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Las Vegas, Nevada (October 7, 2025) - Going the distance at his “home casino”, German poker player Rayo Kniep won the Thunder Valley WSOP Circuit Main Event, adding $185,458 to an already impressive seven-figure career tournament winnings total.

Defeating Benjamin Prius heads-up at the final table with pocket aces, Kniep secured his second WSOP Circuit ring and his first WSOP Circuit Main Event title, all from the comfort of one of his favorite poker rooms.

Like all WSOP Circuit ring winners at Thunder Valley, Kniep punches his ticket to WSOP Paradise 2025, receiving free entry to the $5 million guaranteed WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty, plus a package to fund his stay at Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas.

Photo courtesy of Poker.Org

Thunder Valley $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table Results:

1st place: Rayo Kniep - $185,458
2nd place: Benjamin Prius - $123,603
3rd place: Jennifer Molan - $85,666
4th place: Christopher Elkins - $60,439
5th place: Zichuan Huang - $60,439
6th place: Sarkins Khackatryan - $31,776
7th place: Scott Stewart - $23,696
8th place: Derric Haynie - $18,013
9th place: Tony Swift - $13,962

Notable wins from Thunder Valley WSOP Circuit series

Kevin Bass wins The Opener and the second biggest prize of the series

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Claiming the first WSOP Circuit ring of the series and the biggest first-place prize after the Main Event, Marysville, California’s Kevin Bass took down the $400 No-Limit Hold’em The Opener at Thunder Valley to take home $58,837 and his first WSOP Circuit ring.

Defeating Charles Varner heads-up, Bass punched his ticket to WSOP Paradise 2025, and will have a shot at turning his $58,000 win into even more in the WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty.

Jarod Minghini secures 7th WSOP Circuit ring in Event 7

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Finishing on top in Event #7: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha at Thunder Valley, WSOP Circuit Main Event champion Jarod Minghini extended his WSOP Circuit ring total to seven.

Defeating Joshua Pedretti heads-up at a talented final table that included WSOP bracelet winner Nick Pupillo, Minghini received $15,242 to help fund his buy-ins at WSOP Paradise 2025.

Noel Rodriguez wins first WSOP Circuit ring in $3,500 NLH High Roller

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Not flinching at the high stakes, Noel Rodriguez finished on top of the podium in the $3,500 No-Limit High Roller event at Thunder Valley, winning $53,076 and his first WSOP Circuit ring.

Besting two-time WSOP bracelet winner Tyler Patterson heads-up, Rodriguez adds to an impressive career live tournament winnings total that now stands at over $3.7 million (statistic courtesy of The Hendon Mob).

Every WSOP Circuit ring winner at Thunder Valley

Each WSOP Circuit ring winner from Thunder Valley receives free entry to the $2,750 buy-in WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty ($5M guaranteed prize pool) taking place at WSOP Paradise 2025 December 4-6, 2025. Along with free entry to the WSOP Circuit Championship, ring winners also receive a hotel package to fund their stay at the host property: Atlantis Paradise.

Event #1: $400 NLH The Opener - Kevin Bass - $58,837
Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Michael Sy - $19,140
Event #3: $600 Omaha 8 - David Tarbet - $13,850
Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack - Robert Seller - $31,884
Event #5: $600 HORSE - Frankie O’dell - $12,260
Event #6: $600 2-7 Triple Draw - Randall Blankenship - $10,440
Event #7: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha - Jarod Minghini - $15,242
Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors Event - Rene Portugal - $18,591
Event #9: $1,700 NLH WSOP Circuit Main Event - Rayo Kniep - $185,458
Event #10: $400 NLH Thirty Thirty - Michael Duran - $13,603
Event #11: $600 Big O - Joseph Genova - $9,140
Event #12: $3,250 WSOP Circuit High Roller - Pedro Rodriguez - $53,076
Event #13: $400 NLH Series Finale - Peter Tran - $10,193