RunGood Roots Run Deep for Phahurat
Sometimes, poker can take on a different role or meaning in a player’s life. Former 2011 World Poker Tour “One to Watch” Alex “A.P.” Phahurat shared that poker has become more of a hobby after the poker grind defined much of his life.
Phahurat has been playing for over 20 years, and at one point in his life, you could find him traveling the poker circuit. This lifestyle enabled him to amass over $600,000 in tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, including a six-figure score at the 2013 WSOPC Caesar’s Palace Main Event.
Phahurat views poker as more of a hobby these days. The Arkansas native shared with PokerNews that he is more of a cash game player, as he doesn’t often travel to play tournaments anymore, as his main focus is helping to run his family’s Thai restaurant.
Phahurat’s ties to RunGood Poker Series run deep. He shared that he was one of the first circuit pros and is a cousin to RunGood Poker Series CEO Tana Karn. Phahurat claims that he even helped name the tour that has grown so much since the tour’s first stop in 2014, here in Joplin, Missouri, at the Downstream Casino Resort.
“I actually came up with the brand name. Tana asked me what he should name the company, and I said RunGood,” Phahurat said. “It’s amazing to see what he’s (Karn) accomplished. I’m proud of him.”
Despite his RunGood roots running deep, one thing has eluded Phahurat in his poker career. An RGPS ring and title. Phahurat was even keel when asked about breaking the drought.
“It would be nice, but it’s hard to win tournaments,” Phahurat said. Time will tell if Phahurat is able to win the title and hardware this weekend at Downstream Casino Resort.
Phahurat is still in contention on Day 1a and is sitting on a stack of approximately 60,000 at the time of this posting.