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$1,300 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland
$1,300 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 61 / 102
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
3
141,000
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Christopher Caruso and Casey Hatmaker left the rest of the field in their dust on Day 1a of the RunGood Poker Series Golden Expedition Maryland $1,300 Main Event.
The two top stacks both bagged up more than 700,000, Caruso just edging out Hatmaker for the chip lead with 730,000 to 712,000. The other three players to make it through the event’s opening flight, meanwhile, are so far behind they would need a telescope to view the chip lead.
Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Caruso | United States | 730,000 | 91 |
| 2 | Casey Hatmaker | United States | 712,000 | 89 |
| 3 | Steven Hlavinka | United States | 141,000 | 18 |
| 4 | Nathan Bomey | United States | 110,000 | 14 |
| 5 | Alan Gendelman | United States | 107,000 | 13 |
Caruso needed a second bullet after busing earlier in the day, but he then hit trips to knock out Melanie Hennigan before flopping a wheel in a big pot off Marcia Kuntz. The pot of the day, however, came on the last level when he snapped off his last 317,000 with two kings to double up off Justin Arnwine’s tens.
Hatmaker began his ascent up the leaderboard against Caruso when he picked up aces against Caruso’s jacks. He then flopped a straight for a big double off Derrick Thomas, before finishing off Arnwine on the money bubble when he caught an ace on the turn against Arnwine’s flopped pair of kings.
Steven Hlavinka (141,000), Nathan Bomey (110,000), and Alan Gendelman (107,000) round out the remaining five players, the three of them combined having barely half the stack of the two leaders.
A total of 36 players came to the MGM National Harbor today for the first of three starting flights. Among those to hit the rail were WSOP Main Event champion Greg Raymer, WSOP bracelet winner Mike Jukich, and Alexandra Loveless. They still have two more chances to take a shot at the RGPS championship ring and $250,000 guaranteed prize pool. Day 1b begins tomorrow at 11:15 a.m., while Day 1c takes place on September 26 at 11:15 a.m. All surviving players then return for Day 2 on September 27 at 12:15 p.m. to play down to a champion. The action on Day 2 will pick up at the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights. Day 1a ended with six 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 be sure to return for all the updates.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Justin Arnwine moved all in for 83,000 in the cutoff and Casey Hatmaker called in the big blind.
Justin Arnwine: K♦5♥ 
Casey Hatmaker: A♠5♦
Arnwine took the lead on the K♠J♥6♣ flop, but Hatmaker caught the A♥ on the turn. The river was the 9♥, and Arnwine was eliminated on the money bubble.
The remaining five players are bagging up their chips for the night.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Christopher Caruso raised to 20,000 in the cutoff and Casey Hatmaker called in the small blind.
Both players checked the Q♣7♠K♣ flop. Hatmaker then led out for 20,000 on the K♦ turn, and Caruso called.
Hatmaker bet another 30,000 on the 8♠ river, and Caruso again called. Hatmaker showed A♥Q♦ for two pair, but Caruso had K♥3♥ for trips to win the pot.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Casey Hatmaker raised to 17,000 in the hijack and Steven Hlavinka moved all in for 66,000 on the button. Christopher Caruso called in the big blind, and Hatmaker got out of the way.
Steven Hlavinka: Q♦J♣
Christopher Caruso: K♠10♠
Hlavinka hit top pair on the Q♠10♥5♦ flop to take the lead, and Caruso couldn't catch up on the 4♦ turn or 7♦ river as Hlavinka doubled up.
"You didn't even feel that," Hlavinka said to Caruso.
"Yes I did. I want to go home," Caruso replied.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Justin Arnwine raised to 16,000 in the cutoff and Christopher Caruso three-bet to 50,000 on the button. Arnwine then moved all in, and Caruso snap-called for 317,000.
Christopher Caruso: K♣K♥
Justin Arnwine: 10♠10♥
Caruso had woken up with two kings and was a big favorite to double up, and the board ran out 6♠4♣4♥K♦Q♥ to improve him to a full house as he rocketed to the top of the leaderboard.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Christopher Caruso moved all in from the small blind, and Nathan Bomey called for 83,000 in the big blind.
Nathan Bomey: 6♠6♣
Christopher Caruso: K♦Q♥
The flop came A♦2♣J♥ to give Caruso a straight draw along with his two overcards, but Bomey held on through the 8♥ turn and 3♣ river to double up.
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Christopher Caruso raised to 13,000 on the button and Nathan Bomey and Casey Hatmaker called in the blinds.
All three players checked the 9♣8♣4♠ flop. Caruso then bet 15,000 on the 4♣ turn, and only Hatmaker called.
Caruso bet another 15,000 on the 3♦ river, and Hatmaker again called. "Jack-high," Caruso announced, and Hatmaker showed 8♥6♦ for two pair to win the pot.
