$175 Colossus
Day 1ab Completed
$175 Colossus
Day 1ab Completed
It was a busy day at the tables of La Belle Salle in Shinjuku as the first of four starting flights for 2025 RunGood Poker Series Mission Japan special event was just one of many tournaments taking place at the same day during the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Grand Final in Tokyo. For the first ever RunGood-branded event outside of the US, many local poker enthusiasts entered the fray and contributed the entry fee of ¥25,000 as Event #22 NLH Colossus attracted a total of 550 entries.
Upon completion of 15 levels of 35 minutes each, the number of survivors was culled down to nearly ten percent of the total entries and only 60 players bagged up the chips. Mid-way through the day, taisyo appeared as one of the larger stacks and notched up several knockouts - many of which came as a result of premium pocket pairs and dominating aces - and he ended the night with 793,000 in chips. The only one relatively close was Yoshihiro with 672,000 while another three players crossed half a million in chips.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | taisyo | Japan | 793,000 | 132 |
| 2 | Yoshihiro | Japan | 672,000 | 112 |
| 3 | Aki0330 | Japan | 570,000 | 95 |
| 4 | REN | Japan | 540,000 | 90 |
| 5 | KNT | Japan | 510,000 | 85 |
| 6 | yokoha | Japan | 489,000 | 82 |
| 7 | choo | Japan | 437,000 | 73 |
| 8 | Kento | Japan | 415,000 | 69 |
| 9 | kaoru2 | Japan | 408,000 | 68 |
| 10 | Ryo | Japan | 388,000 | 65 |
The vast majority of today's participants in the opening flight were hailing from Japan with a few exceptions, the most notable one being accomplished poker commentator Joe "Stapes" Stapleton, who bemoaned playing very poorly during the first few levels. He then went on a roller coaster ride, suffering many setbacks such as pocket kings getting cracked by six-five suited - and Stapleton hit the rail prior to the final level of the night.
Many other regulars of this live tournament series geared towards the low and mid stakes in an increasingly popular yet very strictly regulated Japanese poker market came and left without anything to show for, but they have another three flights to try and run up a stack. According to Japanese gambling regulations, the prizes which are available as Web Coin or player contracts for other international tournaments, are already known with 175 spots paid and a value of $26,052.79 reserved for the eventual champion.
The second starting day which kicked off at 5 p.m. local time had already gathered momentum and was nearing 200 entries with the late registration still ongoing. Numerous other tournaments were happening at the same time with several of the stylish JOPT Grand Final trophies up for grabs, with the JOPT ambassadors Shiina Okamoto and Nana Nakamura competing for one of them during the late evening hours.
All chip counts of the Day 1b survivors will be published in the morning once the information has been provided by the JOPT. Another two starting days remain for players to join the action with Day 1c kicking off at 11 a.m. local time. The turbo heat 1c with a reduced level duration of 20 minutes each then follows as of 5 p.m. and the late registration closes just about when 1c will conclude.
Stay tuned for more of the live poker action and plenty of pictures throughout the next two days when Mission RunGood Japan will determine the first-ever RGPS ring event outside of the United States.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
591,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
464,000 | |
|
|
449,000 | |
|
|
444,000 | |
|
|
387,000 | |
|
|
369,000 | |
|
|
362,000 | |
|
|
341,000 | |
|
|
336,000 | |
|
|
323,000 | |
|
|
313,000 | |
|
|
300,000 | |
|
|
299,000 | |
|
|
270,000 | |
|
|
268,000 | |
|
|
264,000 | |
|
|
242,000 | |
|
|
209,000 | |
|
|
198,000 | |
|
|
196,000 | |
|
|
195,000 | |
|
|
183,000 | |
|
|
176,000 | |
|
|
176,000 | |
|
|
162,000 | |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
793,000
203,000
|
203,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
672,000
622,000
|
622,000 |
|
|
570,000
425,000
|
425,000 |
|
|
540,000
540,000
|
540,000 |
|
|
510,000
510,000
|
510,000 |
|
|
489,000
489,000
|
489,000 |
|
|
437,000
232,000
|
232,000 |
|
|
415,000
415,000
|
415,000 |
|
|
408,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
|
388,000
108,000
|
108,000 |
|
|
386,000
71,000
|
71,000 |
|
|
376,000
376,000
|
376,000 |
|
|
362,000
43,000
|
43,000 |
|
|
358,000
43,000
|
43,000 |
|
|
331,000
331,000
|
331,000 |
|
|
329,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
|
326,000
326,000
|
326,000 |
|
|
313,000
313,000
|
313,000 |
|
|
307,000
242,000
|
242,000 |
|
|
304,000
304,000
|
304,000 |
|
|
297,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
|
293,000
293,000
|
293,000 |
|
|
292,000
58,000
|
58,000 |
|
|
273,000
273,000
|
273,000 |
|
|
270,000
270,000
|
270,000 |
Some 61 players have bagged up their chips for the night and will return in two days from now at 11 a.m. local time to try and go all the way. Assorted counts will be published shortly, the full counts and a recap of today's action are to follow thereafter.
Just before bagging and tagging for the night, Shinsuke Suzuki was all-in with the K♣Q♣ and barely covered by "miffy" with the A♦Q♠. Neither player connected with the Jx9♦4♦6♥5♦ board and Suzuki was denied a bag for Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
240,000
240,000
|
240,000 |
|
|
Busted |
iZ first doubled their short stack with A♦7♥ versus K♦Q♦ thanks to a board of 5♣4♥3♣9♣5♥. However, they didn't make it to the end of the day as 7♥7♠ flopped versus A♥9♦.
Sizuku had the best of it on a board of Q♥9♠6♠10♦9♥ for trips nines to score the knockout.
Shortly after, another shorter stack went all in with the A♦7♣ preflop at the wrong time with kaoru2 waiting to snap him off holding the A♣K♣, sending another player out after the 9♥5♥2♠J♣4♦.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
415,000
65,000
|
65,000 |
|
|
350,000 | |
|
|
Busted |
There weren't that many chips in the middle until the Q♥5♠3♣4♠2♦ river when the action escalated between Yoshihiro and his opponent. Eventually, more than 200,000 apiece made their way in with Yoshihiro having the best of it with 6♠6♣ for the six-high straight, which beat the A♠J♠ of his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
50,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
GIAN opened to 12,000 from under the gun and received three callers including Jean-Laurent Minier in the next seat. When checked to on the A♠10♦5♦ flop, GIAN continued for 15,000 and two players came along. He then bet the 8♦ turn for 43,000 and Minier folded, as did the small blind.
The big stack in the big blind mentioned he folded ace-jack, while Minier said he had king-queen with the queen of diamond. "King high flush," GIAN replied in English - well, some of the poker terms are universal, it seems.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
255,000
255,000
|
255,000 |
|
|
190,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
A short-stacked kwgs jammed their chips into the middle and earned two callers, with both active players checking down the 9♥5♣2♠9♠8♠ board. Ready to leave, kwgs leaped out of their chair and flipped over his K♦Q♥ for only king-queen high. His first opponent flashed the J♠10♦ and the latter couldn't beat him with K♥10♥ either to secure the triple up.
With only nine tables still in the mix, the field has been reduced to approximately 72 hopefuls. Further casualties are expected before the opening flight draws to an end.