It took simply over 12 hours on Day 2 of the 2025 RunGood Poker Collection Grand Prix Tunica II to wrap up but it surely was all value it for Carl Masters who was in a position to breathe a sigh of aid and satisfaction when it was throughout.
Masters placed on a poker clinic on the last desk en path to profitable his third RGPS ring within the $600 Major Occasion at Horseshoe On line casino Tunica.
It was one of many largest turnouts on tour as Masters overcame a area of 645 entries, which crushed the $200,000 assure, and ended up with a $328,950 prize pool.
For his victory, Masters pocketed $60,251 after overcoming a hard-fought heads-up battle with Rafael Lopez. Within the final hand of the night time, Masters discovered himself forward the whole means and managed to fade the 2 dwell playing cards from Lopez to seal the deal.
It has been an extended six months for Masters, who’s a neighborhood favourite and fan amongst many on the small- to mid-stakes tour. There have been many last tables for the Tennessee native, however right now he was lastly in a position to recover from the hump and declare one of many largest victories of his profession. Masters celebrated with some associates nonetheless across the poker site and a spherical of tequila photographs for everybody!
Remaining Desk Outcomes
Remaining Day Motion
The day kicked off with 78 gamers returning to their seats, two of whom had already locked up a min-cash for bagging up chips on a number of flights. Kim Francisco and Bob Kellum every earned $954, plus introduced their finest bag into Day 2. Neither participant was in a position to make an excellent deep run, however nonetheless spectacular nonetheless.
Lots of the quick stacks have been keen to get their chips within the center within the hopes of a spin-up, however many failed to take action. A number of the notables who’s day completed sooner than they hoped included Nicholas Rigby, Matthew Higgins, and Chris Moneymaker. It was a streamline to the payout desk as practically half of the sphere was eradicated within the opening two hours. The ultimate three tables have been set earlier than the second break of the day, and shortly sufficient, the ultimate desk was fashioned.
A powerful last desk it was, with a number of RGPS titles amongst them, together with many WSOP circuit rings as properly. Marlon Hammond wasted little time getting his chips into the center and have become the primary casualty of the ultimate desk. Quickly after him was Brian Durr, who remained affected person on the quick stack for many of the day, however ultimately simply ran out of massive blinds.
Cody Stanford appeared poised to make one other deep run however misplaced a few early pots on the ultimate desk and was unable to get well. Josh Butler was among the many leaders for many of the day and as soon as held the chip lead on the last desk. Nonetheless, Butler bumped into pocket aces on one hand and have become the quick stack. A blind vs blind encounter left Butler on the quick finish of the stick along with his suited connectors.
The ultimate 5 gamers spent 90 minutes on the desk collectively earlier than Jason Maeroff was lastly kicked off the island. Maeroff mentioned earlier within the day that “everybody was enjoying for second,” however calling his shot did not work this time. Maeroff ran out of endurance and ran out of playing cards when a failed bluff received picked off, leaving him within the hazard zone.
As soon as Maeroff was eradicated, BJ McBrayer was coolered when his pocket kings received cracked by the 2 pair of Lopez. McBrayer folded his single large blind for an orbit till he compelled all-in however was unable to attach with the board. That left simply three gamers remaining, and so they took one last break for the night time. Upon returning, it solely took one hand earlier than Eric Salazar was eradicated in one other confrontation with Lopez within the blinds.
That set the stage for the heads-up battle that might go on for lower than half-hour after a scientific show of Masters utilizing the chip result in his benefit.
