This Week's Highlights: Upsets and Devastating Losses Off in the PokerNews Cup RGPS Thunder Valley

PokerNews Cup @ RGPS Thunder Valley Highlights: Thao bubbled out Valle, Holloway was eliminated, Fujisaka bubbled out, Awwad was neutralized, and Nguyen's King was defeated.

Last weekend, the PokerNews Cup, a $400 buy-in, $250K margin tournament held at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort, attracted 901 entries, creating a total prize pool of $306,340. Peter Thao defeated Farzad Abbaszadeh heads-up to win the championship, the PokerNews trophy, and a $48,340 first-place prize.

$400 PokerNews Cup Final Table Results

PokerNews provided live updates from the event, and poker journalist Josh Noy witnessed several high-scoring hands. Below are five highlights from the 2026 PokerNews Cup @ RGPS.

Thao defeated Valle in the bubble stage of Group A on Day 1.

On Day 1, Group A, Level 14 (4,000/8,000/8,000), Thao raised to 20,000 from the gun position, and Abel Valle went all-in from the big blind with his last 8,000 chips.

Abel Valle: K♠10♠

Xiong Thao: 9♦8♥

Thao took the lead with 8♦3♠J♣ on the flop, but Valle found a better pair on the river K♦. The table then reacted enthusiastically to the river 8♠—a card that gave Thao trips and eliminated Valle during the prize bubble.

Holloway out

On Day 1, Group B, Level 12 (3,000/5,000/5,000), our Chad Holloway went all-in for 35,000 from the hijack position, and Holloway was at risk when James Lee went all-in with a larger stack from the small blind.

Chad Holloway：A♠6♣

James Lee: 4♥4♦

After several successful all-in slams, Holloway was flipping a coin for his tournament life. The flop of A♣K♣8♦ gave Holloway the lead, but Lee hit a 4♠ on the turn to make trips. The river 5♣ was just a formality, and Holloway wished the table good luck as he headed to the sidelines.

Fujisaka was eliminated during the bubble phase.

During the prize bubble phase of Group B on Day 1, Level 14 (4,000/8,000/8,000), Travis Fujisaka went all in on approximately 80,000, and Daniel Evans called from the small blind.

Travis Fujisaka：J♥J♦

Daniel Evans：A♥K♣

In a classic coin-flip showdown, Evans hit a pair on the river with 8♠Q♥8♣7♣K♥, sending Fujisaka out on the direct prize bubble.

Awwad was offset

On the second day, with only 14 players remaining, at level 24 (50,000/100,000/100,000), Farzad Abbaszadeh raised from middle to 150,000, and Ryan Awwad responded with a 3-bet to 400,000, leaving him with only 50,000 chips. Farzad then went all-in, and Ryan Awwad called.

Ryan Awwad: 5♦5♥

Farzad Abbaszadeh：K♥Q♥

The flop of 9♥7♦9♣ gave Awwad the lead, as did the turn J♦, but disaster struck on the river – the appearance of 7♣ negated Awwad's hand, eliminating him in 14th place and awarding him $3,440.

K is invalid against Vy Nguyen.

With only six players remaining, at level 28 (100,000/200,000/200,000), Vy Nguyen raised to 400,000 from under the gun, representing most of his remaining chips. Elijah Obel-Jorgensen went all-in from the cutoff, and Nguyen called with his remaining chips.

Vy Nguyen：K♣K♥

Elijah Obel-Jorgensen: A♥K♦

Nguyen revealed pocket kings, but couldn't escape the flop of A♠5♣4♥—Obel-Jorgensen made top pair. The turn 8♣ and the river 8♥ completed the board, confirming Nguyen's elimination in sixth place, winning $10,300.

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