Lead in Hand and Familiar Territory Ahead
When Maksim Tatarintsev reached the final table of the RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix San Diego Main Event with the chip lead, the scene felt strikingly familiar. One year after lifting the Main Event trophy at Jamul Casino Resort, he found himself steering the tournament once again and finished off a rare repeat win. The $600 event drew 348 entries and generated a prize pool of 180,960 dollars, with Tatarintsev collecting 38,890 dollars for first place.
“I’m really happy about it, of course,” he told PokerNews. “I was just playing how I know how to play.”
Day 2 Push Sets the Stage
His run took shape late on Day 2. Several eliminations helped clear the path, including a hand in which his pocket kings held against Nan Chen to secure the lead he carried forward. The confidence was obvious in his post tournament comments. “I just felt confident, and the stack helped me in case I made a mistake,” he said.
Forty one players returned for Day 2. Gabriel Habbaba applied steady pressure and moved up the counts, while flight leaders Corey Paggeot and Barbara Lanese both remained deep before finishing 19th and 6th respectively.
A Turning Point at the Final Table
The final table swung dramatically in Tatarintsev’s direction early. Holding pocket eights in a three way all in, he watched them run out a flush against the aces of Jeff Burquist and the overcards of Henry Trinidad. The pot gave him nearly half the chips in play and shifted the table dynamic entirely.
From there he never surrendered control. He eliminated Habbaba in third place, then closed out the tournament against Zach Kelley during heads up play to lock up his second RGPS Main Event title at Jamul Casino.
Another Trophy and a Look Ahead
Tatarintsev, a former international online pro who has been leaning more toward live events since his 2024 win, wrapped up the victory with a nod to his supporters. “I want to thank my support in my friends and family all over the world,” he said.
2025 RGPS Grand Prix San Diego Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maksim Tatarintsev | United States | 38,890 |
| 2 | Zach Kelley | United States | 27,250 |
| 3 | Gabriel Habbaba | United States | 17,520 |
| 4 | William Wilson | United States | 11,229 |
| 5 | Jose Medina | Mexico | 8,659 |
| 6 | Barbara Lanese | United States | 7,155 |
| 7 | Bradley Miller | United States | 6,017 |
| 8 | Jeff Burquist | United States | 4,940 |
| 9 | Henry Trinidad | United States | 3,887 |
