300,000 | -12,000 |
|
172,000 | |
|
161,000 | |
|
158,000 | 101,100 |
|
154,000 | |
|
152,000 | |
|
149,000 | 96,000 |
|
139,000 | |
|
121,000 | 1,000 |
|
112,000 |
Jones Sends Out One On The Bubble; Play Ended For The Night
Level 15
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Jesse Jones raised to 23,000 from first position which saw another player move all in for 39,000 which both the small blind and Mark Martin in the big blind, and Jones called.
The flop of A♥Q♠10♣ checked through to the 7♥ turn where Jones bet 40,000 and Martin called.
The river 3♠ saw Martin check and Jones bet 90,000 which saw Martin fold and the hands were turned up.
Opponent: A♦4♦
Jesse Jones: 10♠7♠
The turn had brought Jones two pair to beat his opponent's top pair and he became the unfortunate bubble boy while the remaining 13 players bagged up for the night.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
399,000 | 134,000 |
|
|
172,000 | -93,000 |
Walden Exits; Hand for Hand Begins
Level 15
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Bryan Walden raised to 16,000 in the cutoff and on the button, Jesse Jones moved all in for 150,000. Action folded back around to Walden who called for 95,000 total and the hands were turned over.
Bryan Walden: 2♠2♦
Jesse Jones: A♣J♦
The board ran out A♠8♣4♥5♠J♥ and Jones' two pair was good enough to take down the pot while Walden exited the tournament area.
The tournament has been brought down to the final 14 players and hand for hand play has begun.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
265,000 | 113,000 |
|
Busted |
Copeland Doubles Through Martin
Level 15
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Jeffrey Copeland moved all in fro 56,000 from the hijack and Mark Martin called in the cutoff to put him at risk.
Jeffrey Copeland: 7♥7♠
Mark Martin: A♣J♦
The board ran out 10♠8♣4♦6♣9♠ and Copeland's straight was good enough for the pot as he survived his race.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
265,000 | 23,000 |
|
|
120,000 | 95,500 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Wagner Doubles Through Walden
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Brandon Wagner raised to 16,000 from early position and in the big blind, Bryan Walden raised to 55,000. Wagner counted out his stack before moving all in for 236,000 and Walden went into the tank. After some thinking Walden put in the call and the cards were turned over.
Brandon Wagner: A♠A♦
Bryan Walden: A♥K♣
The board ran out 9♦J♠5♥6♠J♦ and the aces held up for Wagner to take down a massive pot by doubling through Walden.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
480,000 | |
|
|
109,000 | -185,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Break
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
The remaining 15 players have gone on a 15-minute break. When they return they will play until two more players are eliminated.