Pharmacist Dustin Cavanaugh Prescribes Himself RGPS Reno Main Event Victory

The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) hosted its Main Event at Reno’s Atlantis Casino and Resort third time. The $600 buy-in for this year drew 301 participants. 39 contestants were thus assured a cut of the amazing $153,510 prize pool. Following a quick Day 2 of play, Dustin Cavanaugh came out triumphant in a dramatic finish, earning his first RGPS ring along with a prize of $33,450.

One Memorable Weekend for Dustin Cavanaugh

“This is the best weekend of poker I have had in years,” Dustin Cavanaugh said to pokerNews. He underlined the thrill of facing top players and called the event as a blast. Early in life, Cavanaugh started his path in poker. “My grandma taught me how to play poker for dimes when I was roughly five years old,” he said. A maths course he attended in college further stoked his passion of the game. Now, although he muses on his future as a chemist, he finds himself pulled to poker. “I’m just hunting,” he remarked sarcastically, alluding to his love of gathering pinenuts and playing poker.

Dustin Cavanaugh first called his mother first following his victory. Over the competition, he thanked her constantly. He said, seeing she had given him a long-sleeve sweater, “It’s been freezing in this room.” Mother of Cavanaugh is working on a doctorate at University of Nevada, Reno. He valued his weekend time with her being excellent. Spending time with my mother and carrying home a ring makes one feel pleased. She really encourages me, he remarked.

Dustin Cavanaugh intends to take part in next poker series tournaments in Los Angeles and Wendover. Regarding guidance for young players, he stressed humility and self-belief. “Believe in yourself but yet stay humble,” he counselled. “Most importantly, enjoy yourself.” Although at the end of the day we are only playing games, it always feels as though you are late on rent when the blinds rise.

Final Table Results Featuring Dustin Cavanaugh

Second Day Review and Dustin Cavanaugh’s Trip

The action got hot right away as Day 2 started. First eliminated was Rian Mullins, who came in 39th position with an $850 prize. Among other prominent players that left were Dallas Elwell (34th, $995), Derek Stark (33rd, $995), and Christian Cooper (25th, $1,165). Michael “Murph,” the tournament director, stopped his run in 19th place for $1,640. Runner-up from previous spring, Andrew Fredericks came in 18th for $2,005. Eliminated in eleventh place, Ryan Awwad brought home $2,825.

Jordan Cushman dropped last as the field closed in on the final table. Dustin Cavanaugh called Cushman’s all-in with Queen Jack and raised The board gave a jack-high flip that raised Cavanaugh’s stack and kicked Cushman, who had ace-ten and couldn’t get better.

Final Table Action front and front with Dustin Cavanaugh

• One of the bigger stacks, Greg Paradero, started the final table, but he soon turned out to be the shortest. Faced Michael P. Harris with queen-jack, Paradero pushed his chips in with ace-king following a key hand on a queen-high flop. Not improving, Paradero dropped to ninth position and paid $3,360.
• Thomas Tran then came in with ten-seven offsuit from the small blind, and Harris reported with king-two in the large blind. Eliminating Tran in eighth place for $4,210, a king on the board clinched the pot for Harris.
• Soon after, Coy Sanders smacked his last chips against Matthew Betti’s open. Aki Suzuki likewise moved all in, causing Betti to fold. Sanders had ace-queen against Suzuki’s ace-jack but lost when a jack showed up on the board, therefore eliminating him in seventh place for $5,120.
• It was obvious as the battle got more fierce that the Golden Player of the Series was in demand. Matthew Betti and Harris were neck and neck in points when just six players remained. Betti discovered, sadly, that he was the shortest stack. He drove his last chips in with a queen-jack against tens from Adam Saven’s pocket. The flop brought a ten, eliminating Betti in sixth place for $6,095. Harris was removed soon after registration closed, even though he competed in the last event for points, enabling him to claim the Golden Player title.
• Harris kept ruling, finally running against Suzuki. On a king-high board, both players had top couples. But Harris’s ace-kicker outpaced Suzuki’s ten-kicker, eliminating him in fifth place for $7,360.
• Harris’s chip lead widened as the final table went on. He ran across Dustin Cavanaugh and had the most important confrontation. Cavanaugh had queens versus Harris’s ace-queen. The board approved Cavanaugh so he could create a significant stack.

• At last, Saven pushed all in with an ace-four against Harris’s ace-nine. Saven finished fourth for $9,540, a notable improvement from his ninth place last spring; the board did not help him to improve his hand.

• Starting Day 2 as the chip leader, Scott Stewart had a very different stack. Cavanaugh faced Stewart in a critical hand, following some back and forth. On a jack-high board, Cavanaugh held aces against Stewart’s king-jack, confirming his chip advantage. Stewart came out of the event in third place and made $15,130.

Head-Up Play: Dustin Cavanaugh Names the Title

The head-up fight was brief. Harris and Dustin Cavanaugh soon found themselves in a really large pot. Harris held a pair of nines against king-ten Cavanaugh. A king on the flop encouraged both players to toss all of their chips towards the middle. Harris was runner-up and took home $23,325; he couldn’t find a nine to better his hand.

Dustin Cavanaugh claimed triumph in an amazing show of talent and tenacity, therefore securing his reputation as a future star in the poker scene. Along with a sizable cash award, this triumph brought him a sought-after RGPS ring, a monument to his skill and commitment to the game he loves.