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$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Houston
$600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 4 / 45
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
3
620,000
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
It was the opening flight of the 2026 RunGood Golden Expedition Houston $600 Main Event and it took until the wee hours of the morning for the final four players to bag chips on Day 1a. The starting flight attracted only 45 players and paid out five places, with just four players advancing to Day 2 on Sunday.
Despite admitting to making a couple of errors throughout the day, RGPS ambassador Alexandra Loveless dominated the day en route to bagging a massive stack of 1,035,000 chips. It was a key two-outer on the river that led to Loveless stacking the majority of the chips in play with just seven players remaining.
The other three players advancing to Day 2 include pro-poker player Hayden Fortini (820,000), the young 18-year-old Grant Matatall (620,000) who bagged chips for the first time ever, and Russell Koch (220,000) who was able to ride out the short stack for the majority of the night.
End of Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandra Loveless | United States | 1,035,000 | 52 |
| 2 | Hayden Fortini | United States | 820,000 | 41 |
| 3 | Grant Matatall | United States | 620,000 | 31 |
| 4 | Russell Koch | United States | 220,000 | 11 |
Day 1a Action
The day got off to a slow start with just five players in their seats when the tournament clock was started. Eventually, a maximum of three tables were opened throughout the night which brought in a total of 45 entries. Many of those came from re-entries, including Loveless who was forced to hit up the registration desk for a second bullet.
Not everyone was as fortunate to run up a big stack. The most notable name in the field belonged to Gabriel Andrade who has over $8.2 million in career earnings. The three entries that he fired off tonight was not enough to earn him a deep run but there will still be plenty of opportunities in the coming days.
The action gets back underway for Day 1b in just a few short hours, with that starting flight taking place at 12 p.m. local time.
Main Event Schedule
| Date | Flight | Start Time | Coverage Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15 | Day 1a | 6 p.m. | PokerNews live updates |
| October 16 | Day 1b | 12 p.m. | PokerNews live updates |
| - | Day 1c | 6 p.m. | RGPS App results |
| October 17 | Day 1d | 11 a.m. | PokerNews live updates |
| - | Day 1e | 6 p.m. | RGPS App results |
| October 18 | Day 1f (Turbo) | 9 a.m. | RGPS App results |
| - | Day 2 | 2 p.m. | PokerNews live updates |
The PokerNews live reporting team will be at Champions Club Texas throughout the weekend to bring you live updates from select starting flights along with championship Sunday.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Dhillon Reddy shoved all in for the third time in one orbit, stating that he wanted to double up or take home the min-cash. This time, it was for 210,000 and Grant Matatall called on the button. The blinds got out of the way and the two hands were tabled.
Dhillon Reddy: A♥6♥[alllin]
Grant Matatall: A♠9♠
The flop came 8♦6♦4♣ and Reddy took the lead with a pair of sixes. The 7♦ on the turn gave Matatall some outs and the 10♠ on the river made him a straight, sending Reddy home with the $920 min-cash.
A recap of the day's action and chip counts of the remaining four players will be posted shortly.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Franco Zaplana was down to his last 50,000 chips and moved all in from the hijack. Hayden Fortini and Grant Matatall called from the blinds as the dealer fanned the flop of Q♠Q♣2♠. The side pot was checked through to the A♣ turn and the 7♦ river.
Fortini finally dropped in a bet and Matatall instantly folded. Zaplana turned over Q♥5♦ for trip queens but his kicker was no good against the Q♦10♥ of Fortini.
The remaining five players are each guaranteed $920, with the final four players advancing to Day 2 on Sunday.
Level: 18
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
After just eliminating Kimberly Stone a couple of hands earlier, Hayden Fortini raised to 35,000 on the button. Grant Matatall reraised to 85,000 out of the small blind and Fortini called.
The flop came K♣9♦3♦ and Matatall led out with a bet of 35,000. Fortini called and the 10♦ rolled off on the turn. Matatall fired out another small bet of 40,000 and Fortini still called.
The river was the 8♠ and both players tapped the table. Matatall tabled A♦10♣ but Fortini held K♥Q♦ for the better pair to scoop the pot.
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Franco Zaplana raised to 40,000 in early position and Grant Matatall shipped all in for 265,000 in the big blind. Zaplana snapped him off and the cards were on their backs.
Grant Matatall: A♣K♣
Franco Zaplana: A♥Q♥
The flop came K♦8♦3♦ and Matatall secured his dominant position with a pair of kings. The 10♠ on the turn gave Zaplana some outs but the A♠ on the river was not one of them.
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Andrew Vodinh raised to 30,000 on the button and Alexandra Loveless three-bet to 120,000 out of the big blind. Vodinh four-bet jammed all in for 330,000 and Loveless asked for a count before making the call.
Andrew Vodinh: K♥K♣
Alexandra Loveless: A♥Q♦
Vodinh was in a strong position to double up and the 5♠5♥3♦ flop left it that way. The 3♠ on the turn changed nothing but it was the A♦ on the river that vaulted Loveless into the lead and sent Vodinh home empty-handed.
Level: 17
Blinds: 10,000/15,000
Ante: 15,000
