Four years after his stroke, Jasper May makes a triumphant comeback, winning the RGPS Southern Indiana Main Event and taking home $47,787.

Jasper May won the South Indiana Main Event and took home $47,787.

RGPS Southern Indiana Main Event concludes successfully, with a local player taking the championship.

The 2026 RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Passport season Southern Indiana Main Event has officially concluded. Held in Caesars Southern Indiana, Elizabeth, the event had a total buy-in of $800 and attracted 321 entries, creating a prize pool of $224,700, successfully exceeding the guaranteed minimum.

Ultimately, the local playersJasper MayHe won the championship amidst cheers from the home crowd, earning a prize of $47,787 and his first RGPS championship ring.

Final Showdown: A Brief One-on-One Match Secures Victory

After nearly 10 hours of intense competition, Jasper May successfully advanced to the one-on-one round, where his opponent was...Shon SmithThe match was fast-paced, and May ultimately secured the victory with a steady performance.

After the match, he said, "It's really great to win a game on my home turf. Many of the players here know me, and it's very meaningful to win a championship in front of them."

Final table results overview: fierce competition

The competition at the main event final table was exceptionally fierce, and the final rankings are as follows:

1. Jasper May (USA) — $47,787
2. Shon Smith (USA) — $31,858
3. Andrew Huberty (USA) — $23,290
4. Ryan Stone (USA) — $17,263
5. Craig Carman (USA) — $12,975
6. Kevin Johnson (USA) — $9,890
7. Caio Sobral (Brazil) — $7,648
8. Michael Scarborough (USA) — $6,001
9. Ian Gillespie (USA) — $4,779

Four years after suffering a stroke and hitting rock bottom, he has now returned to his peak.

This victory is of great significance to Jasper May. Four years ago, he suffered a severe stroke, which affected his daily life and athletic ability.

He admitted, "Back then, I even needed to retrain myself to get back to the level where I could compete. Today, I also made some mistakes that I wouldn't have made before, but I overcame them and finally got here."

This experience of going from a low point to a rebirth makes this championship even more valuable.

Career Transition: From Roofer to ICU Nurse

Besides his poker career, May's life story is equally surprising. He started working in roofing at the age of 12 and didn't switch to the medical field until he was nearly 30.

Today, he is a registered nurse with 32 years of experience, serving in the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency room (ER).

He stated, "Whether it's nursing or poker, you need to maintain focus and clear thinking. In a hospital, you have a team to support you, but at the poker table, you have to rely on yourself."

Mindset and Growth: Common Themes in Poker and Life

May believes that poker and medical work are similar in essence—both require calm judgment and sustained focus.

This cross-disciplinary career change actually helped him develop a more mature mindset at the poker table, enabling him to make the right decisions at crucial moments.

Future plans: Return to the competition and continue to take on challenges.

When asked about her future plans, May said she would use the prize money to continue participating in more poker tournaments.

"My skills have indeed improved a lot compared to before. Although I may not be able to return to my peak five or six years ago, I hope to continue competing in the Midwest and even start traveling and playing games again."

This victory undoubtedly opened a new chapter in his poker career.

Summary: An inspiring comeback, a home-field hero emerges.

Jasper May's victory was not just an ordinary poker win, but a story about rebirth and perseverance.

From the low point of a stroke to standing on the championship stage again, he proved with his actions that true victory is not only about defeating opponents, but also about defeating oneself.

Common Mistakes Review: Why Do You Keep Losing? The Problem Lies Here

Most players lose money not because of luck, but because they repeat the same mistakes.

These debriefings will help you identify the most common mistakes and understand how to correct them:
Why does constantly calling cause you to lose money?
[Bluff Imbalance] What are the costs of excessive bluffing?
Why do you always lose on the last street? [Never fold]
[Slow Play Error] Why do I lose big pots when I play slowly?
What's the problem with betting too small?
Why do people lose money when they bet too much?
[Emotional Issues] How do emotions affect your decision-making?
[Range Misjudgment] Analysis of Errors Caused by a Lack of Understanding of Range
[Location Ignore] What are the consequences of ignoring location?
[Misinterpreting People] The Impact of Misinterpreting an Opponent's Behavior

Avoiding mistakes is more important than learning new skills. By reviewing these common mistakes, you can quickly identify your weaknesses, correct your decision-making habits, and reduce unnecessary losses.

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