$800 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2025 RGPS Mission RunGood St. Louis
$800 Main Event
Day: 1a
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The first of four Day 1 flights has been completed at Hollywood Casino St. Louis for the RunGood Poker Series Main Event. Day 1a drew a total of 65 entrants, with 8 players making the money and advancing to Day 2. Leading the way at the end of the night was John Roberts, who bagged 712,000 chips.
Roberts experienced a rollercoaster of a day—starting off strong and spending much of the early levels among the chip leaders before gradually chipping down. With around 50,000 in his stack, he pulled off a gutsy bluff against Yang Xu, showing nine-high with no pair and no draw on an ace-high board. That bluff sparked a surge in momentum, and Roberts built his stack to around 300,000. The night’s biggest pot came with 16 players remaining, when Roberts put a massive cooler on Xu. Xu rivered the ace-high flush—only to be shown a queen-high straight flush by Roberts, who scooped the pot and cruised into the Day 1a chip lead.
Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Roberts | United States | 712,000 | |
| 2 | William Henricks | United States | 319,000 | |
| 3 | Kyle Cartwright | United States | 295,000 | |
| 4 | Paul Reynolds | United States | 215,000 | |
| 5 | Scott Hirsch | United States | 179,000 | |
| 6 | Jake Ortiz | United States | 114,000 | |
| 7 | David Level | United States | 92,000 | |
| 8 | Everett Gilmour | United States | 25,000 |
Several RGPS regulars made an appearance on Day 1a, including Player of the Year leader Michael Johns, as well as Keith McKuin, Brian Schulz, and Mark Lafata—though unfortunately, all were unable to bag chips for Day 2.
Also, in the field was 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Raymer. But 'Fossil Man' didn't stay long, busting shortly after sitting down, and ultimately elected to not renter this flight.
The eight players who advanced to Day 2 secured their spots after chip leader Roberts eliminated Brandon Butler on the money bubble. Butler, down to his final 14,000 chips, moved all in from under the gun with king-eight. Unfortunately for him, Roberts held pocket nines, which held up to send Butler to the rail as the bubble boy—locking up both a min-cash and a Day 2 seat for the remaining eight players.
Day 1b of the RunGood Poker Series Main Event is set to kick off at 5:00 p.m. local time on Friday, April 4, with Day 1c and Day 1d scheduled for Saturday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively.
Players will begin with 30,000 in chips, playing 30-minute levels, which will increase to 40 minutes once late registration closes. Blinds will start at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante, and players will receive a 15-minute break every two hours of play.
The Main Event allows for unlimited re-entries, with late registration open until the start of Level 9. Each flight will continue until just 12.5% of the field remains, at which point players will reach the money, bag their chips, and advance to Day 2.
Participants may enter multiple Day 1 flights; however, if a player bags more than once, only their largest stack will carry forward. Any smaller stacks will be removed and awarded the minimum Day 2 payout. Day 2 blinds will resume at the lowest level reached across all Day 1 flights.
Stay locked in with PokerNews for live updates and full RGPS Main Event coverage as we march toward crowning another champion in St. Louis.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
712,000
77,000
|
77,000 |
|
||
|
319,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
|
295,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
||
|
215,000
146,000
|
146,000 |
|
179,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
114,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
92,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
25,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Brandon Butler moved all in from under the gun for his stack of 14,000, which was called by Everett Gilmour in early position and William Henricks in middle position. Then John Roberts three-bet to 100,000, and the rest of the table quickly folded around to leave to the players heads up, with Butler at risk.
Brandon Butler: K♥8♣ 
John Roberts: 9♥9♦
Butler would need help to avoid being the bubble boy, but when the board ran out 2♥5♣Q♣9♠3♦ Roberts improved to a set of nines, to take the pot and eliminate Butler, bursting the money bubble and ending play for the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
635,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
335,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
30,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
With nine players remaining and eight players making the money, the next elimination will secure the remaining players a spot in Day 2.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Action folded to the small blind Harry Cheatham who moved all in for his stack of 45,000, and the big blind Kyle Cartwright quickly made the call in the big blind to put Cheatham at risk.
Harry Cheatham: A♣3♥
Kyle Cartwright: 10♠10♣
Cheatham ran into the tens of Cartwright, and when the board ran out 9♥6♠J♥8♠K♥ the pocket tens of Cartwright were still best, eliminating Cheatham.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
375,000
135,000
|
135,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Brandon Butler was first to act and raised all in for his stack of 11,000, and when it folded to the big blind 'Everett Gilmour, he made the call to put Butler at risk.
Brandon Butler: A♣J♣
Everett Gilmour: K♦4♦
It was a fair fight with Butler in front with his ace high, and when the board ran out the ace high of Butler was still best, giving him a double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
55,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
34,000
91,000
|
91,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The 11 remaining Players have been sent on a 10-minute break. Play will continue until there are 8 or less players remaining.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
