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Level: 1
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin
$700 Main Event
Day: 1b
Players Left 85 / 216
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
3
377,000
6
159,000
9
103,000
10
99,000
The Downstream Casino Resort pavilion will play host to the second group of hopefuls today when Day 1b of the RunGood Poker Series Golden Expedition $700 Joplin Main Event begins at 6 p.m. local time.
The first flight yesterday saw 57 players take their shot at the championship ring. A total of seven players secured their spots for Day 2, including the father-son duo of Mostafa and Evan Ashkarkhizani. Mostafa ended up atop the leaderboard with 413,000, while his son followed behind with 313,000. Joseph Ferguson (319,000), Madhukar Virupakshi (310,000), Shaun Gable (175,000), RGPS patriarch Papa Karn (104,000), and Shawn Sparks (88,000) also survived the first startling flight.
Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mostafa Ashkarkhizani | United States | 413,000 |
| 2 | Joseph Ferguson | United States | 319,000 |
| 3 | Evan Ashkarkhizani | United States | 313,000 |
| 4 | Madhukar Virupakshi | United States | 310,000 |
| 5 | Shaun Gable | United States | 175,000 |
| 6 | Papa Karn | United States | 104,000 |
| 7 | Shawn Sparks | United States | 88,000 |
Players on Day 1b will begin with a 30,000 starting stack. Levels are 30 minutes long, with a break after every four levels. Late registration remains open for the first eight levels of the day, and unlimited reentries are available during the registration period. The day concludes once 12.5 percent of the field remains.
There are still two more starting flights to come tomorrow as players continue to chase the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. Day 1c is at 10 a.m., while Day 1d takes place 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 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.
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$700 Main Event
Day 1b Started
