2023 RGPS Joplin Runner-Up Blair Hinkle Among 18 to Bag on Day 1b
The second of four starting flights in the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Joplin $600 Main Event has reached its conclusion with 18 players advancing to Day 2. Leading the way is Charles Deatherage, who bagged a stack of 723,000 to be just a few pips behind Day 1a chip leader Brant Jolley with his stack of 741,000.
Like yesterday's flight, several notable RunGood crushers bagged at the end of the night, chief among them last year's runner-up Blair Hinkle. Defending champion Dakotah O'Dell was less fortunate, but he may try his luck tomorrow as he looks to defend his RGPS Joplin title.
Others who bagged on Day 1b include content creator Ashley "PokerFace Ash" Frank, Forrest Kollar, Jonathan Aspenlieder, Michael Miller and Sarah McCain.
Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| RANK | PLAYER | CHIP COUNT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Deatherage | 723,000 | |
| 2 | Derek Baxter | 487,000 | |
| 3 | Daniel Hughes | 420,000 | |
| 4 | Forrest Kollar | 362,000 | |
| 5 | Jonathan Aspenlieder | 346,000 | |
| 6 | Matthew Ploeger | 256,000 | |
| 7 | William Gardenhire | 212,000 | |
| 8 | Eric Douglas | 207,000 | |
| 9 | Blair Hinkle | 197,000 | |
| 10 | Shawn Sparks | 190,000 |
Day 1b Action
Day 1b of the RGPS Joplin Main Event drew 146 runners, nearly double the number of players who registered the previous starting flight.
Those in the field included Chris Battaglia, Kyle McConnell (no relation to the longtime US Senator from Kentucky), Brandon Nuss and Terakun "Papa Karn" Karnchanakphan.
It was a day full of highlights, including "PokerFace Ash" getting a "Girl Power!" shoutout from fellow Day 2 advancer Daniel "Donk" Hughes as she doubled with kings against tens, as well as Rodney Spriggs telling everyone within earshot that they were being "greedy" before the jovial grinder fell toward the end of the evening.
There are still two more starting flights to go, both of which will play out on Saturday, April 13, the first getting underway at 12 p.m. local time and the second starting up at 5 p.m. That means there's ample opportunity for players to chase a piece of the $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Day 2 of the RGPS Joplin Main Event will take place on Sunday, April 14 and will play down to a winner, who will win the lion's share of the prize pool and a coveted RunGood ring.
Stay tuned as the PokerNews live reporting team will be back on-site on Saturday for continued coverage of the RGPS Joplin Main Event.