button in Safari
$95 RGPS Passport Colossus
Day 2 Completed
2026 RGPS Passport Japan
$95 RGPS Passport Colossus
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 RGPS Passport Japan
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$95
Prize Pool
$89,159
Total Entries
1,865
Level
31
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
308
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1,865
Filter
Level 31
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
The gargantuan 1,865 entry strong field of the 2026 RGPS Passport Japan has found a champion just after midnight and one last local card shark ensured that the custom made RunGood Passport Champion Ring and Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Grand Final trophy would stay on home soil at Belle Salle Takadanobaba. Union Team Pro Atsushi "heat" Koyama defeated Torey Byrne in heads-up play to claim the largest share of the $89,159 fixed prize pool and etched his name in the history books of the RunGood Poker Series as second champion outside of the United States.
It was the second cooperation between RunGood and Japan's largest live poker operator and the final turbo heat attracted a massive field of more than 400 entries on the first day of Golden Week in Japan to boost the overall attendance. There were so many players joining the fray that the restart for the final day had to be pushed back by half an hour for the ¥15,000 (~$95) buy-in. When the cards went back in the air, it took fewer than two levels to deliver the "you are in the prize" announcement and all those with chips at their disposal had ensured a player contract as per local gaming regulations.
Little did they know it would take until midnight to have a shot at the trophy, because there were still three hopefuls left then. Byrne described her sun-run to heads-up as follows:
"I have never had so much luck in my entire life" she said on the final table after earning yet another double-up in fortunate fashion.
There were many of them all the way from the final five tables and lady luck was always on her side. But in heads-up play against Koyama, pocket queens ultimately failed to hold up and the local poker pro was the one to lift the trophy along with $10,000 in player contracts for the efforts.
$95 RGPS Passport Colossus Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atsushi Koyama | Japan | $10,000 |
| 2 | Torey Byrne | United States | $6,319 |
| 3 | nakkaaaa | Japan | $4,511 |
| 4 | KNT | Japan | $3,468 |
| 5 | YOBU | Japan | $2,795 |
| 6 | He | Japan | $2,328 |
| 7 | Long-M | Japan | $1,938 |
| 8 | tanaka0129 | Japan | $1,614 |
| 9 | TKC25 | Japan | $1,343 |
Some 308 players returned for the final day after collecting the RunGood hats and t-shirts that were handed out before Day 2 officially kicked off. It took just one 30-minute level to bring the field within three tables of the prize bubble and a couple of minutes later, hand-for-hand mode was underway. There was no tense drama but a round of applause when floor staff shared the good news a few hands in and what followed can only be described as wild ride all the way to the end.
The chips were flying left and right without ever really slowing down and the Japanese efficiency showed in breaking tables and moving players to their new seats in perfectly planned precision. There was barely any tanking at the tables either and the all-in showdowns kept on coming every other minute.
With the vast majority of all contenders hailing from home soil, there were a few exceptions. Jonas Wallendorf from Germany currently resides in Tokyo and all but reached the top 50 spots only to see his flopped two pair getting two-outered. Daniel Shearer had the same luck on the main stage table when he flopped trips sevens but pocket kings got there on the river.
That only left Byrne still in contention and she was joined by fellow female compatriot Murakami on the final two tables. But while Byrne got there whenever she was at risk and trailing, Murakami eventually bowed out in 15th place. Right after her exit, Byrne doubled through a local player with the apt alias "cafe latte" who then joined the rail next. Day 1d chip leader KEN T made it all the way to 12th place but ultimately fell shy of the final table, which was set after the eliminations of Noguchi and Morisho.
Down to the final table, He appeared to be the chosen one - yes, that is his alias. He stormed to the top of the leaderboard with more than one third of the chips in play, having knocked out TKC25 with pocket nines versus ace-eight. tanaka0129 was the next to fall with sevens versus tens despite flopping a set as nakkaaaa did so as well.
But then, the lead of He crumbled as Koyama secured a double through him and dispatched Long-M after in a flip. Koyama would eventually finish the job against long-time chip leader He and the field was down to the final five players. Koyama also dispatched YOBU much to the delight of Byrne, who had doubled and laddered once more.
KNT tangled once too many times with Byrne to bow out in fourth place after being one of the most active players at the tables all day long. Byrne was down to only three big blinds at some point but came back thanks to a triple and double up, then doubled once more against nakkaaaa who himself was in need of luck. Another miracle comeback story was cut short and the heads-up was set.
Right away, Byrne doubled into the lead and a possible ICM deal fell through. Koyama chipped up into the lead and then cracked the pocket queens of Byrne to deny a cinderella comeback story for the only player from outside of Japan on the final table.
This wraps up the second-ever cooperation between RunGood and the JOPT for the time being, but two further RunGood Poker Series stops on American soil are already on the horizon.
