$1,100 Main Event Day 1a | 2026 RGPS Passport Pompano Beach

18 hours 36 minutes ago

Herstein Hangs On to Double Off Katchalov

David Salituro

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded around to Gary Herstein who moved all in for 20,500 in the small blind, and Eugene Katchalov called in the big blind.

Gary Herstein: Q♠Q♦ All in
Eugene Katchalov: K♠5♠

The 4♣7♦6♥ flop gave Katchalov additional outs with a straight draw, but he improved no further on the 9♥ turn or 5♥ river as Herstein's queens held up to earn him the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eugene Katchalov	60,000 20,000	20,000

Gary Herstein	45,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Eugene Katchalov Gary Herstein

18 hours 45 minutes ago

Playing Down to 6

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David Salituro

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Tournament officials confirmed that there were 48 entries in this flight. Play will conclude for the night once six players remaining.

There are currently 21 players still left in this flight.

18 hours 47 minutes ago

Welko Doubles Off Bravo

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David Salituro

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Craig Welko moved all in for 40,000 from the cutoff and Walter Bravo called under the gun.

Craig Welko: A♥K♠ All in
Walter Bravo: A♠Q♦

Both players hit top pair on the 8♥3♣A♣ flop, while Welko remained in the lead with his king-kicker. The board ran out 5♣3♦, and Welko doubled up.

Bravo was left short-stacked after that hand and was eliminated shortly after.

At another table, a player in the big blind moved all in for 40,000, and Kevin Hammer snap-called in early position.

All-In Player: 9♠9♦ All in
Kevin Hammer: Q♣Q♦

Hammer had his opponent dominated, and the 5♥3♠K♦J♥3♦ board earned him the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Hammer	100,000 70,000	70,000
Craig Welko	80,000 52,500	52,500
Walter Bravo	Busted

Tags: Craig Welko Kevin Hammer Walter Bravo

18 hours 50 minutes ago

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Bunes	130,000 10,000	10,000
Kyle Taddei	120,000
Matt Paul	110,000 20,000	20,000
Niall Costigan	100,000 10,000	10,000
Lyle Diamond	100,000 20,000	20,000
Eugene Katchalov	80,000 62,000	62,000

Tom Macey	55,000 15,000	15,000
Roberto Bendeck	50,000 25,000	25,000
Joe Rossi	40,000 15,000	15,000
Daniel Monosson	35,000 15,000	15,000
Gary Herstein	25,000 25,000	25,000

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

19 hours 3 minutes ago

Bromberg Falls to Bielan

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Johnny Bromberg $1,100 Main Event Flight A

Judy Bielan raised to 3,500 in early position before Charlemagne Benjamin three-bet to 12,000 in middle position. Johnny Bromberg put in his last 13,000 in the small blind, and both opponents called.

Bielan and Benjamin checked through the Q♣J♥10♦ flop, and Bielan then bet 10,500 on the 2♣ turn to chase away Benjamin.

Bromberg showed A♣8♣ for straight and flush draws, while Bielan had A♠10♣. The river Q♥ was no help to Bromberg, and he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charlemagne Benjamin	150,000 30,000	30,000
Judy Bielan	70,000 20,000	20,000
Johnny Bromberg	Busted

Tags: Charlemagne Benjamin Johnny Bromberg Judy Bielan

19 hours 7 minutes ago

Medoff Picks Off Bronstein

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Edward Medoff $1,100 Main Event Flight A

Edward Medoff raised to 3,500 in the hijack and was called by an opponent in the cutoff. Marc Bronstein then three-bet to 11,500 on the button, and both opponents called.

Bronstein continued for 7,500 on the J♣8♣4♣ flop, and only Medoff called. Both players then checked the A♠ turn.

The river was the 4♥ and Bronstein bet 18,000. Medoff took a minute before calling, and Bronstein turned over K♥Q♦. Medoff showed J♦9♦ and took the pot with a pair of jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edward Medoff	130,000 80,000	80,000

Marc Bronstein	120,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Edward Medoff Marc Bronstein

19 hours 17 minutes ago

Third Time Not the Charm For Rigby

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Walter Bravo raised to 3,500 in the hijack before Nick Rigby three-bet to 11,500 in the small blind. Bravo then four-bet to 23,500, and Rigby folded.

The next hand, Niall Costigan opened to 3,500 in early position and Rigby shoved for 26,500 on the button. Craig Welko tanked for a minute in the big blind before folding, while Costigan called to put Rigby at risk.

Nick Rigby: K♣9♠ All in
Niall Costigan: A♠3♠

The 10♦5♦2♦6♠3♥ board offered no help to Rigby, and Costigan's pair of threes were enough to earn him the pot and send Rigby to the rail for the third time today.

Player	Chips	Progress
Niall Costigan	90,000 30,000	30,000
Walter Bravo	80,000 30,000	30,000
Craig Welko	27,500 12,500	12,500
Nicholas Rigby	Busted

Tags: Craig Welko Niall Costigan Nick Rigby Walter Bravo

19 hours 25 minutes ago

Freidkes Bets Out Bendeck on the River

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Roberto Bendeck, who reentered during the break, bet 3,500 from the hijack on a flop of 10♠8♠10♥ and John Freidkes called on the button.

Bendeck bet another 7,500 on the 3♦ turn, and Freidkes again called. The river was the Q♠ and Bendeck checked over to Freidkes, who bet 16,000. Bendeck quickly folded as he took a quick hit to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Freidkes	140,000 20,000	20,000
Roberto Bendeck	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Roberto Bendeck John Freidkes

19 hours 28 minutes ago

"I Hoped He Bet"; Lucky Flop Rockets Ryan Bunes to a Massive Stack

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David Salituro

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Ryan Bunes was facing a four-bet to 21,000 from joe Rossi in a battle between the blinds and called to see a nine-high flop. Rossi then moved all in, and Bunes couldn't wait to stick in his last 46,000.

Rossi showed two kings, but he had picked the wrong time to shove as Bunes had flopped a full house with pocket nines. That massive pot put Bunes in contention for the chip lead after Level 8 of Day 1a as he headed to break with around 140,000.

"I hoped he bet. After he went all in, I was like, thank you," Bunes said.

The Plantation, Florida native works in sales and lives near the Harrah's Pompano Beach, which has become his home casino. He has around $47,000 in live career earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, most of those results coming here or other casinos in the South Florida area. The first-ever RunGood Poker Series stop in Pompano Beach was an opportunity he couldn't let pass by.

"I've been playing for a while. I've been trying to play a lot more recently. It's always nice to play in a big event like this," he said. "I'm enjoying it a lot. I live nearby, so it's always nice to play near home and have a short drive in."

Bunes has enjoyed a dream start to the event, but he recognizes making a run at the championship ring is still a long way off. "When you're chip leader, it's a good day. I want to hopefully keep it coming. Have a long way to go," he said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Bunes	140,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Ryan Bunes