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$700 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin
$700 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 69 / 196
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Chip Counts
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
It would’ve been hard to have a better day than Mostafa Ashkarkhizani did today inside the Downstream Casino Resort pavilion.
Ashkarkhizani began his day by taking down the $300 One-Day event, earning more than $5,000. He then won a Flip and Go to ensure he’ll come back tomorrow for a chance at another RunGood ring. And then, to cap it off, he still found time to bag up the chip lead on Day 1a of the RunGood Golden Expedition Joplin $700 Main Event.
Ashkarkhizani finished with 413,000 as seven players made it through the event’s opening flight and secured their spots for Day 2. Ashkarkhizani won a flip with two tens against Chris Freeman’s ace-queen to burst the bubble and bring the night to a close.
Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mostafa Ashkarkhizani | United States | 413,000 | 52 |
| 2 | Joseph Ferguson | United States | 319,000 | 40 |
| 3 | Evan Ashkarkhizani | United States | 313,000 | 39 |
| 4 | Madhukar Virupakshi | United States | 310,000 | 39 |
| 5 | Shaun Gable | United States | 175,000 | 22 |
| 6 | Papa Karn | United States | 104,000 | 13 |
| 7 | Shawn Sparks | United States | 88,000 | 11 |
For most of the day, it seemed like Ashkarkhizani was going to end up as chip leader—just not Mostafa. His son, Evan, got off to a fast start and was flirting with 300,000 after just a few hours. Another tablemate aptly pointed out he was “sun-running” through the day. Evan then earned a massive bustout when he flopped a full house against Brandon Visnich as he ended up with 313,000 and in third place.
The bond between father and son goes far beyond the felt. A few years ago, Mostafa needed a kidney transplant. Evan stepped up to be his donor. “Just like any other kid would do for their parents,” Evan said today. “Just another kid that loves his dad, and I’m glad it worked out…Hopefully we can get to the final table together. That will be great.”
Joseph Ferguson separates them on the leaderboard with 319,000, while Madhukar Virupakshi is another big stack with 310,000. Shaun Gable (175,000) and Shawn Sparks (88,000) are further down the leaderboard, while Papa Karn, the father of RunGood founder Tana Karn, made it through with 104,000.
A total of 57 players came to the Downstream Casino Resort today. Among those who fell short were RGPS Tulsa champion Jesse Jones, WSOP bracelet winner Brent Gregory, Daniel “Donk” Hughes, Rodney Spriggs, and Lucas Drummonds. They’ll have to try again on a subsequent flight if they want to chase the RGPS championship ring and part of the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Day 1b begins tomorrow at 6 p.m. local time. There are also two starting flights on September 19, Day 1c at 10 a.m. and Day 1d at 3 p.m. All surviving players then return for Day 2 on September 20 at 11 a.m. The action on Day 2 picks up at the earliest finishing time from one of the four starting flights. Day 1a ended with 13 minutes remaining in Level 15 with blinds of 4,000/8,000 and an 8,000 big blind ante.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow following all the action from Day 1b, so stay tuned for more updates.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Chris Freeman raised to 27,000 under the gun before Mostafa Ashkarkhizani moved all in from middle position. Freeman called for 120,000.
Chris Freeman: A♣Q♣ 
Mostafa Ashkarkhizani: 10♣10♠
Freeman needed to win the flip to stay alive, but he couldn't connect with the J♠2♠7♦8♦9♥ board and was eliminated on the money bubble.
The remaining seven players are currently bagging up their chips for the night.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Evan Ashkarkhizani limped in from middle position, Madhukar Virupakshi raised to 28,000 in the hijack, and Ashkarkhizani called.
The flop came Q♥10♦8♥ and Virupakshi continued for 40,000. Ashkarkhizani then moved all in for 212,000.
Virupakshi turned over A♦J♣ and kept it in front of him as he considered the decision. he took a minute before folding, and Ashkarkhizani took the pot.
Virupakshi was then given a three-hand penalty for exposing his hand.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
After three limps in front of him, Chris Freeman moved all in for 68,000 in the big blind and only Mostafa Ashkarkhizani called in early position.
Chris Freeman: 7♣7♥
Mostafa Ashkarkhizani: A♥5♥
Ashkarkhizani was looking for an ace to win the pot and bring the night to an end, but Freeman's pair held up on the Q♥3♦9♦9♣6♦ board to earn him the double up.
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Joseph Ferguson raised to 18,000 in the hijack, Mostafa Ashkarkhizani three-bet to 50,000 in the cutoff, and Ferguson called.
Ashkarkhizani then bet 50,000 on the 8♠2♥2♦ flop, and Ferguson flashed ace-queen as he folded.
The next hand, Ferguson opened to 16,000 in middle position and Ashkarkhizani called in the hiajck. Madhukar Virupakshi then three-bet to 46,000 in the big blind, and only Ashkarkhizani called.
Virupakshi bet 35,000 on the Q♠8♠6♥ flop, and Ashkarkhizani called. Virupakshi then bet 50,000 on the J♣ turn, and Ashkarkhizan folded this time.
Virupakshi showed him A♠K♦ as he took the pot.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Heads-up on a flop of 4♦2♣10♠, Madhukar Virupakshi bet 12,000 from the hijack and Mostafa Ashkarkhizani called in the big blind.
Both players checked the Q♠ turn. Ashkarkhizani then led out for 20,000 on the Q♣ river, and Virupakshi called.
Ashkarkhizani showed 10♦4♣ for two pair, and Virupakshi mucked.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Evan Ashkarkhizani raised to 16,000 in the cutoff and Shaun Gable called in the big blind.
The flop came K♠7♠9♠ and Ashkarkhizani continued for 17,000. Gable then raised to 50,000, and Ashkarkhizani folded.
The next hand, dad Mostafa Ashkarkhizani and Chris Freeman went to a flop of 9♥5♦4♥ in a limped pot when Freeman bet 6,000 from the big blind. Ashkarkhizani called in early position.
Ashkarkhizani checked out of turn on the J♠ turn, and Freeman then bet 18,000. Ashkarhizani called and checked again on the A♣ river.
"Are you checking out of turn on purpose? You've done it twice now," Freeman said before betting 30,000, and Ashkarkhizani quickly called.
Ashkarkhizani showed A♥K♥ for top pair, and Freeman mucked.
