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$600 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Tunica
$600 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 53 / 440
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The historic Horseshoe Tunica poker room was bustling all day long, as the opening flight of the $600 Main Event drew a total of 101 entries to begin the headlining tournament of the 2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Tunica series.
In the end, only the top 12 players survived to make the money and will chase the guaranteed $200,000 prize pool. That purse is expected to grow significantly on Saturday, November 14 when the last two flights get underway.
Leading the way from Day 1a is Michael Benbrook (615,000), who burst the bubble to complete his ascent to the top of the counts by bagging up more than 20 starting stacks.
His closest competitor is Michael Scarbrough (422,000), while James Freeman (362,000) completed a steady night to round out the top three.
End of Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Benbrook | United States | 615,000 |
| 2 | Michael Scarbrough | United States | 422,000 |
| 3 | James Freeman | United States | 362,000 |
| 4 | Wallace Lammons | United States | 288,000 |
| 5 | Eric Sutton | United States | 270,000 |
| 6 | Gerald Williams | United States | 244,000 |
| 7 | Ian Jeffries | United States | 228,000 |
| 8 | Billy McBrayer | United States | 170,000 |
| 9 | Riley Sims | United States | 136,000 |
| 10 | Kate Hubert | United States | 120,000 |
| 11 | John Therrell | United States | 113,000 |
| 12 | Brett Hagopian | United States | 68,000 |
Among the notables in the field was Preston McEwen, who started off by adding to his starting stack before losing momentum. McEwen ultimately shoved over a trio of limpers, but was counterfeited on the river to close out his opening flight. The RGPS Ambassador was fresh off winning a ring just hours earlier as he closed out the $120 Flip & Go event for $3,579.
One candidate for worst beat of the day belonged to Richard Hughes, who flopped the second-best straight against Ian Jeffries (228,000) when the chips hit the middle. Hughes was left on fumes and hit the rail one hand later.
Hand-for-hand action saw several players at risk, with Brett Hagopian (68,000) and Wallace Lammons (288,000) both finding doubles to survive and earn a spot in Day 2. Lammons finished among the big stacks, while Hagopian sits as the short stack after the opening flight.
Those hands were followed shortly after by Jeremy Moore moving his last two big blinds in from under the gun, whiffing on the runout to bust on the direct money bubble.
The final two flights will take place on Saturday, November 14 representing the last chance to book a spot in the money. Action will begin with Day 1b at 11:00 a.m. local time, with Day 1c to follow in the evening.
The tournament will continue to build towards the $200,000 guarantee, as unlimited reentries are permitted through the opening flights. Both fields will be trimmed down to the final 12.5% before bagging up for Day 2, and the remaining players will return on Sunday, November 15.
Remaining $600 Main Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| November 14 | Day 1b | 11:00 a.m. |
| November 14 | Day 1c | 6:00 p.m. |
| November 15 | Day 2 | 12:00 p.m. |
Action continues here in Tunica for two more days, and PokerNews has full Main Event coverage so be sure to stay tuned on the road to crowning the latest RGPS champion.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The final elimination of the night has brought an end to the opening flight of the $600 Main Event.
Stay tuned for final chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Jeremy Moore moved his last 15,000 into the middle from under the gun, and Michael Benbrook called without looking at his cards in the small blind. John Therrell came along in the big blind, and the pair checked all the way through the 9♦7♦7♠5♠3♠ board.
Jeremy Moore: Q♠10♥ 
Michael Benbrook: 5♣4♦
John Therrell: A♠8♦
Benbrook found the only pair to claim the pot, as Moore was sent out on the bubble to bring an end to Day 1a.
Level 15
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Brett Hagopian was all in from early position, and found action from Jeremy Moore in the big blind.
Brett Hagopian: A♣10♠
Jeremy Moore: 7♣5♠
Hagopian hit an ace on the K♠6♠A♦5♣4♥ board, while Moore's pair of fives were no good. That left Moore short, while Hagopian doubled up.
On the next hand, Wallace Lammons moved in on the J♦2♥J♥ flop and was at risk against Gerald Williams.
Wallace Lammons: J♠9♣
Gerald Williams: A♥Q♥
Williams was looking for a heart, but Lammons held through the 5♠ turn and 3♠ river to survive on the bubble.
Level: 15
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Players sit on the money bubble, with 12 spots available in Day 2. The clock has been paused, and action will be hand for hand until the next elimination.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Action folded around to Gary Gwinn in the small blind, who moved all in. Ian Jeffries made the call in the big blind, and the hands were turned up.
Gary Gwinn: A♦Q♦
Ian Jeffries: J♦8♦
Gwinn was in good shape until Jeffries found a pair on the 4♣10♠9♦8♣3♣ runout. That sent Gwinn out two spots shy of the money, as Jeffries raked in the pot.
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Billy McBrayer opened to 14,000 from the hijack, and Eric Sutton defended his big blind to see the 6♣Q♠4♣ flop. Both players checked, with action repeating on the 8♣ turn.
Sutton led out for 21,000 on the 6♥ river, and McBrayer took some time before letting his hand go. Sutton showed A♣10♣ for a flush as the pot was sent his way.
At the other table, Christopher Lawson was headed to the rail after his AxKx lost a big pot against the pocket kings of Michael Benbrook.