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$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Ohio
$600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 17 / 166
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
3
443,000
4
353,000
5
350,000
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 5,000 ante
Lake Erie Poker Room hosted its first flight ever as Day 1a of the RunGood Poker Series Lake Erie $600 Main Event is in the books. The opening flight hosted 60 entries, which permitted a total of 6 players to advance to Day 2 of the $200,000 guaranteed main event.
Daniel “Donk” Hughes (526,000) finished at the top of the chip counts on Day 1a. Antonio Ndoja (460,000) bagged with the second-most chips, and Joffrey Gaetz (443,000) finished with the third-biggest stack.
End of Day Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Hughes | United States | 526,000 | 53 |
| 2 | Antonio Ndoja | United States | 460,000 | 46 |
| 3 | Joffrey Gaetz | United States | 443,000 | 44 |
| 4 | Patrick Beatrez | United States | 353,000 | 35 |
| 5 | Odeh Wahdan | United States | 350,000 | 35 |
| 6 | Michael Barlow | United States | 270,000 | 27 |
Hughes is one of the best RGPS players in the tour’s history, amassing ten RGPS rings, putting him fifth all-time in that department. Hughes has racked up over $185,000 in earnings at RunGood events and boasts nearly $675,000 in total live career earnings according to his The Hendon Mob page. Hughes reached the top of the Day 1a chip counts when he scored the final two knockouts of the evening. First, he dispatched Brent Wheeler to pop the money bubble before he sent James Bucaro to the exit to trim the field down to six players and end the opening flight.
Ndoja was at or near the top of the chip counts for the majority of Day 1a. Ndoja faltered out of the gate, but he hit his stride after he re-entered the tournament during the fifth level of play when he felted Anthony Carbone. Ndoja would solidify himself as a force at the top of the chip counts when he showed Thomas Della Volpe a bluff to cross 300,000 in chips, which kept him on his way to bagging a top stack. Ndoja is not new to the live tournament scene as he boasts almost $200,000 in career earnings per his The Hendon Mob profile. Despite his success, this is Ndoja’s first time cashing at a RunGood event. He will look to make his first cash a big splash when he returns on Day 2.
RGPS Ambassadors Nicholas Rigby and Heather Alcorn were both in the mix on Day 1a. Rigby had just taken down the RGPS PokerNews PowerStack event earlier in the day, but his run would not carry over into Day 1a as he fell short of a bag. Alcorn was unable to gain much traction either on Day 1a, and will have to wait for another opportunity to earn a spot on Day 2.
There are four starting flights remaining on the schedule. Friday, Oct. 2 will host two starting flights with Day 1b beginning at 12:15 p.m. and Day 1c slotted for 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 will host Day 1d at 12:15 p.m. and Day 1e at 6:15 p.m. Day 2 is scheduled for a 12:15 p.m. restart on Sun. Oct. 4.
RGPS Lake Erie Main Event Schedule
| Flight | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1b | Fri. Oct. 2 | 12:15 p.m. |
| Day 1c | Fri. Oct. 2 | 6:15 p.m. |
| Day 1d | Sat. Oct. 3 | 12:15 p.m. |
| Day 1e | Sat. Oct. 3 | 6:15 p.m. |
| Day 2 | Sun. Oct. 4 | 12:15 p.m. |
Players begin with a starting stack of 40,000. Blind levels are scheduled for 30 minutes for 12:15 p.m. opening flights and 20-minute levels for 6:15 p.m. starting flights. The blind levels will increase to 40 minutes on Day 2.
Players are allowed unlimited re-entries and can play all starting flights. Registration closes at the beginning of Level 13. Players may forfeit their stack at the end of Level 12 and re-buy for $600 for a fresh starting stack. If a player qualifies for Day 2 more than once, then they will forfeit their lower stack(s) and receive a $3,000 Double Bag Bonus and take their larger stack forward to Day 2.
The top 12.5% rounded down of each starting flight will make the money, with the top 10% rounded up permitted to advance to Day 2.
Check back here at PokerNews for continued coverage of the RGPS Lake Erie $600 Main Event.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 5,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 5,000 ante
Day 1a has concluded. Stay tuned for a recap of today's action.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 5,000 ante
Daniel Hughes opened from the cutoff before James Bucaro shoved for approximately 120,000 from the small blind. Hughes called and put Bucaro at risk.
James Bucaro: J♠J♦
Daniel Hughes: K♥Q♥
It was a flip for the fate of Day 1a as Bucaro held the pair going into the runout.
The 3♥9♦5♥ flop gave Hughes additional outs to a flush.
Hughes would get there on the turn when the Q♣ appeared.
Bucaro did not find his jack on the 2♦ river as he was eliminated to end Day 1a.
Level: 16
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 4,000 ante
Daniel Hughes raised to 17,000 from the hijack before Brent Wheeler shoved for his final 72,000 from the big blind. Hughes called and put Wheeler at risk.
Brent Wheeler: A♣9♦
Daniel Hughes: Q♠9♠
Wheeler was in a dominant position to double, but the flop presented some chop outs when it came 5♠6♦7♥, giving both players a gutshot for a chop.
The 10♣ turn did not alter the situation. The river certainly did when it came the Q♥, as Hughes improved to the best hand with a pair of queens, while Wheeler was eliminated.
Players are one spot away from bagging six players for Day 2.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 4,000 ante
Michael Barlow made it 20,000 from the small blind. Joffrey Gaetz defended his big blind to create a heads-up pot.
Barlow continued for 25,000 on the 9♦J♥4♣ flop. Gaetz called.
The 7♦ turn led to another bet from Barlow for the amount of 35,000. Gaetz stuck around with a call.
Barlow bet the minimum of 8,000 on the 2♦ river. Gaetz called and sent them to a showdown.
Barlow showed J♦3♠ for a pair of jacks. Gaetz had the best hand as he showed Q♠J♠ for a pair of jacks with a queen kicker to claim the pot.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 4,000 ante
Patrick Beatrez opened to 16,000 from the cutoff. Odeh Wahdan made the call on the button.
Beatrez slowed down with a check on the A♥Q♣9♥ flop before Wahdan fired 15,000. Beatrez called.
The 5♣ turn led to another check from Beatrez. Wahdan put out a bet of 18,000 and was called.
Both players knuckled the 6♠ river and went to showdown.
Wahdan tabled A♠Q♣ for top two pair to claim the pot as Beatrez mucked his hand.
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 4,000
