2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open

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Local Crusher Kenya Jackson Wins $300 Womens Event for $5,444

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Kenya Jackson
Kenya Jackson

Kenya Jackson is the champion of the $300 Womens Event for $5,444 after defeating heads-up opponent Eva Ghirmai, who earned $3,198 for her runner-up finish.

Jackson, a local crusher of this casino, already had ten victories at MGM National Harbor and adds to $90,191 in Hendon Mob earnings.

The Womens Event drew 63 runners for a prize pool of $15,120, far surpassing the $10,000 guarantee. It took place in the front of the poker room and had a final table that included Jennifer Oar (3rd - $2,003), Jinkie Basilio (4th - $1,361) and Kerry Kriener (5th -$1,058).

Ladies FT
Ladies FT

$300 Womens Event Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Kenya Jackson$5,444
2Eva Ghirmai$3,198
3Jennifer Oar$2,003
4Jinkie Basilio$1,361
5Kerry Kriener$1,058
6Amy Ming$832
7Linda Swears$680
8Elena Currence$544

Another player at the final table, one wearing purple head to toe, was seventh-place finisher Linda Swears, who PokerNews spoke to earlier in the series about her card protector with a special meaning.

Tags: Amy MingElena CurrenceEva GhirmaiJennifer OarKenya JacksonKerry KrienerLinda Swears

Down to Seven in $300 Womens Event

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Linda Swears
Linda Swears

The $300 Womens Event is down to its final seventh players after a few eliminations that saw the bubble burst.

After the bubble, Elena Currence bowed out in eighth place for $544 before Linda Swears fell in seventh place for $680. Swears has had her card protector with her all series and it propeled her to a final table finish tonight.

Here are the Womens Event results so far:

PlacePlayerPrize
1 $5,444
2 $3,198
3 $2,003
4 $1,361
5 $1,058
6 $832
7Linda Swears$680
8Elena Currence544

Tags: Elena CurrenceLinda Swears

Linda Swears Isn't Playing Alone

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Linda Swears
Linda Swears
This was originally published on August 11, 2026.

There were no Tag Team events yesterday, but Linda Swears wasn't playing alone.

Swears lost her boyfriend, fellow poker player Jordan Fishman, last Fall. The retired professor from Massachusetts had $184,433 in poker tournament earnings, highlighted by a victory in the Eastern Poker Open High Roller for $45,000.

Swears, who herself has $223,825 in earnings, was on the rail for that victory, and Fishman credited her with helping him improve his game.

“She had a more conservative style, and I was more aggressive," he said after the April 2025 victory. "We meshed our games together. Without her, it wouldn’t be as much fun.”

"That was a moment for him," remembered Swears.

Jordan Fishman and Linda Swears
Jordan Fishman and Linda Swears

Fishman passed away last October after suffering an unexpected cardiac event. Less than a year later, Swears is playing in his honor at the Potomac Summer Poker Open. In yesterday's $500 Seniors event, she played with a coin card protector printed with an image of her late partner and the words "Always loved, forever with me."

Swears has already felt Fishman's presence. When PokerNews pulled her away from the table, she had just been dealt pocket queens.

"And he always called me his queen. So he's here. He's here with me all the time."

Swears is back and grinding in Day 1a of the $500 Monumental stack, and she still has her special card protector in front of her.

Linda Swears has a special card protector with her
Linda Swears has a special card protector with her

Tags: Jordan FishmanLinda Swears

Brutal Runner-Runner Bad Beat Delivered in Maryland

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Kyle Dishongh
Kyle Dishongh

One of the grossest runouts of the summer just took place deep in a poker tournament at Maryland's MGM National Harbor.

The hand between Linda Swears and Kyle Dishongh took place with just 18 players remaining in the $100,000 Monumental Stack at the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open.

Swears flopped a set to give Dishongh only a 5% chance of winning the hand, but the dealer had other plans.

Grossest Runout of the Series?

Here's the hand as reported by PokerNews live reporter David Salituro:

Valentin Lita raised to 210,000 under the gun and Linda Swears three-bet to 320,000 on the button. Kyle Dishongh then moved all in for 760,000 in the small blind, and only Swears called.

Kyle Dishongh: A♦9♠ All in
Linda Swears: 7♥7♦

Dishongh hit top pair on the A♣3♠7♠ flop, but Swears spiked a set to leave Dishongh drawing thin. He picked up some hope on the 9♥ turn, while the A♠ fell on the river to give him a full house and the miracle double up.

