Lauren Bunch raised to 10,000 under the gun and Grant Hinkle defended in the big blind.
The duo checked it down to the river on a board of K♦5♥K♠4♣J♠ and Bunch tabled the winner with A♠4♠, besting the 9♦7♥ of Hinkle.
Alonte Smith raised to 14,000 on the button and Jason Gambill defended in the big blind.
The flop came 2♠10♠9♣, Gambill led out for 12,000 and Smith made the call.
The turn brought another spade in the 4♠ and Gambill led out again, this time for 16,000.
Smith looked back at his cards and flashed A♥K♥ before tossing them into the muck. Gambill showed the A♠ as he dragged in the pot.
Back in 2022, Derrick Plumage became the first back-to-back RGPS Main Event Champion, earning himself over $100,000 over the course of just a few months. He caught up with PokerNews to reflect on his unbelievable run and what it meant to him.
"It's the highlight of my poker career. It was the funnest dang thing ever. The feeling you get just walking into that poker room is so cool. It's an ego thing, but that's part of tournament poker, is to be that guy. And in that room I get to walk in and I get to be that guy. So it's really sweet."
"The interesting thing is the other guy that did it is also named Derrick, spelled the same way, which is an uncommon spelling of Derrick, seven letters. I'm gonna call him out right now on the record. We need to have a Derrick-off at some point. I've never met him. I would like to."
Plumage is referring to Derrick Yamada, who defended his RGPS Dan Diego title for $41,550 in February of 2024.
Level: 12
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
The remaining 14 players have been sent on another 15-minute break and will return to blinds at 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante.
Of the 74 total entries for Day 1a, 9 players will bag up and advance to Day 2 on Sunday.
Jason Gambill raised to 6,000 under the gun and was three-bet by Lauren Bunch on the button to 17,000. Gambill made the call.
The flop came 3♠7♥2♥, Gambill led out for 15,000 and Bunch responded with an all in of about 65,000 to put herself at risk.
Gambill took some time to think through his decision, eventually tossing his cards into the muck.
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000
The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) has officially kicked off its 2026 calendar with the "Passport" season. Spanning from January through August, the season features 17 stops across the United States, promising a blend of high-stakes excitement and the community-focused atmosphere that has become the tour's hallmark.
The Passport Season invites players to "collect stamps" as they travel the country in search of prestigious RunGood Rings and exclusive player rewards.
"This season represents everything RunGood stands for," said Tana Karn, Founder and President of the RunGood Poker Series. "Great poker, welcoming communities, and rooms that feel like home. The Passport Season is about the journey as much as the destination."
Cory Aurentz raised to 5,500 in middle position and the player in the hijack three-bet jammed for 19,500 to put himself at risk. Aurentz flicked in the call.
Hijack: K♦Q♦ 
Cory Aurentz: 10♠8♠
Aurentz picked up a plethora of outs on the 7♠J♠6♦ flop but didn't find any help on the 4♣ turn. He got there on the 3♠ river, improving to a flush, sending his opponent to the rail.
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