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$600 NLH Opener
Day 2 Completed
2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open
$600 NLH Opener
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$723,540
Total Entries
1,508
Level
35
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
153
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1,508
Filter
Level 35
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
The opening event of the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open crowned a champion at MGM National Harbor in Maryland as longtime poker player Ivan Tomic defeated heads-up opponent Atharv Kumar to win the trophy and $156,190
The $600 NLH Opener drew 1,508 runners for a prize pool of $723,540 that smashed the half-million guarantee. It seemed like Justin Arnwine's event to win as the regional crusher held onto the chip lead for most of Day 2 and at the final table.
But Arnwine fell in fourth place at the hands of Phillip Luy, who himself went out in third place before a brief heads-up battle that saw Tomic besting Kumar for the title.
"It's hard to describe (what I'm feeling)," Tomic told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "I cannot be more thrilled. Thrilled, exhausted. My back, my legs, my mind hurts."
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Tomic | United States | $156,190 |
| 2 | Atharv Kumar | United States | $89,160 |
| 3 | Phillip Luy | United States | $52,065 |
| 4 | Justin Arnwine | United States | $36,157 |
| 5 | Nicholas Wang | United States | $26,757 |
| 6 | Matt Riebel | United States | $20,972 |
| 7 | Valentin Lita | United States | $15,910 |
| 8 | Jonathan Butler | United States | $12,295 |
| 9 | Stacy Okutani | United States | $10,125 |
Life of Poker Pays Off
Tomic jokingly refered to himself as an on-and-off "semi-pro," noting that he has been playing poker recreationally for two decades after, like many players, discovering the game during the Poker Boom.
"Like everybody else, watching Poker After Dark," he said.
The six-figure score is a career highlight for Tomic. He thanked "the poker gods" and even gave a shoutout to MGM National Harbor for being a "great place to be."
"Thank you guys for opening MGM, because I got tired of driving to Charlestown."
Day 2 Action
The day started with 153 players, all of whom were in the money after seven separate money bubbles in Day 1 flights.
The field dwindled down to the final few tables with the eliminations of players like Day 1a chip leader Kyle Kishonsh (82nd - $1,374), Day 1f chip leader Jeffrey Mason (88th - $1,374), Jaka Coaching student Chris Kojack (95th - $1,374),
Before the final table could form, Dominic Lake took a tough beat to at the hands of the eventual champion. Lake ran jacks into queens but had temporary relief by turning a jack, but that was before a rivered straight on behalf of Tomic sent him packing in 12th place. Tomic, meanwhile, rode the momentum all the way to victory.
Arnwine, the most accomplished player at the final table with over $2 million in live earnings, was in control for most of Day 2. But the Hello Kitty enthusiast entered a death vortex during four-handed play, doubling up Luy twice before falling at the hands of Kumar.
Luy briefly had the three-handed chip lead before running into Tomic's aces and falling in third place shortly after. Heads-up play lasted less than ten minutes as Kumar's jack-ten couldn't improve against Tomic's ace-high.
That wraps up PokerNews coverage of the $600 Opener, but we will be around all series to provide coverage of the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open.
Level 35
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Ivan Tomic is the winner of the $600 Opener at the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open as he defeated runner-up Atharv Kumar to win the trophy and $156,190.
Stay tuned for a full recap and winner's interview.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Tomic | United States | $156,190 |
| 2 | Atharv Kumar | United States | $89,160 |
| 3 | Phillip Luy | United States | $52,065 |
| 4 | Justin Arnwine | United States | $36,157 |
| 5 | Nicholas Wang | United States | $26,757 |
| 6 | Matt Riebel | United States | $20,972 |
| 7 | Valentin Lita | United States | $15,910 |
| 8 | Jonathan Butler | United States | $12,295 |
| 9 | Stacy Okutani | United States | $10,125 |
Level 35
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Atharv Kumar was all in for around 14,000,000 against Ivan Tomic.
Atharv Kumar: J♠10♦ 
Ivan Tomic: A♦4♥
Kumar couldn't pull ahead as the board ran out 3♥3♠6♥Q♥A♥ to mark his elimination in second place for $89,160.
Level 35
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Phillip Luy jammed on the button for around 6,000,000 and Ivan Tomic called in the small blind.
Phillip Luy: K♥2♥
Ivan Tomic: A♠A♥
Luy had run into kings and couldn't crack aces as the board ran out K♠J♥J♣6♣9♣ to mark his elimination in third place for $52,065.
Level 35
: 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
In a heads-up pot on a flop of 3♥3♣10♣, Phillip Luy checked in the big blind and Ivan Tomic bet 2,300,000 on the button. Luy check-jammed a ll in and Tomic called.
Ivan Tomic: K♣K♥
Phillip Luy: 7♣6♣
Tomic was ahead but needed to dodge a club and did so as the board finished out A♠J♦ to earn him a double.
"I think I gambled there," Luy said regretfully.
Level: 35
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Justin Arnwine moved all in after becoming the short stack and was called by Atharv Kumar.
Atharv Kumar: 9♥9♦
Justin Arnwine: Q♣10♣
Kumar stayed ahead with nines as the board ran out 4♥3♠J♣6♦2♥. Just like that, Arnwine went from chip leader to out in fourth place in three hands.
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
For the first time at the final table, Justin Arnwine is no longer the chip leader.
Phillip Luy jammed on the button for 11,500,000 and Arnwine called in the small blind.
Phillip Luy: J♥J♣
Justin Arnwine: A♥10♠
Luy's jacks stayed ahead for another double through Arnwine as the board ran out 10♦4♥Q♦3♠7♦.
"This is crazy," Arnwine said.
Level 34
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Phillip Luy open-jammed for around 6,000,000 in the small blind and was called by Justin Arnwine in the big blind.
Phillip Luy: K♠J♦
Justin Arnwine: Q♠Q♦
Luy needed a king to stay alive and got it as the board ran out J♣A♥A♣9♦K♥ to give him the winner.
"I'm so lucky!" Luy cheered.
