Sacramento poker legend JC Tran made his presence known once again at the Thunder Valley Resort Casino as he defended his home turf by outlasting 1,086 entries to win the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale title for the first time in his accomplished career, as he took home the biggest piece of the $1,140,300 prize pool by taking home the top prize of $163,700.
Tran has done it all in his poker career. He’s had a career most can only dream of, but he told PokerNews that his relationship with poker has changed over the years. Tran is no longer interested in grinding from stop to stop, traveling the world as he once did. His focus in life has been on his kids and family.
“I know you can’t be a good father when you’re not with your kids,” said Tran as he reflected on where poker fits within his outlook on life. “I feel like I don’t want to travel far, but maybe play a few more events here and there, but at the same time, I still want to stay home and be a father. I mean, I coached my son’s basketball team for many seasons, and that kept me busy, and I never thought of poker when I was doing that.”
Tran went on to say about his experience coaching his son in a recreational basketball league.
“We won a championship at Golden One Center with my group of kids, and that felt better than some of the tournaments I’ve won, even though it was a small rec league,” said Tran. “I coached them for many years, and to go and win the championship was priceless. Things like that matter to me in life now instead of when’s the next tournament.”
His recent years may have been dominated by scheming how to defend against opponents or what offensive plays to run in youth basketball, but Tran certainly hasn’t lost his touch on the felt despite a newfound perspective.
RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JC Tran | United States | $163,700 |
| 2 | Rajat Paliwal | United States | $109,000 |
| 3 | Ricardo Bibat | United States | $81,000 |
| 4 | Jason Smith (AZ) | United States | $61,000 |
| 5 | Michael Rappaport | United States | $46,000 |
| 6 | Yotam Shmuelov | United States | $35,000 |
| 7 | Romeo Velasquez | United States | $27,000 |
| 8 | Gene Davenport | United States | $20,900 |
| 9 | Franklin Chavez | United States | $16,400 |
Tran entered the day with over 50 big blinds, and he put them to good use staying above water as the day went on. Tran’s first big splash took place when he busted Samuel Panzica when Tran got there on the turn to hit two pair and crack Panzica’s pocket tens.
Tran would have some hiccups when he doubled up Randy Gil, but Tran would later go on to bust Michael Cervantes to head back in the right direction.
Tran entered the final table third in chips behind future heads-up opponent Rajat Paliwal and Ricardo Bibat.
Tran would score another knockout when he eliminated Romeo Velasquez after he binked a seven on the turn.
In perhaps one of the most sensational hands of the tournament, Tran was saved from ruin when he managed to hit quads against Jason Smith after getting it in preflop with an inferior pocket pair. Tran finished the job against Smith when he eliminated Smith in fourth place. Despite his success, Tran entered the final three second in chips behind Paliwal, so his ascension to a title was far from a sure thing.
Tran took a nearly two-to-one chip lead into the heads-up battle against Paliwal when he dispatched Ricardo Bibat in third place.
The heads-up match proved to be far from a layup, as Paliwal battled with Tran in a match that lasted over two and a half hours. The two would swap chip leads and deal blow after blow to one another. Tran fell to as low as 15 big blinds when he managed to get a double-up, where his ace high held to get back in the match.
This proved to be a critical turning point as a little over ten minutes later, Tran would deal a big blow to Paliwal that left his opponent on fumes.
Tran would put the finishing touches on his championship run when Paliwal got it in with pocket nines to Tran’s pocket kings as Tran eliminated Paliwal once and for all.
“I sensed a little frustration. For his second year playing, he played well. I haven’t played in a while, so I felt a little rusty heads up. I’ve never played with him before, but I started having a better feel of how he played,” said Tran.
Tran was quick to remember that he was the beneficiary of some good spots at the final table and when he needed it most.
“I’ve got to admit. I know I ran pretty well at the final table,” he said, reflecting on the win.
This wraps up coverage of the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Finale $1,200 Million Dollar Main Event. Check back here at PokerNews for all your poker coverage needs.