Level 31
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Torey Byrne raised it up to 3,000,000 on the button and then instantly called all-in when Atsushi Koyama moved all-in from the big blind.
Torey Byrne: Q♦Q♥ 
Atsushi Koyama: A♠10♦
Lady luck had been shining on Byrne for the entire day when she needed it and now she had the chance to claim the vast majority of the chips in play. However, fate would have it that Koyama pulled ahead with the A♣K♦8♦ flop. The 10♥ turn gave Byrne some more outs with the gutshot but the 8♣ river was a blank.
Both stacks were briefly counted and the 24 big blinds of Byrne were covered.
"It was so nice playing with you, congratulations," she told Koyama when they shook hands.
This concludes a roller coaster ride of Byrne on her "luckiest day" ever at the poker tables just shy of victory, and she takes second place for $6,319. Koyama is the champion for $10,000 and the custom made RunGood Passport Champion Ring as well as the JOPT Grand Final trophy.
Stay tuned for a recap of today's action.
Level 31
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Brief discussions about a heads-up deal ultimately came to no conclusion when they would have had locked up ICM value and play for another $1,000 for the winner, which Atsushi Koyama ultimately declined despite being the chip underdog.
After the action resumed and the blinds went up, Koyama notched up several small pots to almost close the gap against Torey Byrne and one larger pot then made more of a difference.
In a limped pot to the K♣4♦2♥ flop, Koyama check-called for 2.4 million and did so again for 4.0 million on the Q♣ turn. They checked the 5♥ on the river and Koyama won the pot with the K♠7♣ for the top pair.
Level: 31
Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000
Ante: 1,000,000
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
A few minutes into the heads-up duel, Torey Byrne was all-in and at risk for 18.6 million but she had the best of it this time heading into the showdown against Atsushi Koyama.
Torey Byrne: A♠10♠
Atsushi Koyama: Q♦10♦
The J♥6♣2♣K♣ turn brought a sweat with the straight draws for both players but ace-high prevailed thanks to the J♠ river.
A few more hands were played after that before Byrne inquired about a possible ICM deal, which triggered a break of around ten minutes for the discussion and language barrier to solve.
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
In the 961st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back for a special episode to discuss the recent Grand Jury verdict regarding The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, Texas. Spoiler Alert: It was good news for Doug Polk and company as potential charges were dismissed, and seized funds and equipment will be returned. Not only that, the cardroom has plans to reopen as soon as possible.
It was the best case outcome considering the situation, and the poker world, including co-owners Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme, celebrated en masse. There are still a lot of lingering questions as to what may come next, but the crew dives into it all in this episode.
Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Oh, and be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 31
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
nakkaaaa pushed all-in out of the small blind and Atsushi Koyama beat him into the pot from the big blind.
nakkaaaa: K♠7♣
Atsushi Koyama: K♣10♠
The 8♦5♣2♣9♥2♥ board this time brought no escape for the short stack and nakkaaaa eventually bowed out in third place for $4,511 after an incredible roller coaster journey.
Level 31
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
nakkaaaa raised it up from the button and then called when Torey Byrne pushed all-in from the big blind.
Torey Byrne: A♣8♣
nakkaaaa: K♣10♣
The 9♦4♠3♠4♥A♠ board brought another twist in the story as now nakkaaaa became the severe short stack.
nakkaaaa was then all-in for only 2.2 million with the dominated K♠2♥ against Atsushi "heat" Koyama with his K♣J♦ but the short stack miracles continued on the 6♣3♥2♣9♠10♠ board.
Decimated to the short stack again, nakkaaaa was all-in for 2.4 million on the button and called both ways. After the 7♣7♠6♠ flop was checked, Byrne bet the 4♥ turn for 2,000,000 and Koyama folded.
nakkaaaa: Q♠3♥
Torey Byrne: 9♣5♣
The river was the 5♠ and nakkaaaa spiked thge bottom end of the straight!
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
nakkaaaa jammed the button for 10,200,000 with the Q♥2♥ and Torey Byrne called in the big blind with the A♦9♦. The board ran out 5♠4♦3♠A♣J♦ and nakkaaaa tapped the table in defeat before he saw the wheel to survive.
Byrne was down to 2.4 million and pushed from the next button. nakkaaaa called in the small blind and sigh-folded when heat isolated with a big blind shove.
Torey Byrne: K♠6♠
heat: K♥Q♠
The J♠8♠7♠9♠3♦ board gave Byrne the triple up with the superior flush.
heat then limped the small blind into her big blind and she checked to the 7♥3♠2♠ flop. heat check-called the shove of Byrne with the 7♣4♣ for the top pair and Byrne had 10♠5♠ for the flush draw, which instantly got there on the A♠ turn to make the 2♦ river a formality.
