$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Passport San Diego
$600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
2026 RGPS Passport San Diego
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$191,360
Entries
368
Level
31
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
125
Players Left
15
Players Left 1 / 368
Filter
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The weather was cool outside at Jamul Casino Resort, but action inside stayed heated all day at the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season San Diego. The opening flight of the $600 Main Event saw a total of 125 entries, with the top 15 players earning a spot in the money and a bag for Day 2.
The impressive entry list for the first flight of the weekend saw the event well on track to hit the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool, with two more starting days still ahead.
Leading the way through Day 1a is Tanner Schneeweis, who ran away from other big stacks in the room after finding a big double on the second-last level of the night.
The California native has seen most of his recorded results in Florida, but will look to add a hometown score to his poker resume this weekend with his stack of 597,000 chips.
Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanner Schneeweis | United States | 597,000 | 75 |
| 2 | Mike Zion | United States | 400,000 | 50 |
| 3 | William Wolf | United States | 330,000 | 41 |
| 4 | Kristopher Ferrara | United States | 301,000 | 38 |
| 5 | Jose Araya | United States | 295,000 | 37 |
| 6 | Di Wu | China | 280,000 | 35 |
| 7 | Jian Gutierrez | United States | 246,000 | 31 |
| 8 | Alan Jimenez | United States | 219,000 | 27 |
| 9 | Randy Sadler | United States | 218,000 | 27 |
| 10 | Daniel Sanchez | United States | 164,000 | 21 |
Among the other big stacks at the end of the opening flight is Mike Zion (400,000), who scored the final knockout of the night to send Aaron Saltzman to the rail on the money bubble.
Rounding out the top five are William Wolf (330,000), Kristopher Ferrara (301,000), and Jose Araya (295,000).
Notables Names
Two-time defending RGPS San Diego champion Maksim Tatarintsev took his shot in the opening flight, but came up short just after the end of late registration. Tatarintsev indicated his intentions to return for Day 1b, as he looks to remain hot this week at Jamul.
The opening day also saw a quartet of RGPS Ambassadors in action, with only Randy Sadler finding a bag for Day 2 with 218,000.
Corey Paggeot, Kyna England and Daniel Hughes were not as fortunate, and will need to find some momentum on Saturday in order to make the money and contend for the RGPS Main Event ring.
The second flight will kick off Saturday, February 21 at 11 a.m. local time, where a new group of hopefuls will take their seat with fresh stacks of 30,000 chips.
Day 1b will once again begin with 30-minute levels, and late registration remaining open until the start of Level 9.
That flight will be followed by Day 1c, the final shot to earn a spot in Sunday’s finale at 6 p.m. local time.
$600 Main Event Remaining Schedule
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 21 | 1b | 11:00 a.m. |
| Feb. 21 | 1c | 6:00 p.m. |
| Feb. 22 | 2 | 12:00 p.m. |
Be sure to stick with PokerNews, as our live reporting coverage will continue until a champion is crowned at Jamul Casino Resort.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
597,000
185,000
|
185,000 |
|
||
|
400,000
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
330,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
301,000
228,000
|
228,000 |
|
295,000
105,000
|
105,000 |
|
280,000
145,000
|
145,000 |
|
246,000
246,000
|
246,000 |
|
219,000
219,000
|
219,000 |
|
218,000
54,000
|
54,000 |
|
164,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
|
163,000
163,000
|
163,000 |
|
149,000
69,000
|
69,000 |
|
141,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
128,000
137,000
|
137,000 |
|
67,000
67,000
|
67,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
After nearly two full levels of hand-for-hand play, Aaron Saltzman was sent to the rail by Mike Zion on the stone bubble.
All remaining 15 players have advanced to Day 2.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the opening flight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
408,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Aaron Saltzman opened to 17,000 from under the gun, and Mike Zion made the call in middle position.
Both players checked the 8♦7♠J♦ flop, and the dealer revealed the 6♣ turn. Another pair of checks led to the 9♠ river, where Saltzman fired 17,000.
Zion made the call, and Saltzman reluctantly showed K♣Q♦. Zion turned over 4♠4♣, good enough to claim the pot while leaving Saltzman short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
385,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
|
65,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
William Wolf opened to 17,000, and was called by Jose Araya before both players checked the J♥7♥7♠ flop.
Araya led out for 17,000 on the Q♠ turn, and Wolf made the call. Araya fired again on the 9♠ river, this time for 30,000.
After taking some time, Wolf stuck in the call. Araya showed down 9♦7♣ for a full house, smiling while raking in the pot as Wolf mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
310,000 | |
|
|
190,000
78,000
|
78,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Jennifer Wu opened to 25,000 from under the gun, and Jose Araya called in middle position to see the 9♥A♣9♣ flop.
Both players checked to the K♣ turn, where Wu fired 25,000 and the call was made.
The dealer completed the board with the 4♥ river, and both players declined to bet. Wu tabled A♥J♦, leaving Araya shaking his head as the pot was sent to his left.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
265,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
|
112,000
28,000
|
28,000 |
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Action is now hand for hand, with 16 remaining and 15 players making Day 2.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Jose Araya raised to 12,000 in middle position, finding a call from Randy Sadler in the big blind.
Sadler took some time before checking the 3♣K♥7♠ flop, and Araya quickly slid out a bet of 11,000.
That produced a fold from Sadler, and Araya was awarded the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
164,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
|
140,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
