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$700 Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin
$700 Main Event
Day: 1b
Players Left 69 / 196
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
3
377,000
6
159,000
9
103,000
10
99,000
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
In a close race to the finish line, Trent Wilson ended up edging out Kevin Elwood to assume the overall chip lead after Day 1b of the RunGood Poker Series Golden Expedition Joplin $700 Main Event.
Wilson and Elwood both bagged up more than half a million, Wilson ending up with 521,000 and Elwood 511,000. Wilson is no stranger to success on the RGPS, with 11 Main Event cashes in the last four years. He just missed out on the final table in Tulsa back in January, but he’ll be in pole position to make an even deeper run when players return for Day 2.
Day 1b Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent Wilson | United States | 521,000 |
| 2 | Kevin Elwood | United States | 511,000 |
| 3 | James Beeler | United States | 377,000 |
| 4 | Josh Hawkins | United States | 302,000 |
| 5 | Allan Lee | United States | 201,000 |
| 6 | Samuel Courtois | United States | 159,000 |
| 7 | Kenneth Wright | United States | 136,000 |
| 8 | Nicholas Hebert | United States | 121,000 |
| 9 | Matt Perlman | United States | 103,000 |
| 10 | Derald Neugebauer | United States | 99,000 |
Elwood began his ascent up the leaderboard when he turned trips to crack John Roberts’ aces and double up. He then flopped top pair and dodged Tim Black’s flush draw to earn the knockout.
A total of ten players survived the event’s second opening flight. James Beeler finished in third place with 377,000 after earning a massive double up near the bubble when his fives held up against Nicholas Hebert’s flush draw. Josh Hawkins brought the night to an end in style, flopping quads to bust Roberts on the bubble as he moved up to 302,000. Hebert, who just missed the money in yesterday’s opening flight, managed to make it through this time with 121,000.
With 84 players coming to the Downstream Casino Resort pavilion today, not everyone was fortunate enough to earn a spot on Day 2. Among those to bust today were RunGood ambassador Jeff Copeland, Tulsa champion Jesse Jones, and Toran Tate. They’ll have to try again tomorrow if they want to make a run at the championship ring.
The total field stands at 141 entries through two starting flights. There are still two more flights to come tomorrow as the field continues to build up to the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. Day 1c begins at 10 a.m., while Day 1d takes place at 3 p.m. All surviving players then return for Day 2 at 11 a.m. on September 20 to play down to a champion. The action on Day 2 picks up at the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights. Day 1b went into Level 16 today, surpassing yesterday’s end time.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow to follow the last two starting flights, so stay tuned for live updates.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
John Roberts moved all in for 112,000 in the cutoff and Josh Hawkins put him at risk in the small blind.
John Roberts: K♣Q♦ 
Josh Hawkins: 9♦9♥
Roberts wasn't racing for long, as the 9♣9♠10♠ flop gave Hawkins quads. The rest of the board ran out Q♣10♥, and Roberts was eliminated on the money bubble.
The remaining ten players are currently bagging up their chips for the night.
Level: 16
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 10,000
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Action folded to Matt Perlman who moved all in from the small blind, and Allan Lee snap-called for 98,000 in the big blind.
Allan Lee: K♥K♠
Matt Perlman: A♥7♦
Lee had woken up with two kings and improved to top set on the K♦8♣10♥ flop. Perlman picked up a straight draw on the Q♣ turn, but the Q♠ river improved Lee to a full house to earn the double up.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Kevin Elwood raised to 16,000 under the gun and was called by John Roberts in the cutoff and Samuel Courtois on the button. Trent Wilson then three-bet to 45,000 in the big blind, and Elwood and Roberts called.
Wilson bet 80,000 on the K♣3♠J♥ flop, and both opponents quickly folded.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Evan Freeman moved all in for 45,000 in the cutoff, Josh Hawkins reshoved on the button, and the rest of the table folded.
Evan Freeman: K♦J♥
Josh Hawkins: K♠10♦
Freeman had Hawkins dominated and remained ahead on the 7♣2♥3♥6♦ board, but Hawkins spiked the 10♥ on the river to win the pot and send Freeman to the rail.
With 11 players remaining, action is going hand-for-hand until there is one more elimination.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
James Beeler raised to 20,000 under the gun and Nicholas Hebert called in the small blind.
Beeler bet 25,000 on the Q♣Q♦4♠ flop and Hebert then raised to 50,000. Beeler called.
Hebert bet another 50,000 on the 2♦ turn, and Beeler moved all in for 106,000. Hebert snap-called.
Beeler let out a sigh as he turned over 5♣5♥, but he found himself ahead as Hebert had A♦J♦ for a flush draw. "I'm in better shape than I thought," Beeler said, and he dodged the 10♠ river to secure the double.
"I didn't think you would call. That's a gutsy call," Hebert told him.
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
