Mike Hurley Wins First RGPS Ring in St. Louis Main Event

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Tue Oct 13, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Mike Hurley Wins First RGPS Ring in St. Louis Main Event

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Mike Hurley captured his first RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) championship ring after winning the $800 Main Event at the 2026 RGPS Golden Expedition St. Louis. 

He outlasted 407 entries at Hollywood Casino to claim the $52,597 first-place prize. The victory marked a breakthrough for the local poker regular, who had recorded several deep runs without securing a major title.

"I've had a bunch of deep finishes and a bunch of final tables, and I keep coming in seventh, sixth, and fifth. I came in second at the MSPT last month, so I really wanted to finish this out and to get the title and the ring. It's just unbelievable, especially on my home turf," he said after finishing atop the 407-entry field.

Hurley Delivers a Hometown Victory

The result carried special significance for Hurley, who lives about 15 minutes from Hollywood Casino. He regularly plays cash games at the venue while balancing poker with his career in commercial real estate.

His victory followed a runner-up finish in the MSPT Main Event in nearby St. Charles the previous month. That performance earned him approximately $60,000, adding to a series of strong results that had brought him close to a major tournament win.

Hurley also enjoyed a friendly atmosphere throughout the RGPS final table. He faced longtime friends Jeff Copeland and Craig Welko, who continued cheering him on from the rail after their eliminations.

"Everybody was enjoyable. Everybody was having a good time, laughing. Nobody was being super serious. It was a home game atmosphere for 50 grand. So it was fantastic," Hurley said.

Hurley Navigates the Final Table

The final table initially featured Quintin Sargent as the chip leader with 3.8 million chips. However, Jacob Tourville and Hurley gained momentum as the field narrowed.

Sargent eventually finished sixth, while Darroll Sayles exited in fourth place after losing a significant pot to Hurley. The latter's successful call with two pair helped strengthen his position heading into the final stages.

Aaron McIntosh finished third, leaving Hurley and Tourville to battle for the title. Hurley began heads-up play with approximately 11 million chips against Tourville's 5.3 million.

Decisive Hand Secures Hurley's First Ring

Tourville quickly made the contest more difficult by doubling his stack and taking the chip lead. However, Hurley recovered and ultimately secured the victory through a decisive confrontation.

In the final hand, Hurley moved all-in with A♥ 3♥, and Tourville called with A♦ K♦. The flop came 7♥ 5♥ 7♠, giving Hurley a flush draw while Tourville held the stronger high-card hand.

The turn brought the 3♣, pairing Hurley's 3♥ and giving him two pair, along with the 7♥ 7♠ . Tourville needed help on the river to stay alive, but the J♦ failed to improve his hand. Hurley secured the pot, eliminated his opponent, and claimed the championship ring.

RGPS St. Louis Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Prize
1 Mike Hurley $52,597
2 Jacob Tourville $43,400
3 Aaron McIntosh $28,203
4 Darroll Sayles $20,969
5 Jeff Copeland $15,786
6 Quintin Sargent $12,035
7 Justin Coliny $9,293
8 Shaun McBride $7,268
9 Craig Welko $5,760

A Milestone for the Local Poker Regular

The $52,597 payday marked an important achievement for Hurley after several near misses on the tournament circuit. He also explained that the winnings would help his family as his children attend college.

Although Hurley takes poker seriously, he has largely focused on local cash games and smaller tournaments. His recent deep runs and RGPS triumph could encourage him to pursue more live tournament opportunities.

Live tournament action continues to flourish across regional circuits nationwide. At the same time, many competitive players build bankrolls and hone their strategies on regulated US online poker sites before making the jump to live events like the RGPS.

For Hurley, however, proving his skills on his home turf provided the ultimate capstone to a memorable run.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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