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$600 The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley
$600 The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship
Day: 1a
Players Left 106 / 149
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
The first starting flight of the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale $600 The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship has concluded. A total of 118 entries took a swing at the first flight, with 12 players advancing from Day 1a at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
Ricardo Lazo (572,000) bagged the top stack after the opening flight. Cirilo Esnardo (472,000) and Baljinder Bhupal (470,000) wrapped up the podium as the top three stacks in the room.
Final Chip Counts on Day 1a
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricardo Lazo | United States | 572,000 | 48 |
| 2 | Cirilo Esnardo | United States | 472,000 | 39 |
| 3 | Baljinder Bhupal | United States | 470,000 | 39 |
| 4 | Phillip Chiero | United States | 362,000 | 30 |
| 5 | Eric Cossey | United States | 362,000 | 30 |
| 6 | Roderick Lejat | United States | 314,000 | 26 |
| 7 | Ryan Rummonds | United States | 239,000 | 20 |
| 8 | Travis Fujisaka | United States | 196,000 | 16 |
| 9 | Won Song | United States | 190,000 | 16 |
| 10 | Asmare Bekalu | United States | 178,000 | 15 |
| 11 | Greg Byard | United States | 152,000 | 13 |
| 12 | Sok Chean | United States | 49,000 | 4 |
There is not much known about Lazo as he will enter Day 2 as a wildcard. Lazo’s rise to the chip lead began when he won a big pot against Arthur Abraamyan when Lazo’s kings held against the pocket queens of Abraamyan to soar past the two-hundred-thousand mark. Lazo held steady the rest of the evening as he clocked into the top ten in chip counts until his final ascension late on Day 1a gave him the title of chip leader.
Esnardo began to be a force in the chip counts by halfway through the opening flight. He hovered near the top of the counts for the remainder of Day 1a before he sent everyone home when he busted Linwood Bailey when Esnardo’s ace-queen hit a full house to end Day 1a.
Rocklin resident Bhupal bagged the third biggest stack of the evening. Bhupal will enter Day 2 with the opportunity to improve on his highest finish at RunGood Poker Series events. Bhupal took third place in the RunGood Ambassador Knockout event back in 2025 at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. No doubt there is more money up for grabs in this event as Bhupal will look to snag his first RGPS title and ring.
Returning champion Sasha Sabbaghian made an appearance, but was unable to find any traction on Day 1a. Sabbaghian will still have five other starting flights to choose from should he choose to enter again.
Notable Tyler Patterson also was unable to bag on Day 1a after his king-high failed to secure the double when Sok Chean hit a jack on the river to eliminate the RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley Main Event champion.
The focus will now shift to Day 1b, which is scheduled to be hosted at 11 a.m. local time. Stay tuned here at PokerNews for continued coverage of the $600 The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
The remaining 12 players have bagged to conclude Day 1a. Stay tuned for a recap of today's action.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
The first flight is over after Cirilo Esnardo opened to 25,000 from under the gun before Linwood Bailey went all-in for 62,000 from the hijack. Esnardo called to put Bailey at risk.
Linwood Bailey: J♦J♣
Cirilo Esnardo: A♣Q♣
Bailey needed to fade the overcards, but the flop was bad news when it came K♥9♣A♠ to give Esnardo a pair of aces.
The A♦ turn improved Esnardo to trips, and the Q♦ once again improved him as he upgraded to a full house to eliminate Bailey and end the evening.
Level: 17
Blinds: 6,000/12,000
Ante: 12,000
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Sok Chean shipped it for his final 45,000 from the hijack. Cirilo Esnardo made the call out of the big blind to put Chean at risk.
Sok Chean: A♠6♣
Cirilo Esnardo: Q♦J♦
The flop vaulted Esnardo into the lead when it came Q♠4♣3♥ to give Esnardo a pair of queens.
The 2♥ turn gave Chean a gutshot straight draw to give him some additional outs with one card to go.
Chean would celebrate when the 5♠ river peeled as he improved to a straight to avoid elimination.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Roderick Lejat opened to 20,000 from the cutoff, and Cirilo Esnardo defended his big blind and sent them to a flop.
The 2♣9♥5♣ flop was checked by Esnardo before Lejat checked back.
Esnardo threw out a bet of 14,000 on the 2♥ turn. Lejat was not done with the hand and made the call.
The 8♦ river did not deter Esnardo, as he wagered 30,000. Lejat opted to fold to award the skirmish to Esnardo.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Ryan Rummonds began the bidding with an open to 22,000 from under the gun. Eric Cossey made the call out of the hijack.
The K♠10♣8♠ flop led to a bet of 10,000 from Rummonds, and Cossey came along with a call.
Rummonds slowed down with a check on the 6♠ turn, which led to a bet of 20,000 from Cossey. Rummonds made the call.
The 3♥ river led to another check from Rummonds. Cossey put out a bet of 75,000. Rummonds gave it a brief consideration before he folded to yield the pot to Cossey.
Level: 16
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 10,000
