Phuong Ta Wins RGPS Jacksonville Main Event for $71,353
Phuong “Peter” Ta won the $1,200 RGPS Golden Expedition Jacksonville Main Event at bestbet Jacksonville, finishing a final day that stretched past 2 a.m. with a heads-up victory over Corey Major.
The RunGood Poker Series Main Event drew 394 entries and generated a $409,760 prize pool. Ta received $71,353 after the final two players agreed to divide the remaining prize money evenly and leave $5,000 for the champion.
Heads-up deal changes the posted payout
PokerNews listed an $82,624 first prize in the event header, but its completed live report recorded deal-adjusted payouts of $71,353 for Ta and $66,353 for Major. The two finalists made the agreement late in the session, then continued playing for the title and the additional $5,000.
Ta started heads-up with the lead, lost it briefly, and regained control before the final hand. Major finished second, while Sandro Sa placed third for $40,486.
Ta converts the final-day chip lead
Ta entered Day 2 as the overall chip leader after recovering from a short stack during his starting flight. Fifty players returned from the 394-entry field, with 50 places paid in the tournament.
The win became the largest recorded live tournament payout of Ta’s career at the time of publication. PokerNews reported that the South Carolina player had nearly $200,000 in live tournament earnings before the festival and had previously made final tables at Wynn and on the WSOP Circuit.
RGPS Jacksonville closes at bestbet
The Main Event completed the headline portion of the RGPS Golden Expedition stop at bestbet Jacksonville. The venue’s October 21–November 1 schedule also included the 859-entry PokerNews PowerStack won by Derek Kerns earlier in the festival.
The $71,353 award is a gross tournament payout and does not represent profit after buy-ins, travel or other expenses.
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