The summer is coming, and along with it, more poker is coming to Iowa. The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) returns to Horseshoe Council Bluffs next week for the next stop on its All-Stars Comeback Tour.
The seven-tournament series takes place June 22-27, culminating with a $575 buy-in Main Event featuring a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.
RunGood Poker Series in IA to feature seven events, $575 buy-in Main
Like other poker tours, the RunGood Series is finally able to return to action. The tour that launched in 2014 took a break from April 2020 through the first part of June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the RGPS has hit the tourney trail once again with its most recent stop at the Jamul Casino in San Diego, CA.
Next week’s series in Council Bluffs includes a variety of events. There will be a Seniors 50+ Event, multiple bounty tournaments, and a pot-limit Omaha hi-lo event. Additionally, a $185 buy-in “DeepStack” tournament will come with a $20,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The $575 Main Event will feature three starting flights. There are Main Event satellites priced at $85 and $145, as well as single-table satellites on demand throughout the week. The first starting flight comes Friday night, June 25, with two more happening Saturday, June 26. The remaining field will then consolidate for the final day on Sunday, June 27.
The Main Event features unlimited re-entries through the first eight half-hour levels of each starting flight. In addition to collecting an RGPS ring, plus the first-place trophy and prize money, the winner will receive free entry into the $550 RunGood Poker Series: All-Stars Pro-Am event happening later this year.
Here is the full schedule of events taking place at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, not including satellites:
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 22 | 10 a.m. | Event #1 - $125 Seniors 50+ NLH Ring Event |
| June 22 | 7 p.m. | Event #2 - $135 Guest Bounty Opening Night Ring Event |
| June 23 | 12 p.m. | Event #3 - $185 DeepStack Ring Event ($20,000 GTD), Flight A |
| June 23 | 7 p.m. | Event #3 - $185 DeepStack Ring Event ($20,000 GTD), Flight B |
| June 24 | 12 p.m. | Event #3 - $185 DeepStack Ring Event ($20,000 GTD), Final Day |
| June 24 | 4 p.m. | Event #4 - $250 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-or-Better Ring Event |
| June 24 | 7 p.m. | Event #5 - $200 Two Green Chip Bounty Ring Event |
| June 25 | 7 p.m. | Event #6 - $575 Main Event ($100,000 GTD), Flight A |
| June 26 | 12 p.m. | Event #6 - $575 Main Event ($100,000 GTD), Flight B |
| June 26 | 7 p.m. | Event #6 - $575 Main Event ($100,000 GTD), Flight C |
| June 27 | 10 a.m. | Event #7 - $100 Turbo Closer Ring Event |
| June 27 | 12 p.m. | Event #6 - $575 Main Event ($100,000 GTD), Final Day |
As spring turns to summer, RGPS, Iowa poker both heating up
The RunGood Poker Series last visited Council Bluffs in February 2020. In fact, that was one of the RGPS’s final stops before its hiatus began last spring.
That series featured a similar seven-tournament schedule and a $575 Main Event. The guarantee was $100,000 as well, but with 368 total entries, the prize pool swelled to $187,680.
David Hengen emerged as the winner of that event, claiming a $41,287 first prize. Hengen outlasted poker pro Ray Henson’s heads-up to win the event, no small feat. In fact, a couple of days earlier, Henson had won a side event, a pot-limit Omaha tournament.
The RunGood Poker Series has twice won Best Mid-Major Tour at the Global Poker Awards. This month, the event in San Diego marking the RGPS’s return drew a whopping 559 total entries for its $575 Main Event. With that big turnout, the $279,500 prize pool nearly tripled the $100,000 guarantee.
A third 2021 stop for the RGPS scheduled for the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Tunica, MI, in July has been canceled.
As far as other poker tours are concerned, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) has already returned to Iowa a couple of times this year, with two visits in March. One took place at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, and the other at the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.
The series at Riverside ended with a huge $1,100 Main Event that drew 862 total entries to create an $834,672 prize pool. The MSPT will go back to Riverside Casino for another series in July.
