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$600 Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2026 RGPS Passport Joplin
$600 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
2026 RGPS Passport Joplin
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$379,760
Total Entries
752
Level
30
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
198
Players Left
24
Players Left 1 / 752
Filter
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
The second flight of the RunGood Poker Series Passport Joplin $600 Main Event drew a total of 198 entries, advancing 24 players to Day 2 of the $100,000 guaranteed main event at Downstream Casino Resort.
Tony Courtney (864,000) was the top count to come out of the pack on Day 1b. Plez Bradley (614,000) and Freeman Allen (527,000) rounded out the top three finishers from the second flight.
Top Ten Chip Counts Day 1b
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Courtney | United States | 864,000 | 173 |
| 2 | Plez Bradley | United States | 614,000 | 123 |
| 3 | Freeman Allen | United States | 527,000 | 105 |
| 4 | Johan Cervantes | United States | 482,000 | 96 |
| 5 | Kyle McConnell | United States | 422,000 | 84 |
| 6 | Tyler Barnes | United States | 414,000 | 83 |
| 7 | Michael Varnell | United States | 407,000 | 81 |
| 8 | Cody Reed | United States | 234,000 | 47 |
| 9 | Ryan Lynch | United States | 232,000 | 46 |
| 10 | Paul Dodson | United States | 217,000 | 43 |
Courtney was a force to be reckoned with for the majority of Day 1b, beginning with a knockout during the first level of play.
This would only be a taste of things to come as Courtney would play the role of knockout artist throughout the flight, busting former RGPS Main Event champion Nicholas Burris to soar past the quarter-million mark. Courtney would add another feather in his cap when he busted Jesse Jones to near his final mark of 864,000.
Courtney spoke to PokerNews about his mindset after getting off to a hot start.
“At our home game, we all play pretty aggressively anyway,” Courtney said. “Ain’t that how you’re supposed to do it?”
Courtney shared that he has played poker for 25 years and plays both cash and tournaments. He was happy with his Day 1b result, but didn’t want to get too ahead of himself.
“I guess it’s alright, but there’ll be a lot of people to beat Sunday,” Courtney said. “There are a lot of good players.”
Notable RGPS Ambassador Jeff Copeland (193,000) made the cut. Former main event champion Tyler Barnes (414,000) also bagged. Other notables to advance from Day 1b include AP Phahurat (188,000), Bobby Randolph (176,000), Cody Reed (234,000), and Duster Ellis (40,000).
RGPS Ambassadors Blair Hinkle, Brian Winter, and Daniel Hughes were unable to advance from Day 1b. Notables Will Berry and Jesse Jones were also unable to bag.
RGPS Passport Joplin Main Event Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
| Sat, April 11 | 10 a.m. | $600 Main Event Flight 1c |
| Sat, April 11 | 3 p.m. | $600 Main Event Flight 1d |
| Sun, April 12 | 11 a.m. | $600 Main Event Day 2 |
On Saturday, April 11, Downstream Casino Resort will host two additional starting flights at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. before the beginning of Day 2 on Sunday, April 12, at 11 a.m. All times are local time.
Coverage for Day 1c will begin at 12:15 p.m. local time. Check back here at PokerNews for coverage of Day 1c and beyond of the RGPS Passport Joplin $600 Main Event.
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Keith Heine raised to 10,000 from early position before Michael Varnell made the call on the button. Tony Courtney opted to raise to 20,000 from the small blind.
Heine shoved for 154,000. Varnell also went all-in for 230,000, and Courtney folded to create a showdown between Heine and Varnell.
Keith Heine: A♥Q♦
Michael Varnell: K♣K♠
Varnell was in a good position to score the knockout. He just needed to fade the ace.
The board complied when it ran out 7♥5♦9♣2♠9♠ to award Varnell the pot and eliminate Heine. The remaining 24 players will bag and advance to Day 2.
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Play is now hand-for-hand on Day 1b of the RGPS Passport Joplin Main Event.
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Jesse Jones went all-in for his final 80,000 and was called by Tony Courtney to be at risk.
Jesse Jones: K♦J♥
Tony Courtney: 5♣5♦
Jones needed to hit his overcards, but it was Courtney who slammed the flop when it came 5♠3♠4♦ to give Courtney a set.
The 10♣ turn ended the hand, as the 7♥ river sealed the deal as Jones hit the exit.
Level 13
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
It was a five-way pot as they took a flop of 7♦6♠8♠.
Ralph Duda shoved on the flop and was called by Freeman Allen to be at risk.
Ralph Duda: A♣8♣
Freeman Allen: K♠J♠
Duda had the best hand, but Allen had overcards and a flush draw to bust Duda.
The 5♠ turn was a disaster for Duda as Allen hit his flush.
The inconsequential Q♣ river completed the board, as it was the end of the road for Duda.
Level: 13
Blinds: 3,000/5,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 12
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Players are on a 15-minute break. A total of 32 players remain, with 24 players permitted to advance to Day 2.
Play will resume at the 3,000/5,000 level.
Level 12
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The chips got in the middle preflop as a three-way all-in broke out with AP Phahurat having both Joseph Ferguson and Douglass Pitts at risk.
Douglass Pitts: 9♣9♦
Joseph Ferguson: K♠J♠
AP Phahurat: 10♦10♥
Phahurat held the edge as they went to a runout, but the flop gave Ferguson additional outs when it came 2♦Q♠3♠ to give him a flush draw.
The 6♥ turn did not change the standings, and the 8♣ river sealed the deal as Phahurat scored a double knockout.
