‘Run It Up’ Twice as Loren Klein Reclaims Reno Title with $46K Win at Peppermill

Two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Loren Klein topped a field of 256 entries las October to win the Run It Up Reno $600 Main Event for $33,970. He returned to the Peppermill Hotel Casino this past weekend to defend his title, and successfully did so against 424 entries.

Chasing Loren Klein

Klein began Day 2 as the overall chip leader, and he maintained a big stack throughout. He eventually made it to three-handed play with a big chip lead over Andrew Cha and Patrick Tardif. After Tardif fell in third place, it only took a few hands for Klein to eliminate Cha.

In the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 27 (40k/80k/10k), Cha moved all in for 800,000 holding K♥Q♣, and Klein called with 9♥7♦. The 7♠6♦Q♠ flop paired both, but Cha’s ladies were out in front. However, the running 8♣ turn and 5♦ river gave Klein a straight and the win.

Prior to the win, Klein had $1,642,014 in live tournament earnings, including a career-high $552,713 for finishing second to Brandon Shack-Harris in the 2016 WSOP $10,000 PLO8 Championship. Three days before that, he won his first bracelet in a $1,500 Mixed NLHE/PLO event for $241,427. He won his second bracelet this past summer in a $1,500 PLO for $231,483.

Others to cash the Run It Up Reno Main Event short of the final table included Leo Wolpert (10th for $3,090), Jason Somerville (18th for $1,810), Kevin Gerhart (25th for $1,470), Samantha Abernathy (37th for $1,250), and Jesse Sylvia (43rd for $1,170).

Final Table Results
1 Loren Klein $46,300
2 Andrew Cha $31,700
3 Patrick Tardif $21,840
4 Jordan Spurlin $15,180
5 Timothy Burt $10,660
6 Stephen Kujubu $7,590
7 Jed Hoffman $5,500
8 Jeffrey Hetherington $4,080
9 Alex Epstein $3,090

Reno Reality Survivors

In addition to the Main Event, Run It Up Reno consisted of a festival of prelims.

“The opportunity to play with my favorite streamers, Survivor celebs, and friends always becomes a priority in my schedule. My favorite event was the Karaoke Night that had over 150 Run It Up warriors drinking, singing, and hanging out.”

Among those to participate were reality TV Survivor stars Tyson Apostol, Adam Klein, Stephen Fishbach, and Rob Cesternino. Both Apostol and Klein previously won $1 million for taking down their respective seasons of Survivor: Blood vs. Water and Survivor: Gen X vs. Millennials.

One of the most exciting stories to rise out of the prelims was Pete Mall’s winning two titles.

First, out of 110 entries, he made it to heads-up play in the $1,100 Thursday Thrilla against Apostol, who held a 4-1 chip lead. Mall battled back for the victory, which came with $17,655 in prize money and a Main Event seat. Apostol earned $11,555 for finishing in second place, while PokerStars Pro and Twitch streamer Jeff Gross finished third for $7,735.

But Mall didn’t stop there, as the next day he won his second title in $125 Stud/Omaha 8 for $2,660. It’s also worth noting he finished fifth in the $125 Partner Event alongside Eric Goldstein. That meant Mall, who had only been in Reno two days, played three tournaments, won two of them, and final tabled the other.

Here’s a look at all those who won titles at the most recent running of Run It Up Reno:

Scott Hoffer won $235 Kickoff Event for $6,976
Pete Mall won the $1,100 Thursday Thrilla for $17,655
Alex Lavinthal won $125 HORSE for $2,352
Rian Mullins won $125 6-Max Turbo for $2,565
Jordan Spurlin won $125 PLO/5-Card PLO for $2,335
Pete Mall won $125 Stud/Omaha 8 for $2,660
Michal Coombs won $125 All-In or Fold for $3,460
Patrick Preston & Chris Linder won $125 Partner Event for $2,580
Steve Dietrich won $125 NLHE Win the Button for $4,200
Jimmy Cappucci won $150 6-Max PLO Knockout for $2,690
Brett Gordon won $235 6-Max 8-Game for $4,960
Mitchell Cogert won $235 NLHE Knockout for $5,500
Kim Stone won $340 6-Max N.O.R.S.E. for $4,530

Run It Up will return to the Peppermill in Reno in March.