Joe Rapp opened from middle position, a player in the hijack shoved for around 100,000, and Rapp called with a covering stack.
Opponent: A♦J♣
Joe Rapp: Q♥Q♦
Rapp was in great shape, needing to fade only one overcard with his pocket queens. Rapp's pocket kings remained best throughout the 10♥3♠7♠8♦5♣ to send his opponent to the rail and win the hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
235,000 |
Level: 13
Blinds: 3,000/5,000
Ante: 5,000
Players are now on the third 15-minute break of the day. Late registration will close once players return.
The field is up to 106 entries, with 36 players currently remaining.
Richard Smith was in a preflop three-way all-in, covering both of his opponents.
First opponent: K♥K♦
Second opponent: A♥A♣
Richard Smith: J♦J♣
Smith's pocket jacks were up against the two best possible starting hands, but the 10♣J♠Q♠ flop gave Smith a huge lead with middle set. He remained ahead as the rest of the board ran out 3♠8♣ to eliminate both opponents and take a commanding chip lead over the rest of the field.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
415,000
142,000
|
142,000 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
273,000 | |
|
244,000
34,000
|
34,000 |
|
180,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
151,000
85,000
|
85,000 |
|
||
|
120,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
120,000
37,000
|
37,000 |
|
114,000
500
|
500 |
|
113,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
111,000
16,500
|
16,500 |
|
84,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
53,000
53,000
|
53,000 |
|
Busted | |
With the board reading 10♦2♠J♠7♦ and around 50,000 in the middle, a player in middle position bet 13,000, and Michael Sweeney shoved from the button, covering his opponent who had a bit less than 100,000 behind. The middle position player called, putting himself at risk.
Opponent: K♥K♠
Michael Sweeney: 2♥2♦
Sweeney was a huge favorite with bottom set against his opponent's pocket kings, and he remained ahead on the 6♦ river to eliminate his opponent and take down a massive pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
285,000
285,000
|
285,000 |
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000
Lucas Vergara is a relatively new face on the live tournament poker scene, mostly playing in cash games over the last decade before taking up tournaments more seriously two years ago.
This past summer, Vergara experienced what most tournament grinders only dream of, achieving a breakthrough score of $148,000 from a runner-up finish in a $3,000 event in Maryland, far surpassing his previous best cash of $9,605. The sun-run was only beginning for Vergara, who two weeks later won the Maryland Poker State championship Main Event for another $111,000.
Now playing Day 1b of the RGPS Main Event here at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Vergara took some time on the last break to speak about his breakthrough summer.
“It’s really amazing. Anyone who plays live poker knows that variance plays a huge role. It doesn’t matter how good you are; you’re not guaranteed anything in this game. So, I’m very thankful and very appreciative to have one of those, let alone two, in such a short span.”
“I tried to be as responsible as I could,” the 28-year-old said of the months following the two big scores. “I didn’t quit my job; I still work full-time in finance. I’ve definitely been playing a lot more and travelling more. I went to Texas, Cherokee, and I’m planning to go to Florida pretty soon. It's just allowed me to keep firing and try to make another deep run.”
This is Vergara’s second time playing an RGPS stop, and he described what he felt sets the series apart from other tours.
“It is a noticeably different atmosphere around this series specifically. I think people are generally just happy to be here and in a good mood. The buy-ins aren’t super big. People know they’re not playing for life-changing money in most events except the Main, but they’re here to play poker and have fun. That translates to your interactions at the table, and just the experience overall. So I think they do a really good job.”
Vergara got off to a rough start in today’s Day 1b, losing his first bullet after his pocket fives were bested by Aaron Hendi’s six-three suited. Vergara wasted no time re-entering and is currently sitting with a healthy stack of 110,000.
Level: 10
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
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