$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
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.
| 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 |
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
777,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
545,000
155,000
|
155,000 |
|
|
441,000
161,000
|
161,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
373,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
|
370,000
65,000
|
65,000 |
|
|
337,000
77,000
|
77,000 |
|
|
268,000
28,000
|
28,000 |
|
|
258,000
258,000
|
258,000 |
|
|
248,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
|
219,000
138,000
|
138,000 |
|
|
190,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
187,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
|
175,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
|
144,000
56,000
|
56,000 |
|
|
133,000
133,000
|
133,000 |
|
|
130,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
|
113,000
113,000
|
113,000 |
|
|
99,000
99,000
|
99,000 |
|
|
88,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
|
69,000
27,400
|
27,400 |
|
|
||
|
|
66,000
66,000
|
66,000 |
The final 21 players of Day 1a are bagging up for the night and will return for Day 2 on Sunday, September 7 at 12:00 p.m. local time where the event will play down to a winner.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for end of day chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
The player in the cutoff open-shoved for 31,000 to put himself at risk and was called by Dylan Crawford in the big blind.
Cutoff: Q♣J♦
Dylan Crawford: J♠J♣
Crawford's pair of jacks remained best all the way as the board ran out 3♠6♠9♦2♣A♥ to burst the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
370,000 |
With 22 players remaining and only 21 making it through to Day 2, the floor has announced hand-for-hand play .
Level: 14
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Cody Stanford raised to 12,000 in early position and Jessica Roberts flatted in the small blind.
The flop came 2♣10♠3♥ and Roberts check-called a bet of 20,000 from Stanford.
On the 4♦ turn, Roberts led out for 20,000 and Stanford raised to 45,000. Roberts then moved all in for about 115,000 total to put herself at risk and Stanford snap called.
Jessica Roberts: A♠10♦
Cody Stanford: 6♦5♦
Stanford had turned the nut straight, leaving Roberts drawing dead as the A♦ fell on the river to complete the board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
775,000
181,000
|
181,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
Action picked up on the turn in a hand between Preston McEwen in the hijack and Brandon Mayo in the small blind.
With the board reading 6♠Q♦9♠Q♠, Mayo checked and McEwen bet 18,000. Mayo then reraised all in to put McEwen at risk, who had about 50,000 behind. McEwen thought for a moment and eventually made the call only to see the bad news.
Preston McEwen: A♦9♥
Brandon Mayo: 7♠5♠
McEwen couldn't find any help on the A♥ river and he was sent to the rail on the soft bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
240,000
85,000
|
85,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Action folded around to the player in the small blind who moved all in to put the short-stacked Brandon Garrison at risk in the big blind. Garrison made the call.
Brandon Garrison: A♦10♥
Small blind: Q♠8♣
The board ran out 8♠9♦A♠J♦6♠ and Garrison's pair of aces earned him the much-needed double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
89,000 |