Swears Back in Action

Linda Swears
Linda Swears

Swears quickly recovered by winning a flip to eliminate Day 1a chip leader Matthew Faust. She now leads the remaining 13 players with a stack of 5,500,000.

Get Live Updates

Tags: Kyle DishonghLinda SwearsMatthew FaustValentin Lita

Down to Three Tables in $500 Monumental Stack

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
James Freeman
James Freeman

The $100,000 guaranteed $500 Monumental Stack has reached its final three tables.

Those still in contention include current chip leader James Freeman, Day 1a chip leader Matthew Faust, Day 1b chip leader Shahab Shirazi and Linda Swears with her sentimental card protector.

Follow PokerNews' live updates of the event here.

Tags: James FreemanLinda SwearsMatthew FaustShahab Shirazi

Linda Swears and Her Card Protector Are Running Deep

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Linda Swears
Linda Swears

Linda Swears has been playing the Potomac Summer Poker Open with a special card protector in front of her, one dedicated to her late boyfriend and fellow poker player Jordan Fishman.

"He's here with me all the time," Swears told PokerNews earlier in the series.

The card protector seems to be a good luck charm for Swears, who is among the 25 players remaining in Day 2 of the $500 Monumental Stack. Her stack received a big boost earlier today as she turned a set to crack the queens of Joshua Mischel, as captured by PokerNews live reporter David Salituro.

Let's see if Swears can take down the event for $36,428 and get a winner's photo with her special card protector.

Linda Swears has a special card protector with her
Linda Swears has a special card protector with her

Tags: Jordan FishmanJoshua MischelLinda Swears

Matthew Faust Leads Final 23 in Day 1a of $100k GTD $500 Monumental Stack

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Matthew Faust
Matthew Faust

The first flight of one of the biggest events of the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open wrapped up relatively early on Tuesday as 23 players found bags. Leading the way into Thurday's Day 2 in the $500 Monumental Stack is Matthew Faust with a stack of 1,840,000.

Faust is trailed by big stacks including Kyle Dishongh (1,430,000), Renato Labadan (1,385,000) and James D. Mason (1,085,000).

The remaining field also includes $500 Opener final tablist Valentine Lita, family man Clint Houck and Linda Swears, who has played with a special card protector throughout the series.

Clint Houck
Clint Houck

The 23 remaining players will join the survivor's of tomorrow's Day 1b flight on Day 2 on Thursday.

$500 Monumental Stack Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip Count
1Matthew FaustUnited States1,840,000
2Kyle DishonghUnited States1,430,000
3Renato LabadanUnited States1,385,000
4James D. MasonUnited States1,085,000
5Dan NguyenUnited States1,055,000
6Alphonso JohnsonUnited States1,025,000
7James FreemanUnited States955,000
8Valentine LitaUnited States940,000
9Jim DikeUnited States850,000
10Al MotherUnited States835,000
Click Here for a Full List of Chip Counts

Tags: Al MotherAlphonso JohnsonClint HouckDan NguyenJames DJames FreemanJim DikeKyle DishonghLinda SwearsMatthew FaustRenato Labadan

Linda Swears Isn't Playing Alone

Connor Richards
Connor Richards
Linda Swears
Linda Swears

There were no Tag Team events yesterday, but Linda Swears wasn't playing alone.

Swears lost her boyfriend, fellow poker player Jordan Fishman, last Fall. The retired professor from Massachusetts had $184,433 in poker tournament earnings, highlighted by a victory in the Eastern Poker Open High Roller for $45,000.

Swears, who herself has $223,825 in earnings, was on the rail for that victory, and Fishman credited her with helping him improve his game.

“She had a more conservative style, and I was more aggressive," he said after the April 2025 victory. "We meshed our games together. Without her, it wouldn’t be as much fun.”

"That was a moment for him," remembered Swears.

Jordan Fishman and Linda Swears
Jordan Fishman and Linda Swears

Fishman passed away last October after suffering an unexpected cardiac event. Less than a year later, Swears is playing in his honor at the Potomac Summer Poker Open. In yesterday's $500 Seniors event, she played with a coin card protector printed with an image of her late partner and the words "Always loved, forever with me."

Swears has already felt Fishman's presence. When PokerNews pulled her away from the table, she had just been dealt pocket queens.

"And he always called me his queen. So he's here. He's here with me all the time."

Swears is back and grinding in Day 1a of the $500 Monumental stack, and she still has her special card protector in front of her.

Linda Swears has a special card protector with her
Linda Swears has a special card protector with her

Tags: Jordan FishmanLinda Swears