button in Safari
$1,200 Million Dollar Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2026 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley
$1,200 Million Dollar Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$1,200
Prize Pool
$1,140,300
Total Entries
1,086
Level
35
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Entries
108
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1,086
Filter
Level 35
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Sacramento poker legend JC Tran made his presence known once again at the Thunder Valley Resort Casino as he defended his home turf by outlasting 1,086 entries to win the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale title for the first time in his accomplished career, as he took home the biggest piece of the $1,140,300 prize pool by taking home the top prize of $163,700.
Tran has done it all in his poker career. He’s had a career most can only dream of putting together, but he shared with PokerNews that his relationship with poker has changed over the years. Tran is no longer interested in grinding from stop to stop, traveling the world as he did once upon a time. His focus in life has been on his kids and family.
“I know you can’t be a good father when you’re not with your kids,” said Tran as he reflected on where poker fits within his outlook on life. “I feel like I don’t want to travel far, but maybe play a few more events here and there, but at the same time I still want to stay home and be a father. I mean, I coached my son’s basketball team for many seasons, and that kept me busy, and I never thought of poker when I was doing that.”
Tran went on to say about his experience coaching his son in a recreational basketball league.
“We won a championship at Golden One Center with my group of kids, and that felt better than some of the tournaments I’ve won even though it was a small rec league,” said Tran. “I coached them for many years, and to go and win the championship was priceless. Things like that matter to me in life now instead of when’s the next tournament.”
His recent years may have been dominated by scheming how to defend against opponents or what offensive plays to run in youth basketball, but Tran certainly hasn’t lost his touch on the felt despite a newfound perspective.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JC Tran | United States | $163,700 |
| 2 | Rajat Paliwal | United States | $109,000 |
| 3 | Ricardo Bibat | United States | $81,000 |
| 4 | Jason Smith (AZ) | United States | $61,000 |
| 5 | Michael Rappaport | United States | $46,000 |
| 6 | Yotam Shmuelov | United States | $35,000 |
| 7 | Romeo Velasquez | United States | $27,000 |
| 8 | Gene Davenport | United States | $20,900 |
| 9 | Franklin Chavez | United States | $16,400 |
Tran entered the day with over 50 big blinds, and he put them to good use staying above water as the day went on. Tran’s first big splash took place when he busted Samuel Panzica when Tran got there on the turn to hit two pair and crack Panzica’s pocket tens.
Tran would have some hiccups when he doubled up Randy Gil, but Tran would later go on to bust Michael Cervantes to head back in the right direction.
Tran entered the final table third in chips behind future heads-up opponent Rajat Paliwal and Ricardo Bibat.
Tran would score another knockout when he eliminated Romeo Velasquez after he binked a seven on the turn.
In perhaps one of the most sensational hands of the tournament, Tran was saved from ruin when he managed to hit quads against Jason Smith after getting it in preflop with an inferior pocket pair. Tran finished the job against Smith when he eliminated Smith in fourth place. Despite his success, Tran entered the final three second in chips behind Paliwal, so his ascension to a title was far from a sure thing.
Tran took a nearly two-to-one chip lead into the heads-up battle against Paliwal when he dispatched Ricardo Bibat in third place.
The heads-up match proved to be far from a layup, as Paliwal battled with Tran in a match that lasted over two and a half hours. The two would swap chip leads and deal blow after blow to one another. Tran fell to as low as 15 big blinds when he managed to get a double-up, where his ace high held to get back in the match.
This proved to be a critical turning point as a little over ten minutes later, Tran would deal a big blow to Paliwal that left his opponent on fumes.
Tran would put the finishing touches on his championship run when Paliwal got it in with pocket nines to Tran’s pocket kings as Tran eliminated Paliwal once and for all.
“I sensed a little frustration. For being his second year playing, he played well. I haven’t played in a while, so I felt a little rusty heads up. I’ve never played with him before, but I started having a better feel of how he played,” said Tran.
Tran was quick to remember that he was the beneficiary of some good spots at the final table and when he needed it most.
“I’ve got to admit. I know I ran pretty well at the final table,” he said, reflecting on the win.
This wraps up coverage of the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale $1,200 Million Dollar Main Event. Check back here at PokerNews for all your poker coverage needs.
Level 35
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
JC Tran outlasted a field of 1,086 to claim the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale $1,200 Million Dollar Main Event championship. Stay tuned for a reaction from the winner here at PokerNews.
Level 35
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Rajat Paliwal went all-in on the button for approximately 5,000,000, and JC Tran quickly called to put Paliwal at risk.
Rajat Paliwal: 9♣9♥
JC Tran: K♠K♣
Paliwal held a strong pocket pair heads-up, but Tran had the goods with pocket kings as he had Paliwal on the ropes with five cards to go.
Paliwal would fall further behind on the Q♠4♠Q♣ flop as Tran held a significant lead.
The 10♥ turn was of no use to Paliwal, and the 7♣ was the final card of the tournament as Paliwal finished in second place.
Paliwal earned $109,000 for his finish.
Level: 35
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Rajat Paliwal limped on the button before JC Tran made it 1,500,000. Paliwal went all-in and Tran snap-called to put himself at risk for 18,000,000.
JC Tran: J♣J♠
Rajat Paliwal: A♣3♠
Tran was in a prime position to take command of the heads-up match if he could fade the ace.
The flop came Q♠K♥6♣ to keep Tran well ahead.
The K♠ turn did not help Paliwal, and the 5♥ river sealed it in Tran's favor as he took a big lead in the match against Paliwal.
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
JC Tran limped on the button before Rajat Paliwal made it 3,000,000. Tran shoved for 7,400,000, and Paliwal called to put Tran at risk for the title.
JC Tran: A♠4♦
Rajat Paliwal: Q♣J♣
Paliwal would not be able to connect on the 2♥5♥2♠8♥6♥ runout to award Tran the much-needed double up in the heads-up match.
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
JC Tran limped on the button before Rajat Paliwal checked his option.
The A♣J♣8♠ flop was checked by both players to bring the J♠ turn.
Tran checked before Paliwal bet 1,000,000. Tran check-raised to 2,000,000 and Paliwal called.
The 7♥ river was checked by Paliwal before Tran bet 2,000,000. Paliwal quickly called.
Tran showed 8♣7♦, but it was no match for the J♣6♠ of Paliwal.
The next hand, Paliwal raised to 1,800,000 and was called by Tran.
Both players checked the 9♥6♠5♥ flop to bring the 4♠ turn. Tran check-called the bet of 1,500,000 from Paliwal.
The 9♠ river led to a bet of 3,000,000 from Tran. Paliwal shipped it and Tran folded.
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Rajat Paliwal opened to 1,200,000 on the button before JC Tran called from the big blind.
The 2♥5♠6♣ flop led to a check from Tran. Paliwal bet 1,000,000 and was called by Tran.
Tran took the betting lead with a wager of 1,500,000 on the 4♣ turn. Paliwal called.
The 8♠ river did not slow Tran down as he fire 3,500,000. Paliwal snap-called to go to a showdown.
Tran showed K♥10♥ for king high before Paliwal tabled 7♦6♦ for a straight.
Level: 34
Blinds: 300,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
