In a stylish show of dominance, Brian Craig claims victory at the RGPS Tulsa Main Event, pocketing a prize of $70,169.
Poker Losers, Winners, and Thrills: Unraveling the Brian Craig Saga at the 2025 RunGood Poker Series
Get ready, poker lovers! The 2025 RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is off with a bang as Brian Craig grabs the initial Main Event title of the year and an impressive $70,169 in prize money. Let's delve into how this amazing victory went down.
Brian Craig: From Dreamer to Dream Seat Invitational Contender
Imagine starting with 517 fellow dreamers, each wanting a slice of a $361,900 prize pool guarantee — that's what Day 2 of the RGPS presented. Despite 63 players cashing out, only one would claim the coveted black RGPS ring. After 10 intense hours, it was Kansas poker enthusiast Brian Craig walking away as the champion. Starting in 15th place, Craig maintained his cool and employed consistent, shrewd play to lead the pack, never veering from his path to victory.
The Recipe for Success: Sweat and Patience
When asked about his approach, Craig said, "Patience was key." It certainly was, as he experienced both extremes on this rollercoaster day—winning every hand for nearly half an hour before losing continuously for an hour, only to persevere. Even when faced with tough competition from Mike Travis and his solid 3:1 chip lead, Craig managed to pull off a dramatic turnaround in under an hour, ultimately securing the win.
Life as a Semi-Pro
Although poker isn't a full-time job for Craig, it's far more than just a hobby—he humorously described himself as a "semi-pro, heavy on the semi." With a total lifetime poker earnings of $75,789 before this victory, Craig nearly doubled his winnings with this triumph, providing a much-needed boost for his next tournament outing.
The Final Table Frenzy
The final table was a battle between titans, filled with jaw-dropping moments that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Here's a quick recap of the action:
Heads-Up Fireworks
Craig and Travis' heads-up encounter was cinematic drama at its finest. Despite Travis' dominance of the final table, Craig refused to back down. A crucial hand changed the game when Craig made a daring bluff, forcing Travis to fold his ace-king on an eight-high board. Once Craig seized control of the momentum, Travis tried to pull off sneaky tactics, but Craig's trip fours sealed the deal.
Highlights of Day 2
Craig faced an all-star lineup of RGPS champions and seasoned pros on his quest for victory. Among the dreams dashed on Day 2 were those of past winners Todd Tucker, Iman Al-Saden, and Pete Petree.
Memorable Moments:
- Michael Perrone's pocket aces lost to Ryan Anderson's ace-king in a heartbreaking cooler.
- Ashley "PokerFace Ash" Frank finished in 13th place for the second time in the same day, earning a remarkable double cash.
- Rosmel Munoz suffered a painful elimination when his set of fours lost out to Stone's top set of tens.
Brian Craig's Next Act
With his seat secured at the Dream Seat Invitational in November 2025, Craig is taking a well-deserved break before planning his next poker adventure. "The money is fantastic," Craig said, but the title and the memories are what truly matter.
Future Developments for the RGPS
As the RGPS heads to Jamul Casino in San Diego next month, we eagerly await more exciting upsets. Stay connected with our website to continue following the RGPS journey!
Upcoming Events and Schedules for the 2025 RunGood Poker Series (RGPS):
2025 RGPS Events
1. Hollywood Casino St. Louis, MO (April 1st - 6th, 2025)
- Event Highlights: 12 Rings Awarded / 6 Days, $50,000 GTD DeepStack Ring Event, $200,000 GTD Main Event, Ladies Ring Event.
- Schedule Details: Available online through the RunGood website[5].
2. Horseshoe Iowa, Council Bluffs, IA (April 22nd - 27th, 2025)
- Event Highlights: 13 Rings Awarded / 12 Events / 6 Days, $300,000 in total GTD prizepools, $100,000 GTD Main Event.
- Schedule Details: Events run from Tuesday to Sunday, with the main event buy-in at $800[1][3].
3. bestbet Jacksonville (April 24th - May 4th, 2025)
- Event Highlights: Ten poker events including the $1,200 NLH Main Event.
- Schedule Details: Specific event schedule not detailed in the search results[4].
4. Graton Resort And Casino, Bay Area, CA (May 1st - 12th, 2025)
- Event Highlights: 18 Events / 19 Rings Awarded / 12 Days, $50,000 GTD Big Stack Ring Event, $200,000 GTD Mega Stack Ring Event, $300,000 GTD Main Event.
- Schedule Details: Available online through the RunGood website[2].
All events feature promotions such as Dream Seat Invitational eligibility by PokerGO, participation in the 2024/25 RunGood Player of the Year Race by GPI, and the 2025 Mission RunGood Online Ring Series and $12,400 WPT Package Freeroll[1][2][5].
- Prepare for an exhilarating poker season as the 2025 RunGood Poker Series unveils numerous casino-games tournaments, including big-wins opportunities in lotteries and casino-games such as poker.
- Casino-personalities like Brian Craig, who doubled his lifetime winnings at the 2025 RunGood Poker Series, add a dash of star power to the series, generating excitement for upcoming casino-and-gambling events.
- Players can test their skills and potentially secure a seat at the Dream Seat Invitational by participating in various poker series events throughout the season, as detailed in the series' schedule for Hollywood Casino St. Louis, Horseshoe Iowa, bestbet Jacksonville, and Graton Resort And Casino.
