$600 Main Event ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Day 1a Completed
2023 RGPS San Diego
$600 Main Event ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2023 RGPS San Diego
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$277,160
Entries
533
Level
27
Blinds
75,000 / 125,000
Ante
125,000
Entries
156
Players Left
20
Utke Leads The Way; Acker, Alsup, and Foster All Advance
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The first flight of The Rungood Poker Series Checkpoint $600 Main Event at Jamul Casino in San Diego, California has come to a close. 156 entrants paid their fee to get into the tournament, ensuring that 20 players would advance into Day 2 and secure themselves a minimum cash.
Leading the way is Chad Utke who ended the day with 657,000. Utke is no stranger to The RunGood Poker Series, having final tabled one event and cashed in the main event in the last RGPS Jamul casino. Many of his chips were acquired late in the day, where he moved all in to make his opponent fold a straight, even though he held only the same straight and he won the massive pot. Being the only player to bag over half a million, Utke looks to make his third RGPS cash a big one as he leads the field to the second day.
End Of Day 1A Chip Counts
| Rank | Name | Hometown | Chip Count |
| 1 | Chad Utke | Calgary, Canada | 657,000 |
| 2 | Victor Kulish | San Diego, CA | 498,000 |
| 3 | Gary Crite | San Diego, CA | 455,000 |
| 4 | Tim Acker | San Diego, CA | 426,000 |
| 5 | Young Hillard | San Diego, CA | 399,000 |
| 6 | Shane Truesdale | Oceanside, CA | 378,000 |
| 7 | Gary Bousquet | San Diego, CA | 322,000 |
| 8 | Jesus Diaz | San Diego, CA | 202,000 |
| 9 | Rich Alsup | Minneapolis, MN | 180,000 |
| 10 | Noel Eicher | Poway, CA | 170,000 |
Topping off the podium are Victor Kulish (498,000), and Gary Crite (455,000). Crite was the chip leader for much of the day, while Kulish saw a late surge push him to the top. Last years’ runner up and bracelet winner Rich Alsup (180,000) found his way into the top ten at the end of the day, Grant Foster (108,000) found his way to a bag fresh off of a second place finish earlier this series, and former RGPS Jamul Main Event winner Noel Eicher (170,000) looks to add a second title to his illustrious resume.
Fortunes were not on everyone’s side as the day saw many players fall by the wayside. RGPS winner Anthony Bland became the final casualty of the night when his top pair was unable to fade the open ended straight draw of Victor Kulish. Daniel Hughes, Mark Feinberg, Tavish Margers, Johnnie “Vibes” Moreno, and Garry Gates will all have to look to the following flights in the hopes to bag for the second day.
The 20 survivors will return to play on Sunday February 26th, with blinds at 4,000/8,000 unless one of the following flights finds an earlier end point. Tomorrow on Saturday, February 25th at 11 AM will see the kickoff of Day 1b and 6 PM will be the beginning of Day 1c, as well as the last chance to secure a bag for the second day. With unlimited re-entry in all tournaments and registration open until level 9, players will have ample opportunity to come play for their shot at RGPS glory.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series Checkpoint $600 Main Event at Jamul Casino.
End Of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
657,000 | -5,000 |
|
498,000 | |
|
455,000 | -40,000 |
|
426,000 | -28,000 |
|
399,000 | |
|
378,000 | 139,000 |
|
322,000 | |
|
202,000 | |
|
180,000 | -65,000 |
|
170,000 | -61,000 |
|
134,000 | |
|
|
129,000 | |
|
116,000 | |
|
|
111,000 | |
|
108,000 | -1,000 |
|
101,000 | |
|
86,000 | 30,000 |
|
84,000 | |
|
|
76,000 | |
|
52,000 | -32,000 |
Victor Kulish Eliminates Anthony Bland On The Bubble Day 1A of RGPS Main Event
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Action was picked up on the flop in a pot between Victor Kulish and Anthony Bland. The board read 
and Bland had moved all in for 110,000 out of position while Kulish went into the tank before calling.
Anthony Bland: 
Victor Kulish: 
The turn 
gave Kulish a straight that held up on the 
river. RGPS ring winner Anthony Bland became the unfortunate bubble boy, while Kulish raked in a large pot and the remaining 20 players bagged up for the next day.
Stay tuned for a full recap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
498,000 | 385,000 |
|
Busted |
Hand For Hand Begins
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
With 21 players left in the field, the tournament has gone hand for hand.
Utke Gets Opponent Off Of A Chop
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Action was picked up in a massive pot on the turn between Chad Utke in the small blind, Stevy Sa in first position and one player in the hijack.
Stevy Sa moved all in for 105,000 on a board reading 
which saw the player in the hijack call, while Chad Utke moved all in for 140,000 more which sent his opponent into the tank. After some time the other player folded 
faceup and the two players turned their hands over.
Stevy Sa: 
Chad Utke: 
Utke turned a straight to leave Sa drawing dead before the 
river and Utke rose to the biggest stack in the room.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
662,000 | |
|
Busted |
Acker Holds With Tens
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Action was picked up with one player all in for his last 45,000 from early position and Tim Acker having called him in the big blind.
Opponent: 
Tim Acker:
The board ran out 
and the tens held up for Acker to take a significant pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
454,000 | 204,000 |
Alsup Sends Out Morey
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Ken Morey called in the small blind and in the big blind, Rich Alsup moved all in for 93,000 effective.
Ken Morey: 
Rich Alsup:
The board ran out 
and both players made flushes on the river, with Alsups reigning supreme and he took down the pot while sending out Morey.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
245,000 | 62,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Assorted Chip Counts
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
495,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
250,000 | 27,000 |
|
|
239,000 | 86,000 |
|
|
231,000 | 146,000 |
|
|
183,000 | -2,000 |
|
|
113,000 | -199,000 |
|
|
109,000 | -26,000 |
|
|
84,000 | -52,000 |
|
Busted |