Ian Steinman Wins Record RGPS Event
The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) has reached a significant milestone with its Reno Main Event, achieving a record-breaking prize pool and attracting a large number of participants. This year’s $600 buy-in event generated a total prize pool of $188,700 through 370 entries across four starting flights.
Final Table and Results
On the second day of the event, only 44 players returned to compete for the championship. After a lengthy eight hours of play, Ian Steinman emerged victorious. The final table saw Steinman, a seasoned player with a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, outmaneuver competitors to secure his second RGPS ring and a cash prize of $36,220.
The final table results were as follows:
- 1st Place: Ian Steinman (Mountain View, CA) - $36,220
- 2nd Place: Yang Zhou (Reno, NV) - $25,000
- 3rd Place: Art Tanimoto (Elk Grove, CA) - $25,000
- 4th Place: Shawn Van Asdale (Reno, NV) - $11,690
- 5th Place: Ryan Awwad (Ann Arbor, MI) - $9,010
- 6th Place: Ed Miller (Granite Bay, CA) - $7,455
- 7th Place: Greg Paradero (Reno, NV) - $6,255
- 8th Place: Adam Saven (Del Mar, CA) - $5,125
- 9th Place: Johnny Ye (Salem, OR) - $4,010
Steinman's Performance
Reflecting on his performance, Steinman expressed his calm demeanor even under pressure. "I’m pretty calm no matter what. It’s a little bit more pressure with the chip lead because even then your odds of winning are still low. Nevertheless, I was still zoned in," he commented.
Three players—Steinman, Tanimoto, and Zhou—agreed to split the prize pool, culminating in Steinman’s largest win in Reno. Steinman has participated in tournaments at the Atlantis Casino for 14 years, making this victory particularly special for him.
Plans for Future Competitions
Looking ahead, Steinman intends to partake in other tournaments after taking a short break in May. He mentioned his excitement for the upcoming Dream Seat Invitational and other events leading up to the World Series of Poker.
Final Day Synopsis
The final day unfolded with strategic plays and eliminations. Players like Gennadiy Fedunov and Richard Gryko were eliminated just before and during the final table, setting the stage for Steinman’s dominance.
Steinman started the final table with a significant chip lead and maintained control as he made critical decisions to expand his stack. The concluding moments included an agreement for an ICM deal, allowing the competitors to secure their payouts effectively while ensuring Steinman left with the title.
