Grant Hart wins the RGPS Main Event in New Orleans for the first time

Grant Hart scored a long-awaited victory in the main event of the RunGood Poker Series in New Orleans, outlasting 279 opponents and winning the top prize.

The long-awaited moment finally arrived for Grant Hart as the Main Event of the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) in New Orleans came to an end. A regular on the tour who had never before managed to win a Main Event title, Hart finally achieved victory. At the RGPS New Orleans Golden Expedition tournament with an $800 buy-in, held at Caesars New Orleans, Hart outlasted 279 opponents to claim his first Main Event title and took home the largest share of the $200,000 prize pool — a first-place payout of $44,000. Context: RunGood Poker Series and Caesars New Orleans The RunGood Poker Series is a popular poker tour that regularly brings together strong players and enthusiasts from across America. Caesars New Orleans is a well-known casino that hosts major poker events, including RGPS stops. The Main Event in New Orleans, the Golden Expedition, traditionally attracts a large field and generates a significant prize pool. This time, 279 players entered the tournament, which allowed for a guaranteed prize pool of $200,000. For Grant Hart, this success was not only his first RGPS Main Event title but also the second-largest single tournament cash of his career. Previously, his best result in the series was third place in the RGPS Tulsa 2023 Main Event, where he earned $29,091. Grant Hart’s Road to Victory: From Short Stack to Champion Grant Hart started the final day of the tournament with less than 20 big blinds — a relatively short stack that limits options for aggressive play. However, he quickly improved his position: by the time three tables remained, his stack had grown to 35 big blinds. With each level, Hart increased his advantage, and when 18 players were left, his stack was up to 85 big blinds — one of the largest at that point. At the final table, Hart stuck to a cautious strategy: he picked his spots to attack but avoided big pots in the early stages. The turning point came when he knocked out My Nguyen in sixth place — after that, Hart began to ramp up the pressure on his opponents. According to Hart, the key moment was eliminating Hamid Izadi: “When Hamid busted, I realized I had a real shot. And when Preston McEwen went out, I started playing as aggressively as possible. I tried to put pressure on my opponents but avoided tricky spots against shorter stacks. Sometimes I had to fold strong hands because I was confident I could outplay my opponents later on.” In the decisive hand with four players left, Hart won a big pot against Christopher Savage, boosting his stack to nearly four million chips. This put him in the lead, and he maintained his advantage until the end. Hart later eliminated Savage, leaving only himself and Wess Durocher in the tournament. The Final Table: Key Hands and Eliminations On the final day, 33 players returned to the Caesars New Orleans poker room, each hoping to become the next RGPS champion. Early in the day, eliminations came quickly, and well-known players like “Boston” Rob Mariano, Kathryn Lindsay, and Hamid Izadi exited in the early stages. WSOP bracelet winner Corey Harrison finished in 17th place, also missing the final table. Preston McEwen, the only former Main Event champion at the table, made the final table but soon lost a significant portion of his stack when Crystal Galyon doubled through him. Then Brian Senie beat McEwen with aces against jacks, leaving him with almost no chips. McEwen ultimately finished in ninth place. The rest of the final table played out as follows: 8th place — Brian Senie 7th place — Crystal Galyon 6th place — My Nguyen, eliminated by Grant Hart Wess Durocher became very active at the final table. In one hand, he caught Christopher Savage bluffing with queen-high on the river. Durocher also eliminated Chris Baudean in fifth place and David Cocheles in third, securing his spot in the heads-up against Hart. Heads-Up: Grant Hart vs. Wess Durocher In the final battle for the title, Grant Hart started with a chip lead. The first major blow was winning a pot with two pair against Durocher. The final hand came soon after: Hart caught Durocher bluffing with a missed straight draw, sealing his first RGPS Main Event victory. Tournament Results and Payouts Below is the full list of finalists and their payouts: 1st place — Grant Hart — $44,000 2nd place — Wess Durocher — $27,000 3rd place — David Cocheles — $19,000 4th place — Christopher Savage — $14,000 5th place — Chris Baudean — $10,500 6th place — My Nguyen — $8,000 7th place — Crystal Galyon — $6,500 8th place — Brian Senie — $5,300 9th place — Preston McEwen — $4,200 The total prize pool for the tournament was $200,000, with 33 players making the money. Notable Participants and Their Results Other notable players also took part in the tournament. Among them: “Boston” Rob Mariano — eliminated early on the final day Kathryn Lindsay — also exited early in the day Hamid Izadi — busted before the final table Corey Harrison — WSOP bracelet winner, finished 17th Preston McEwen — former RGPS Main Event champion, finished 9th This victory was a major milestone for Grant Hart: he is now not only a regular on the RunGood Poker Series but also a Main Event champion, confirming his high level of play and ability to handle the pressure at the final stages of major tournaments. Key Moments and Final Table Strategies The final table highlighted the importance of choosing the right strategy depending on the stage of the tournament and stack size. Hart started out cautiously, avoiding big pots unless necessary. After key opponents were eliminated, he switched to a more aggressive approach, using his chip advantage to put pressure on shorter stacks. Particularly important were the moments when Hart deliberately folded strong hands to avoid unnecessary risks, relying on his post-flop play where he felt he could outplay his opponents. This approach allowed him to preserve his stack and wait for the right moment to make his decisive move. In heads-up, Hart quickly capitalized on his chip lead, winning key pots and catching his opponent bluffing, which secured him the title. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a clear example of how important not only skill is, but also the ability to adapt to the situation at the table. Even starting the final day with a short stack, a player can win if they pick their spots wisely and know when to fold. The RGPS tournament in New Orleans showed that regular participation in the series and analyzing past performances can lead to significant progress. Grant Hart went a long time without a title, but persistence and constant improvement of his strategy brought him success. PPPoker club players should pay attention to how Hart balanced caution and aggression, as well as his ability to read opponents in key moments. These skills are just as relevant in online tournaments, where pressure and game dynamics can change very quickly. Hart’s story is motivation for everyone striving for big wins, regardless of format or stakes.