Early Winners From Resorts World Las Vegas' Summer Poker Series

Resorts World Las Vegas’ 2024 Summer Poker Series is now underway, with 12 of the 82 events already in the books. The festival, which runs from June 6 – July 22, features more than $900,000 in guaranteed prize money, with each and every tournament featuring sporting a guarantee. Below is a look at the early results.

Event #1 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

The first event of the series saw 152 entries post the $200 buy-in. As a result, the $10,000 gurantee was more than doubled, with $25,080 ultimately paid out among the top 18 finishers. In the end it was Michael Egolf who secured the title and the largest payout of $4,914.

Egolf now has $29,509 in recorded tournament earnings after this victory. He was one of six players to cash for four figures in this event.

Event #2 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

The second event on the schedule kicked off later the same day. A total of 61 entries were made in the $200 buy-in no-limit hold’em affair, doubling the $5,000 guarantee to create a final prize pool of $10,065.

Germany’s Matthias Kleinsteiber emerged victorious, earning $1,944 for the win. This was the first recorded live tournament score for Kleinsteiber, who was one of eight players to make the money in this event.

Event #3 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Masahiro Marumoto triumphed in event no. 3, topping the field of 105 entries that turned out on Friday, June 7 to earn the title and the top prize of $4,021.

The top 12 finishers earned a share of the $17,325 final prize pool, with four-figure scores for the final five.

This was the second-largest payday yet on the live scene for Marumoto, who hails from Japan. His top score came when he finished third in a $9,000 HKD buy-in six-max event at the 2015 Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau stop.

Event #4 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Just like the three that preceded it, event no. 4 also handily outpaced its guarantee. A total of 68 entries were made in the event, topping the $5,000 promise to end with an $11,220 prize pool.

That money was split amongst the final eight finishers, with the largest slice going to Killian Pie. This was Pie’s first-ever live tournament victory. He earned $3,720 after coming out on top.

Event #5 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Candyce Samples was the champion of event no. 5, topping a field of 160 entries to earn $4,498. This was her second recorded title, having taken down a $560 buy-in at the 2013 Choctaw Fall Poker Series in Oklahoma for $42,186.

Samples now has $106,759 in lifetime earnings to her name, with 20 career cashes accrued since her first recorded in-the-money finish back in 2007.

This event beat its $10,000 guarantee by $16,400, with the $26,400 going to the top 19 finishers.

2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Potawatomi main event winner Jason Mirza finished second for $3,981.

Event #6 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Saturday night (poker tournament) fever! James Rodriguez came out on top of an 85-entry turnout, which resulted in the $5,000 guarantee being nearly tripled.

Rodriguez earned the biggest share, with his first-place payout clocking in at $3,200. The victory was his fifth on the circuit, bringing his total earnings to $555,287. His top payday came back in 2022, when he finished second in a $1,100 buy-in event at the Wynn Summer Classic for $174,216.

Two prior champions at this series made the money in this event, with Matthias Kleinsteiber finishing seventh and Masahiro Marumoto placing 10th.

Event #7 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Event no. 7 saw 98 entries made at $200 a piece, resulting in a $16,170 prize pool that was divided among the top 12. Sergio Alvares posed for the winner photo, earning $3,827 after striking a deal to bring the event to a close.

Alvares had finished eighth in event no. 5 just a couple of days earlier, earning $669 for that deep run. He now has more than $11,045 in lifetime cashes.

Patrick Gunraj earned $3,828 as part of the deal, bringing his career haul to over $332,000.

Event #8 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

The Sunday night event had 104 entries made by the time registration came to a close, resulting in the $5,000 guarantee being beaten by $12,160.

Jaya Sundar took home $4,190 as the champion, topping Jasper Liu heads-up to secure the title. This was the first recorded score for Sundar.

Fabian Ortiz, who finished 17th in the 2013 World Series of Poker main event for $357,655, placed ninth in this event.

Event #9 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

Ryan Hunsinger battled his way to the title in the next $10,000 guaranteed event, earning $5,150 as the winner, with Martine Gomez cashing for $4,660 as the runner-up.

This was the second recorded career title for Hunsinger, who now has more than $216,000 in lifetime earnings under his belt.

With 158 entries, the prize pool wound up with $26,070 for the top 18 finishers in this running.

Event #10 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

The Monday night event attracted 87 entries, which led to a $14,355 prize pool. Gregory Durand captured the lion’s share, taking home $3,266 and the title.

This was Durand’s second live title. He grew his tournament earnings to $88,122 with this latest victory.

Eight players cashed in this event, including 2011 River Poker Series main event champion Bronson Tucker, who has $962,000 in total scores on the circuit.

Event #11 – $10,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

With 133 entries, event no. 11 had $21,945 in prize money to award. Gautam Lillaney closed it out, earning $4,500 for the win.

Lillaney has accumulated $332,000 in career scores across 82 in-the-money finishes. The biggest payday was the $40,094 earned for a 16th-place finish in the 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $5,250 main event.

A total of 15 players made the money, including Louise Francoeur (13th). She increased her lifetime earnings to more than $723,000 with this latest deep run, which was her 202nd recorded cash.

Event #12 – $5,000 Guaranteed $200 No-Limit Hold’em

With 69 entries, the most recent $5,000 guaranteed $200 buy-in had $11,385 in prize money to pay out to the top seven finishers.

Samuel Miranda came away with the title, earning $3,928 as the last player standing.

Fifth-place finisher Christopher Marshall was at his third final table of the series, having placed second in event no. 2 and third in event no. 8. He now has more than $142,000 in career earnings after this trio of deep runs.

Photos via Resorts World Poker Room X account.

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