After getting a hat-trick of RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) rings in 2019, Blair Hinkle‘s five-year wait for his fourth ended over the weekend as the World Series of Poker bracelet winner came out on top in the $1,100 Kansas City Main Event.
Hinkle topped the 477 entry field, last defeating Shaun “The Ghost” Emery to claim the $92,228 up top from the $462,690 prize pool.
“I’m feeling tired but really great,” Hinkle told PokerNews, surrounded by a large supportive rail of family and friends. “That was a tough final table; I ran insanely hot and had a huge chip lead. But the final table was a roller coaster. I’m just glad it worked out for me.”
Hinkle’s rail had worn mushroom hats to support him. “My wife’s maiden name is Morrel, so they were all wearing mushroom hats for her. She was at home watching the kids, my two-year-old and seven-month-old.”
Hinkle came into the final table with a massive chip lead and never relinquished it throughout the final table. When the field got to six-handed, Hinkle’s chip lead began to shrink. The momentum went back in his direction when he made a hero call with ace-high to eliminate Michael Lucas in fifth place.
“It was a nasty spot to be in,” Hinkle said, recounting the hand. “He really put me in some tough spots on this final table, and I didn’t see a lot of his hands. That card is such a hard card for him to be bluffing, so when he shoved for the pot, it made it tough. It helped that I had a lot of chips, so I trusted my gut.”
Hinkle’s plans for the next stretch of time are to go home to be with his wife and children before heading to the 2024 WSOP.
RGPS Kansas City Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blair Hinkle | Kansas City, MO | $92,228 |
| 2 | Shaun Emery | Raymond, IL | $61,485 |
| 3 | Cory Smith | Oklahoma City, OK | $45,473 |
| 4 | Beau Wilshire | Shawnee, KS | $33,971 |
| 5 | Michael Lucas | Lathrop, MO | $25,637 |
| 6 | Zachary Steuterman | Kansas City, MO | $19,546 |
| 7 | Colin Riesman | Leawood, KS | $15,058 |
| 8 | Frank Kissick | Kansas City, MO | $11,722 |
| 9 | Michael Fouts | Omaha, NE | $9,223 |
Final Table Action
The final table swiftly saw a departure as one of the most decorated players exited. Michael Fouts engaged in a preflop-raising war with Hinkle. Fouts went all-in with pocket queens, and Hinkle called with ace-king suited, leading to a showdown in a pot nearly seventy big blinds deep. Despite Fouts’ initial advantage, a river ace paired with Hinkle’s hand, giving him a significant chip lead. Fouts, the 2018 RGPS Council Bluffs Main Event champion, bowed out in ninth place, taking home $9,223.
Shortly after, Hinkle continued his streak by eliminating Frank Kissick, who went all-in with pocket eights, only to face Hinkle’s pocket jacks. Kissick finished in eighth place, earning $11,722, his career-best.
Beau Wilshire seemed destined to follow suit when he went all-in with king-jack against Hinkle’s pocket queens. However, a fortunate flop granted Wilshire a straight, becoming the first player to double through Hinkle at the final table. Cory Smith then risked it all with ace-queen against Colin Riesman’s pocket threes, securing the pot with a queen on the turn, leaving Riesman with only a big blind.
Riesman’s luck ran dry in the next hand as he went all-in with jack-ten, only to be outdone by Lucas’ set of sixes. Riesman finished seventh, earning $15,058, his best career finish. Zachary Steuterman quietly climbed the ranks but met his end when his ace-deuce was defeated by Smith’s pocket nines, earning Steuterman $19,546 for sixth place.
Lucas and Wilshire both managed to double through Hinkle multiple times, with Lucas notably bluff-shoving and finishing fifth with $25,637. Wilshire’s journey ended in fourth place when his pocket fours fell to Hinkle’s pocket jacks, earning him $33,971.
With three players remaining, Smith doubled up through Hinkle before ultimately falling in third place, adding $45,473 to his impressive resume. Emery secured second place after a hard-fought heads-up battle against Hinkle, earning $61,485. Ultimately, Hinkle emerged victorious, overcoming Emery’s challenge and securing the championship title.