$600 Main Event Day 1bc | 2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica II

11-16-2025 01:19 UTC-6

Player	Chips	Progress
Wesley Jones	365,000 365,000	365,000

Carson Ray	296,000 296,000	296,000
John Holley	285,000 285,000	285,000
Terakun Karnchanakphan	230,000 218,500	218,500
Preston McEwen	160,000 160,000	160,000
Craig Welko	155,000 155,000	155,000
Phillip Rix	77,000 77,000	77,000
Kim Francisco	72,000 5,000	5,000

Nicholas Rigby	72,000 72,000	72,000

Day 1c Closing In On Bubble

Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

The day 1c numbers have been finalized with 219 entries recorded for this flight. That means a total of 645 entries for the entire $600 Main Event. There are currently just 38 players remaining in this flight, playing down to 27 players who will make it through to Day 2 on Sunday.

11-15-2025 19:35 UTC-6

Day 1b Draws to a Close

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

The middle flight of three starting flights for the $600 Main Event at the 2025 RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix Tunica II has come to an end after 15 levels on the felt. Another jam-packed day at the Horseshoe Casino Tunica saw a total of 242 entries recorded on Day 1b with just 30 players advancing to Day on Sunday.

There was no question that the $200,000 guaranteed prizepool was going to be met after record turnouts on Day 1a that saw an additional 184 entries. Now, with a total of 426 entries through two starting flights, it remains to be seen just how large the prizepool will get. Currently, there are over 120 entries already for Day 1c and they have yet to hit the first break of the night.

There were multiple big stacks that advanced to Day 2 and those chip counts will be confirmed by the tournament staff at the end of the night. It is safe to say that Tony T has amassed the biggest stack on the day with over 700,000 chips and is narrowly followed by Josh Butler who accumulated heaps of chips near the money bubble to finish with over 600,000 chips.

Some other notables who bagged up on Day 1b include Eric Salazar, Morgan McBrayer, and Stephen Morgan. A full list of players and chip counts will be posted later tonight when Day 1c concludes, along with the Day 2 seat draw.

The PokerNews live reporting team will be back to bring you updates near the bubble of Day 1c and follow it up with a full recap of the day's action. Stay tuned to find out who will be returning to fight for the RGPS Grand Prix Tunica title.

Tags: Eric Salazar Josh Butler Morgan McBrayer Stephen Morgan Tony T

11-15-2025 19:13 UTC-6

Klishko Eliminates Esquivel on the Bubble

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

John Klishko shipped all in for around 85,000 from under the gun and Mike Esquivel deliberated for a moment before sticking in the last of his 32,000 on his left. The rest of the table folded and the two hands were tabled.

Mike Esquivel: A♥6♥ All in
John Klishko: 9♠9♦

The flop came 8♦5♦4♦ and Klishko increased his lead with an added flush draw to his overpair. The turn brought the J♦ to give him a flush and Esquivel was left drawing dead to the 2♥ on the river.

That brings an end to Day 1b with 30 players advancing to Day 2 on Sunday. Day 1c is currently underway with 115 entries in the early going. Late registration will remain open until the start of level nine and PokerNews will be back to cover the bubble of that flight.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Klishko	135,000 135,000	135,000
Mike Esquivel	Busted

Tags: John Klishko Mike Esquivel

11-15-2025 19:03 UTC-6

Maeroff Cracks Aces to Reach the Bubble

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

There was a raise to 20,000 from under the gun and Jason Maeroff flat-called on his left. They went heads-up to a flop of A♠J♣9♦ and Maeroff was faced with a bet of 25,000 which he called.

The turn brought the K♣ and Maeroff's opponent shoved all in for around 100,000. Maeroff snapped him off and rolled over Q♦10♣ for a straight. His opponent had A♣A♦ for a set of aces so was still drawing live.

The river did not pair the board with the 7♦ and Maeroff eliminated his opponent. The hand-for-hand process will now begin, just one elimination away from the money and bagging up on Day 1b.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Maeroff	580,000 400,000	400,000

Tags: Jason Maeroff

11-15-2025 18:49 UTC-6

Henrick Turns Outs But Can't Connect

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Adam Lamers

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

William Henrick was down to just 30,000 chips and shipped all in from early position. James Kitchens reshoved all in on his left and the rest of the table folded.

William Henrick: Q♠3♠ All in
James Kitchens: J♠J♥

The flop came K♦5♠4♥ and things weren't looking promising for Henrick. The 2♠ appeared on the turn which gave Henrick straight and flush draws but the 2♦ on the river bricked out, sending Henrick to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Kitchens	271,000
William Henrick	Busted

Tags: William Henrick James Kitchens

Level: 15

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 8,000

11-15-2025 18:42 UTC-6

Salazar Wins a Flip Near the Bubble

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Adam Lamers

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

Eric Salazar and Mike Esquivel exchanged some preflop raises before Salazar found himself at risk for 141,000 near the money bubble. The cards were tabled and they were off to the races.

Eric Salazar: A♦Q♠ All in
Mike Esquivel: 10♠10♦

The flop fell Q♣7♥6♣ and Salazar took the lead with a pair of queens. The J♣ on the turn left Esquivel drawing to just two outs and the Q♥ on the river was not one of them.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Salazar	290,000 182,000	182,000
Mike Esquivel	163,000 62,000	62,000

Tags: Mike Esquivel Eric Salazar

11-15-2025 18:34 UTC-6

McBrayer Catches Up from the Small Blind

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Adam Lamers

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

The action folded around to Morgan McBrayer in the small blind who shoved all in as the big stack. The big blind was sitting on a stack of around 40,000 and quickly called it off.

Big Blind: A♦5♠ All in
Morgan McBrayer: 9♦8♥

The flop came J♣10♠9♣ and McBrayer picked up a pair to take the lead. The 3♥ and 4♣ runout changed nothing and McBrayer earned the knockout, bringing the field down to just four tables.

Player	Chips	Progress
Morgan McBrayer	187,000

Tags: Morgan McBrayer

11-15-2025 18:26 UTC-6

Esquivel Hits the River but Gets a Warning

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Adam Lamers

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

One player slid out a raise to 52,000, leaving just a single 1,000 chip behind. Mike Esquivel just called on his left and the rest of the table folded. Esquivel tabled his hand, thinking that the action was complete until the single chip was pointed out.

The flop came 10♦9♣7♥ and the last chip went into the middle for each player. Esquivel held A♠9♠ for a pair of nines but his opponent had K♦10♣ for a pair of tens. The 7♣ paired the board on the turn and the A♣ hit the river to give Esquivel the better two pair.