Dane Miller has etched his name in poker history with a career-best victory at the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Cleveland Main Event at JACK Casino. The $1,000 buy-in tournament saw a thrilling conclusion with Miller emerging as the champion, taking home $98,607 and his first-ever RunGood Championship ring.
The RGPS Cleveland Main Event had three starting flights and drew an impressive 510 players, shattering the $300,000 guarantee and building a prize pool of $474,962. After a long day of action, only 67 players remained with a shot at cashing, with Miller among the short stacks at the start of the final day.
“I literally couldn’t make any hands at all,” Miller said. “I didn’t have aces once, but every time I got short, I managed to win my flips.”
It was a dramatic final table for Miller, whose luck changed in a pivotal hand against Kyle Grupp. Miller held ace-king, while Grupp had pocket threes. After a flop of ace-king-seven, Grupp gained the lead with a set of threes on the turn, but a miracle ace on the river gave Miller the full house, propelling him to the top of the chip counts.
“That was the moment I knew I had a shot at winning,” Miller reflected on the defining hand.
As the tournament progressed, the final table saw significant eliminations. Day 2 started with 20 players hitting the rail early, and the pace quickened as the final table was set. Players such as Keven Stammen and Greg Harris fell short of a podium finish, while local poker talent like Sam Delio and Michael Barlow also made deep runs.
RunGood Poker Series Final Table Results:
- Dane Miller – $98,607
- Thomas Gray – $60,495
- Andrew Manchen – $44,080
- Kyle Grupp – $32,825
- Katie Kopp – $24,850
- Michael Valore – $18,755
- Gregory Brletich – $14,535
- David Berman – $11,255
- Shane Swank – $8,910
The tournament’s final moments were filled with high-stakes hands. Miller’s victory was nearly sealed when he went heads-up against Thomas Gray. In a key moment, Gray made a remarkable fold when Miller put him all-in with a straight and flush on the board, showing strategic brilliance.
Miller sealed his win with a bold four-bet jam with ace-queen, and when Gray called with pocket eights, it was Miller’s queen on the flop and turn that clinched the title.
This win marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting poker career for Miller, who continues to show determination and resilience at the table. His victory at the RGPS Cleveland Main Event will be one to remember, with a championship ring and $98,607 to show for his efforts.