$800 Main Event Day 1bc | 2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tulsa

10-25-2025 19:19 UTC-5

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Erick Torres

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

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Level: 14

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 6,000

10-25-2025 19:00 UTC-5

Turn Bet Does the Trick for Cranford

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Erick Torres

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

A raise to 20,000 from under the gun was how the hand began before Christy Cranford made the call on the button. The big blind also came along with a call to create a three-handed pot as they took a flop.

The big blind checked the 5♥K♦J♦ flop before the under-the-gun raiser fired 25,000. Cranford gave it considerable thought before she put in the call before the big blind folded.

The original raiser slowed down with a check on the Q♥ turn, which led to an all-in for approximately 115,000 by Cranford. The jam was enough to take down the pot as the original raiser released his hand to yield the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christy Cranford	155,000

Tags: Christy Cranford

10-25-2025 18:43 UTC-5

Brown Delivers Final Blow to Kurmadasu

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Erick Torres

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

David Brown opened to 12,000 from the hijack before Nikhil Kurmadasu put in his final 105,000 from the cutoff with an all-in. Brown reluctantly made the call to put Kurmadasu at risk.

Nikhil Kurmadasu: A♣Q♥ All in
David Brown: 4♥4♠

The flop brought a paint card, but it was not what Kurmadasu was looking for as it fanned out 6♣5♣J♠ to keep Brown in the lead.

Brown stayed ahead on the 2♥ turn and the 10♣ river to take down the pot as he sent Kurmadasu to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Brown	280,000
Nikhil Kurmadasu	Busted

Tags: David Brown Nikhil Kurmadasu

10-25-2025 18:32 UTC-5

Set for Evans

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Erick Torres

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

Mika Evans got it in for approximately 70,000 preflop against his opponent, who began the hand with a raise under the gun to be at risk for his tournament life.

Mika Evans: 9♣9♠ All in
Opponent: A♠K♦

Evans needed to fade the overcards, but the flop was better than that when it came 4♣9♥3♠ to give him top set. The 4♥ turn sealed the deal as the inconsequential 7♣ river peeled to complete the board and award Evans the double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mika Evans	145,000

Tags: Mika Evans

Level: 13

Blinds: 3,000/5,000

Ante: 5,000

10-25-2025 18:16 UTC-5

Wise Stays in Contention

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Erick Torres

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

The hand began with a raise to 10,000 from middle position before Dexter Wise chose to re-raise it to 25,000 from the small blind. The middle position player called and sent them to a flop.

Wise shoved his final 13,000 on the J♣K♦8♣ flop, which led to a call from his opponent to put Wise at risk for his tournament life.

Dexter Wise: A♦K♣ All in
Opponent: A♣J♦

Wise was well ahead of his opponent and the 6♣ turn, and the 7♦ did not alter that as he took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dexter Wise	89,000 77,500	77,500

Tags: Dexter Wise

10-25-2025 18:04 UTC-5

Tens Hold for Evans

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Erick Torres

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

A significant hand broke out and was recounted by Seth Evans to PokerNews. Evans began the action with a raise to 10,000 from middle position before he faced a re-raise to 40,000 from the hijack.

The big blind decided to take a stand and jammed for 58,000. Evans put in his stack of 60,000 and was called by the hijack to put Evans and the big blind at risk.

Big Blind: AxKx All in
Seth Evans: 10x10x
Hijack: 8x8x

Evans held against his two opponents when the board ran 9x6x6x7x4x to give Evans a near triple up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Seth Evans	178,000 37,000	37,000

Tags: Seth Evans

10-25-2025 18:00 UTC-5

Day 1c Begins

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Erick Torres

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

Players have one last opportunity to bag for Day 2 as the final flight of the RGPS Tulsa $800 Main Event begins.

10-25-2025 17:47 UTC-5

Presidential Medal of Valor Recipient Still Has Passion for Playing

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Erick Torres

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

Marvin Donaldson has been a firefighter for 24 years and regular in the Oklahoma poker scene. He shared with PokerNews that he plans to retire soon, putting an end to a noble career that included winning the Presidential Medal of Valor in 2005.

Donaldson, five fellow firefighters, and two police officers were recognized for their bravery when he was part of the emergency response team that saved a paramedic during a call to a house explosion in 2004, saving a paramedic while under gunfire.

As the sun sets on his firefighting career, Donaldson will enter his retirement with an already accomplished poker career on his resume. According to The Hendon Mob, Donaldson has amassed nearly half a million in career earnings in poker tournaments.

The Kansas City firefighter has been playing competitively since 2014, when he secured his first cash prize of his tournament career. He shared that his introduction to poker occurred after Chris Moneymaker shook up the poker world with his win at the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event, as he played against his fellow firefighters. He realized he had a knack for the game and kept pursuing his passion for playing poker.

While his firefighting career may be winding down, Donaldson does not plan to stop playing poker anytime soon, as he continues to travel to tournaments to compete. Donaldson has hit a rough patch in the last level, but is still in contention here at the RGPS Tulsa $800 Main Event.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marvin Donaldson	55,000 90,000	90,000

Tags: Chris Moneymaker Marvin Donaldson