One of Northern California’s most popular casinos just hosted one of poker’s most established series.
The RunGood Poker Series wrapped up a massive 22-event schedule at Graton Casino. The Northern California casino wrapped up the series last Thursday amid a jam-packed slate of California poker tournaments.
The RGPS stop at Graton ran alongside the conclusion of the famous Los Angeles Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino and the beginning of the World Series of Poker Circuit series at the Bicycle Casino. It also came on the heels of the last RGPS stop at Jamul Casino in San Diego.
However, with Graton hosting the only major series north of Los Angeles County, the turnout was still impressive.
Going into the event, the team was riding high. At the annual Global Poker Awards, the series was nominated for “Best Mid-Major Poker Tour” while RunGood founder Tana Karn got shortlisted for “Industry Person of the Year.”
With its 20 tables, the Graton poker room is known for some of the largest bad beat jackpots and daily bonus payouts in the Bay Area. Besides the cardroom, the casino also features more than 3,000 slot machines and more than 100 table games, including a high-limit room.
RunGood Poker Series events and winners
Tuesday, Feb. 28, kicked off the RGPS with the following events:
- $250 Senior 50+ NLH Ring Event – Winner: Gene Rindy top 276-entry field for $9,710
- $50 6-Max NLH Ring Event – Winner: Denzel Suntay tops 152-entry field for $10,140
- $200 Guest Bounty NLH Ring Event – Winner: Daniel Roncancio tops 258-entry field for $6,995
- $105 Main Event Mega Satellite
On the following day, Wednesday, these tournaments took place:
- $360 Mega Stack Ring Event Flight A
- $105 Main Event Mega Satellite
- $300 H.O.R.S.E. Ring Event – Winner: Michael Arents tops 50-entry field for $4,245
- $360 Mega Stack Ring Event Flight B
Mar. 2 had five events going on:
- $250 One Day NLH Ring Event – Winner: Tengis Baterdene tops 143-entry field for $7,895
- $360 Mega Stack Ring Event Restart – Winner: John Ramil tops 373-entry field for $23,300
- $185 Main Event Mega Satellite
- $300 Pot Limit Omaha Ring Event – Winner: Cody Stanford tops 115-entry field for $4,785
- $260 Black Chip Bounty Ring Event – Winner: Handrianto Minderman tops 137-entry field for $7,570
Friday, Mar. 3 the series continued with these events:
- $800 RunGood Main Event Flight A
- $185 Main Event Mega Satellite
- $300 Limit 08 Ring Event – Winner: Margaret Rowan tops 91-entry field for $5,445
- $800 Run Good Man Event Flight B
- $105 Main Event Satellite
Saturday was ‘Main Event’ Day
- $105 Main Event Satellite
- $800 RunGood Main Event Flight C
- $185 Turbo Main Satellite
- $800 RunGood Main Event Flight D
- $125 NLH Survivor – Top 11 spots all received $1,000, while 12th place earned $200
On Mar. 5, the series was more than halfway through and continued with these events
- Main Event – Winner: Pe Kyaw tops 1,043-entry field for $90,330
- $400 One-Day NLH Ring Event – Winner: Kevin Swad tops 235-entry field for $18,125
- $300 Big O Ring Event – Winner: La Sengphet tops 89-entry field for $6,380
- $200 Double Green Chip Bounty Ring Event – Winner: Jupinder Singh tops 148-entry field for $4,420
Monday kicked off early with four more events:
- $250 Seniors Ring Event – Winner: Craig Ricci tops 151-entry field for $5,170
- $200 One Day NLH Ring Event – Winner: Lawrence Chow tops 177-entry field for $5,125
- $300 Omaha 8/Stud Ring Event – Winner: Craig Carrillo tops 49-entry field for $4,165
- $250 Monster Stack Ring Event Flight A
On Tuesday, Mar. 7, the series was nearing its end:
- $250 Monster Stack Ring Event Flight B
- $350 Mixed Omaha (Big O, PLO, PLO8) Ring Event – Winner: Sam Mullins tops 100-entry field for $7,000
- $250 Monster Stack Ring Event Flight C
- $135 Satellite to the $1,100 Deepstack
The California poker series ended on Wednesday with these events:
- $1,100 One Day Deepstack NLH Ring Event – Winner: Jeffrey Lennon tops 86-entry field for $20,280
- Monster Stack Restart – Winner: Ashkun LaJevardi tops 432-entry field for $14,690
- $300 6-Max NLH Ring Event – Winner: Gene Rindy tops 129-entry field for $7,340
- $200 Series Sendoff NLH Ring Event – Winner: Ben Wilma tops 142-entry field for $6,310
Pe Kyaw wins No Limit Hold ’em Main Event
The stop’s marquee event, the $800 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event, was also the most popular. The tournament attracted 1,043 entries, which generated an impressive prize pool of $730,100. After the completion of four starting flights, only 131 players remained, but they were all guaranteed a cash of at least $1,175.
Despite the small field, several tough players remained, but most hit the rail before the final table. That included Terakun ‘Papa Karn’ Karnchanakphan (127th-$1,175), Jacob Long (117th-$1,320), Josh Prager (76th-$1,925), Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano (47th – $2,475), and Cody Stanford (32nd-$3,205).
The battle for the ring at the final table was intense. But ultimately Pe Kyaw prevailed after a three-handed ICM deal with 11-time WSOP Circuit champion Daniel Lowery and Taylor Pollard.
Final table results of the RGPS Graton Casino Main Event
1st: Pe Kyaw – $90,330
2nd: Daniel Lowery – $88,870
3rd: Taylor Pollard – $84,835
4th: David Bellacose – $41,195
5th: Don Vo – $31,255
6th: Mitchell Collins – $25,365
7th: James Cavanaugh – $20,970
8th: Jason Castro – $16,640
9th: Noel Rodriguez – $12,420
Last year’s RGPS winners
In 2022, the RGPS Bay Area $600 Main Event pulled in a record-setting field of 1,144 runners for a prize pool of $594,880.
Omaha Hold’em expert Kulwant Singh triumphed in the end, winning $100,070 after beating heads-up opponent Bryan Saltzman, who took home $69,115.
Further highlights of last year’s Bay Area stop included Kevin Goldman championing Event #1: $250 Seniors for $12,100 and Svetlana Meinikova winning Event #2: $250 6-Max for $5,690.
