button in SafariJohn Major Bags Runaway Chip Lead on Day 1b
Action has wrapped up in Day 1b of the $1,300 Main Event here at the RunGood Poker Series Passport Season Maryland hosted by MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino. Of the 92 runners who started the day, only 12 players will return for Day 2 on Sunday, all of whom are already in the money.
John Major bagged the overwhelming chip lead, finishing as the only player in the first two starting flights to reach the seven-figure mark. He flew under the radar for most of the day and propelled to the top of the leaderboard during the last few levels. Once he got his hands on some chips, he became a force to be reckoned with, applying pressure and putting his opponents in difficult spots.
Major is an accomplished player with over a quarter-million in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob. He will look to leverage his stack and experience on Sunday in hopes of making a deep run.
Defending champ Justin Arnwine (594,000) finished the day second in chips after falling short yesterday on Day 1a, while Chong Han found a spot on the podium with 494,000.
Day 1b Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Major | United States | 1,461,000 |
| 2 | Justin Arnwine | United States | 594,000 |
| 3 | Chong Han | United States | 494,000 |
| 4 | Kashka Corpening | United States | 405,000 |
| 5 | Chadd Beatty | United States | 306,000 |
| 6 | Timothy Conrow | United States | 226,000 |
| 7 | Gabriel Leost | France | 220,000 |
| 8 | Nathan Bomey | United States | 215,000 |
| 9 | Kyle Dishongh | United States | 195,000 |
| 10 | Marcia Kuntz | United States | 139,000 |
| 11 | Maclaren Chatham | United States | 123,000 |
| 12 | George Karmires | United States | 121,000 |
Action Table Late in the Day
Arnwine built a big stack early in the day and never looked back, amassing over 300,000 before the dinner break. Once play resumed, he found himself at a table with Brandon Frazier, Nicholas Rigby, and Hamid Izadi, all of whom were super deep, and sitting right next to each other.
Fireworks were bound to ensue at a table with such heavy-hitters, and a hand was captured where Arnwine and Izadi went toe-to-toe. Izadi and Frazier exited not long after with a few tables remaining, while Rigby held on a bit longer before being eliminated just shy of the money.
Day 1c will get underway Saturday, April 18 at 11:15 a.m. and will be the last chance to bag for Sunday. Play for the final flight will conclude once 12.5% of the field (rounded up) remains and those who bag will be in the money. Day 2 will then start at the earliest blind level of the three starting flights on Sunday, April 19, where the event will play down to a winner.
Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the entirety of the $1,300 Main Event here at the 2026 RGPS Passport Season Maryland.