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Million Dollar Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley
Million Dollar Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$1,064,187
Total Entries
477
Level
29
Blinds
75,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
Entries
204
Players Left
48
Players Left 1 / 477
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Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The first of two opening flights in the biggest RunGood Poker event of the year is in the books with Paul Sampson bagging the lead with 536,000. Sampson took the chip lead early on and remained there for almost the entire day. Close on his heels is Adam Dunkle who ended the day with 536,000 and behind him is Jared Jaffee with 356,000. Rounding out the top five is Alexander Rodriguez and Peter Dirksen with 295,000 and 294,500, respectively.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Chip Count | Country | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Sampson | 563,000 | United States | 225 |
| 2 | Adam Dunkle | 536,000 | United States | 214 |
| 3 | Jared Jaffee | 356,000 | United States | 142 |
| 4 | Alexander Rodriguez | 295,000 | United States | 118 |
| 5 | Peter Dirksen | 294,500 | United States | 118 |
| 6 | Adam Miller | 284,500 | United States | 114 |
| 7 | Scott Mataya | 283,500 | United States | 113 |
| 8 | Joseph Mussat | 264,500 | United States | 106 |
| 9 | Yotam Shmuelov | 244,000 | United States | 98 |
| 10 | Steve Numoto | 240,500 | United States | 96 |
205 players took their seats throughout the day with 49 finding their way to a bag after ten levels of play with a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6.
Among other notables bagging up were Stephen Song (218,000), Darren Rabinowitz (127,000), Ben Ludlow (97,000), and last year’s winner Brett Murray and runner-up Tyler Patterson will return with 41,000 and 28,000.
Those who didn’t make it through the day but can come back again tomorrow include RunGood Ambassadors [B[PLAYER="rob-mariano"]]"Boston" Rob Mariano[/PLAYER][/B] who busted just before bagging, Lexy Gavin-Mather, Jamie Kerstetter, and Kris Burchfield.
Another Opening Flight Saturday
With one successful opening flight in the books, the second will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. local time with an even bigger field expected that will send the prize pool past its $1,000,000 guarantee.
Players will again have two entries available to them throughout the day with late registration closing at the start of Level 9.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage from the beautiful Thunder Valley Casino Resort until a CheckPoint Champion is crowned on Monday.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Play has ended for the day and the remaining players have bagged up to return for Day 2 on Sunday.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The Tournament Director has announced that five more hands will be played before players bag for the night.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
On a heads-up turn of 3♣6♠J♦J♣, Thomas Riggs checked to Paul Sampson who bet 10,000. Riggs then put in the ol' check-jam for 47,500 and the pressure was back on Sampson who went into the tank.
After some time thinking, Sampson decided to make the call to put Riggs at risk and flipped over A♥6♦ for two-pair. He was then shown J♠9♠ by Riggs for trip jacks for him to be completely drawing dead as the dealer ripped out the 4♦ on the river to complete the board. Riggs was then pushed the pot to jump him back into six digits while Sampson was left with a measly 500,000.
Level 10
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
After losing a big pot by doubling up Jeffrey Spruitenburg, Daniel Martin immediately got involved in another huge pot.
James Collopy had opened to 3,500 from under-the-gun and then Daniel "Wretchy" Martin three-bet to 10,000 from early position. The middle-position player made the call but then when it got back to Callopy he four-bet to 35,000, to which Martin responded with a five-bet jam to cover the table and both players called to put these;ves at risk.
Middle Position: A♥10♥
James Collopy: Q♦Q♠
Daniel Martin: A♣A♠
With Martin in the lead, the board did not provide any help to his opponents and he scooped the entire pot to rocket his stack to over 500,000.
Level: 10
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
On a three-way flop of 9♠4♠6♥, the action checked to Matthew Betti on the button who bet 6,000 and was called by Miralem Mujkic in the big blind.
But then Thu Tran check-raised to 25,000 and both players folded, albeit begrudgingly, to award him the pot.
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
On a heads-up completed board of 2♦J♣5♠10♠9♥, Matthew Betti checked it over to Richard Green Jr who bet 45,000 into the pot of 47,000, which was enough to cover Betti.
After some time was spent in the tank, Betti tossed out chips to make the call for his tournament life. He was then shown A♣Q♥ by Green Jr for just ace-high and he quickly flipped over 8♥8♦ for just a pair of eights to take down the substantial pot.
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
