$600 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica II
$600 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica II
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$328,950
Entries
645
Level
30
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
78
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 645
Filter
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
It took just over 12 hours on Day 2 of the 2025 RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix Tunica II to wrap up but it was all worth it for Carl Masters who was able to breathe a sigh of relief and satisfaction when it was all over. Masters put on a poker clinic at the final table en route to winning his third RGPS ring in the $600 Main Event at Horseshoe Casino Tunica.
It was one of the largest turnouts on tour as Masters overcame a field of 645 entries, which crushed the $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. For his victory, Masters will pocket $60,251 after overcoming a hard-fought heads-up battle with Rafael Lopez. In the last hand of the night, Masters found himself ahead the entire way and managed to fade the two live cards from Lopez to seal the deal.
It's been a long six months for Masters, who is a local favorite and fan among many on the small- to mid-stakes tour. There have been many final tables for the Tennessee native, but today he was finally able to get over the hump and claim one of the largest victories of his career. Masters was able to celebrate with some friends still around the poker room and a round of tequila shots for everyone!
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carl Masters | United States | $60,251 |
| 2 | Rafael Lopez | United States | $40,172 |
| 3 | Eric Salazar | United States | $29,598 |
| 4 | BJ McBrayer | United States | $22,054 |
| 5 | Jason Maeroff | United States | $16,621 |
| 6 | Josh Butler | United States | $12,672 |
| 7 | Cody Stanford | United States | $9,775 |
| 8 | Brian Durr | United States | $7,629 |
| 9 | Marlon Hammond | United States | $6,026 |
The day kicked off with 78 players returning to their seats, two of whom had already locked up a min-cash for bagging up chips on multiple flights. Kim Francisco and Bob Kellum each earned $954, plus brought their best bag into Day 2. Neither player was able to make a super deep run, but still impressive nonetheless.
A lot of the short stacks were willing to get their chips in the middle in the hopes of a spin-up, but many failed to do so. Some of the notables who's day finished earlier than they hoped included Nicholas Rigby, Matthew Higgins, and Chris Moneymaker. It was a streamline to the payout desk as nearly half of the field was eliminated in the opening two hours. The final three tables were set before the second break of the day, and soon enough, the final table was formed.
A strong final table it was, with multiple RGPS titles among them, along with many WSOP circuit rings as well. Marlon Hammond wasted little time getting his chips into the middle and became the first casualty of the final table. Soon after him was Brian Durr, who remained patient on the short stack for most of the day, but eventually just ran out of big blinds.
Cody Stanford looked poised to make another deep run but lost a couple of early pots on the final table and was unable to recover. Josh Butler was among the leaders for most of the day and once held the chip lead at the final table. However, Butler ran into pocket aces on one hand and became the short stack. A blind vs blind encounter left Butler on the short end of the stick with his suited connectors.
The final five players spent 90 minutes at the table together before Jason Maeroff was finally kicked off the island. Maeroff said earlier in the day that "everyone was playing for second," but calling his shot didn't work this time. Maeroff ran out of patience and ran out of cards when a failed bluff got picked off, leaving him in the danger zone.
Once Maeroff was eliminated, BJ McBrayer was coolered when his pocket kings got cracked by the two pair of Lopez. McBrayer folded his single big blind for an orbit until he forced all-in but was unable to connect with the board. That left just three players remaining, and they took one final break for the night. Upon returning, it only took one hand before Eric Salazar was eliminated in another confrontation with Lopez in the blinds.
That set the stage for the heads-up battle that would go on for less than 30 minutes after a clinical display of Masters using the chip lead to his advantage. That wraps up the PokerNews coverage for this event, but there are many others currently taking place, including the RGPS coming up in the near future.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Carl Masters announced all in on the button as the big stack and Rafael Lopez called off his stack of around 3,300,000 in the big blind.
Rafael Lopez: Q♥10♥
Carl Masters: A♥9♦
The flop came 9♠7♠7♣ and Masters maintained his lead with two pair. The 3♦ on the turn nor the 3♥ on the river could provide any help for Lopez who was forced to settle for a second-place finish.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
19,300,000
3,900,000
|
3,900,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Carl Masters limped in on the button and Rafael Lopez checked his option. The flop came 6♣5♠3♥ and Lopez check-called a bet of 500,000 from Masters.
The turn brought the A♦ and both players checked to the A♠ on the river. Lopez led out with a bet of 700,000 and Masters instantly called. Lopez turned over 9♣7♣ for air while Masters held J♥6♦ for two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,400,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
|
|
3,900,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Rafael Lopez limped in on the button and Carl Masters checked to see a flop of J♥5♣4♣. Masters led out with a bet of 300,000 and Lopez called to see the J♦ on the turn.
Masters fired out another bet of 400,000 and Lopez stuck around for the 2♦ on the river. Masters sized up a bet of 1,200,000 on the river and Lopez called. Masters turned over 6♠5♠ for two pair and Lopez couldn't beat it.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,700,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
|
|
5,600,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Carl Masters limped in on the button and Rafael Lopez checked his option. The flop came Q♠10♦5♥ and Lopez check-called a bet of 300,000 from Masters.
The turn brought the K♠ and both players checked to the J♥ on the river. Lopez led out with a bet of 900,000 and Masters called. Lopez turned over Q♥9♣ for a straight and Masters conceded the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,300,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
8,000,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Rafael Lopez attempted to raise to 450,000 from the small blind but was deemed it had to be 600,000 as the minimum raise. Eric Salazar shipped all in for 2,100,000 in the big blind and Lopez called.
Eric Salazar: K♣6♣[alllin]
Rafael Lopez: A♠6♦
Lopez was the one in a dominating position and the flop of 8♠5♣3♠ was no help for Salazar. The 2♦ provided some chop outs but the 6♠ on the river eliminated Salazar in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,900,000
3,400,000
|
3,400,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 30
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
The last three players are taking one more 15-minute break from the felt.
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Eric Salazar shoved all in for 1,300,000 on the button and Carl Masters reshoved all in from the small blind. Rafael Lopez folded his big blind and the two hands were tabled.
Eric Salazar: A♦3♦
Carl Masters: 6♣6♦
Masters held a big lead until the 10♠9♣3♥3♣ board was revealed. The river was the 8♠ and Salazar doubled up with his trip threes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,300,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
3,000,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
