2026 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley
Chip Counts
Level: 13
Blinds: 3,000/5,000
Ante: 5,000
Players are on a 15-minute break. A total of 23 players remain in contention on Day 1a.
Ricardo Lazo opened to 12,000 from early position before Arthur Abraamyan made it 40,000. Lazo shoved for 130,500 and was quickly called by Abraamyan.
Ricardo Lazo: K♥K♦
Arthur Abraamyan: Q♥Q♦
Lazo held the significant edge over Abraamyan as he held the overpair and had both suits covered.
The flop was all diamonds when it came A♦J♦6♦ to keep Lazo in command.
Lazo secured the double on the 4♦ turn as both players improved to a flush with Lazo holding the higher flush.
The 7♣ completed the board as Lazo earned the double.
Jeffrey Hinders was first to act and opened to 8,000 before Won Song chose to respond with an all-in for 104,000. Hinders pushed out his stack to put himself at risk for 54,500.
Jeffrey Hinders: K♥Q♣
Won Song: 10♠10♣
Hinders had the overcards, and he would find the flop favorable when it came K♦5♣6♦ to give Hinders a pair of kings and a commanding lead with two cards to go.
The 7♦ turn did not help Song as he was still drawing to two outs with the river to come.
Hinders secured the pot when the J♦ hit the river, as he would score the double-up against Song, who had just had a double-up of his own.
Phillip Chiero opened to 10,000 from under the gun before Won Song went all-in for 47,000 from the next seat over. Chiero put in the call as Song was at risk.
Won Song: Q♥J♣
Phillip Chiero: A♥Q♣
Song was in trouble as his hand was dominated by the better queen of Chiero, but the flop changed that in a hurry when the dealer fanned out Q♦9♠J♥ to give Song two pair and the lead.
The Q♠ turn upgraded Song to a full house, while Chiero was rooting for an ace with his trip queens.
Song secured the double when the 2♠ peeled on the river as Chiero hit a speed bump.
Level: 12
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Phillip Chiero opened to 7,000 from early position before Norman Yeung went all-in for approximately 53,000 in response from the cutoff. Chiero put in the call as Yeung was at risk as they went to a showdown.
Norman Yeung: 10♦10♥
Phillip Chiero: A♠10♣
Yeung held a dominant lead with Chiero drawing to only the ace as they went to a runout.
The flop was a disaster for Yeung as it came 5♠A♥8♥ to give Chiero a pair of aces.
Yeung failed to improve on the 7♣ turn, leaving him with only one out with the river to come.
Chiero improved to trip aces on the A♦ river as Yeung was eliminated from Day 1a.
There were over 30,000 in the middle on a board that read A♠7♣Q♥2♠ when this hand was picked up.
Linwood Bailey checked his option from the under-the-gun position. Roderick Lejat opted to bet 16,500 from the hijack.
Bailey chose to check-raise to 43,000 in response. Lejat gave it some thought before he folded as Bailey took down a healthy pot.