Defending Champ Cody Stanford Bags Huge Chip Lead in Opening Flight
The first of three starting flights is in the books in the $600 Main Event here at the RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix hosted by Horseshoe Tunica. Of the 174 entries tallied in Day 1a, only 21 players will return for Day 2 on Sunday, all of whom have locked up a min-cash.
Cody Stanford, who took down the 2025 RGPS Mission RunGood Tunica Main Event back in March, emerged as the overwhelming chip leader, bagging a lucky 777,000. Stanford remained active all throughout the day, showing that he was not afraid to get in the mix in an attempt to build up a big stack. He pulled away from the pack as the money bubble approached when he eliminated Jessica Roberts by turning the nut straight against her top pair, top kicker.
PokerNews caught up with Stanford after players bagged for the night to ask him how he was feeling about his chances heading into Sunday.
"I feel really good. I have ran good in this Main [Event] in the past. I've won it twice. I won the last time we were here. Feeling really good right now. Get in on the first flight, get to enjoy Saturday off watching college football."
Rounding out the podium is Hamid Izadi in second with 545,000 and Mark Davis in third with 441,000. They are the only other players to surpass the 400,000 chip mark during Day 1a.
Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Stanford | United States | 777,000 |
| 2 | Hamid Izadi | United States | 545,000 |
| 3 | Mark Davis | United States | 441,000 |
| 4 | Dylan Crawford | United States | 373,000 |
| 5 | Brian Durr | United States | 370,000 |
| 6 | Adam Todd | United States | 337,000 |
| 7 | Brandon Mayo | United States | 268,000 |
| 8 | Daniel Howard | United States | 258,000 |
| 9 | Scott Hirsch | United States | 248,000 |
| 10 | Kevin Broadway | United States | 219,000 |
Notable Eliminations
Preston McEwen, who won the $200 Opening Night Guest Bounty Ring Event for his 9th RGPS ring earlier in the week, made a deep run in Day 1a but fell short on the soft bubble when his two pair ran into Brandon Mayo's flush.
Some other familiar faces who made appearances but couldn't find a bag for Day 2 include Keith McKuin, Rob Gardner, and Ashley Frank. They will all have another chance on Saturday when the Main Event continues with Day 1b and 1c flights.
Day 1b will begin Saturday, September 6 at 11:00 a.m. and Day 1c will get underway later in the day at 6:00 p.m. Play for Day 1 flights will conclude once 12.5% of the field (rounded down) remains and those who bag will be in the money. Day 2 will then start at the earliest blind level of the three flights on Sunday, September 7, where the event will play down to a winner.
Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the entirety of the $600 Main Event here at the 2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica.