PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard Returns: New Prizes and Opportunities for RGPS Players

Learn about the launch of the new PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard race in the autumn season of the RunGood Poker Series 2026. Details on participation, prizes, and the event schedule.

With the return of the autumn season, the RunGood Poker Series 2026 launches a new PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard race—a unique opportunity for players to turn their poker table success into a trip to a prestigious tournament at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. In this article, we’ll cover the participation rules, prizes, results of the first race, as well as the schedule of upcoming stages and practical takeaways for PPPoker club players. What is the PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard and how does it work? The PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard is a seasonal tournament race held as part of the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS). Throughout the autumn 2026 season, participants will earn points for cashing in special PowerStack tournaments at each RGPS stop. The final leaderboard will determine the top ten players, who will receive valuable prizes and the chance to play in one of the year’s most prominent events. Unlike regular tournaments, here it’s not just about a single win, but about consistent results throughout the series. Each PowerStack tournament awards players points that are added up in the overall standings. This way, players can build their score by attending different RGPS stops and performing well at each one. At the end of the season, when all points are tallied, the top ten players will receive special packages that include not only entry to an exclusive Invitational tournament but also accommodation at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Prizes for the leaders: the path to the Dream Seat Invitational and beyond The main prize for participants is a package awarded to each of the top 10 finalists on the leaderboard. It includes: Buy-in to the exclusive $300 Dream Seat Invitational tournament Two nights’ accommodation at Thunder Valley Casino Resort The Dream Seat Invitational itself is an event that brings together RunGood champions and qualifiers. Its winner earns the right to represent RunGood at the prestigious PGT Championship, which will take place at PokerGO Studio in January 2027. This gives players a real chance to go from a $400 buy-in tournament at an RGPS stop to competing with the world’s most famous poker professionals on the global stage. Exact dates, the PowerStack tournament schedule, the points system, and current leaderboard standings will be published throughout the season so participants can track their progress and plan for upcoming stages. Results of the first PowerStack race: who went to Thunder Valley The PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard race was held for the first time at the start of 2026 and concluded with the top 11 players earning tickets to the $1,200 Million Dollar Main Event at the RGPS Passport season finale in Thunder Valley. This was a great opportunity for amateurs and regular players to shine at a major event without extra buy-in costs. The winner of the first race was Nicholas Rigby, who topped the final standings. However, it was Paul Schreiner and Sean Hold who managed to turn their seats into cash prizes, each making the money and earning $5,400. The Million Dollar Main Event itself drew an impressive field—1,086 entries, creating a prize pool of $1,140,300. The victory went to well-known player and frequent Thunder Valley guest JC Tran. This was his first triumph at the RGPS Passport finale, and he took home $163,700 for the win. Final table results of the Million Dollar Main Event: Winner: JC Tran — $163,700 Paul Schreiner — $5,400 (in-the-money prize) Sean Hold — $5,400 (in-the-money prize) Nicholas Rigby — winner of the first PowerStack race Total participants: 1,086 Prize pool: $1,140,300 This success is a great illustration of how participating in the leaderboard can lead to big wins and the chance to play against top players. Where and when the autumn PowerStack race starts You can start competing for points in the new season very soon—the first stage of the autumn PokerNews PowerStack race will take place as part of the RGPS Golden Expedition at Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, Indiana. The festival runs from August 18 to 23 and features 10 tournaments with a guaranteed prize pool of $260,000. The main event for leaderboard participants is the $400 PokerNews PowerStack tournament, which starts on August 19. There will be two starting flights that day: the first at 12:00 PM, the second at 6:00 PM. All players who make it through Day 1 will return to the tables on August 20 at 12:00 PM to determine the champion. For those looking to enter the PowerStack at minimal cost, there are fast satellites with a $105 buy-in. For every five participants, one seat in the main tournament is awarded. The festival will conclude with the $800 RGPS Golden Expedition Main Event, which has a $200,000 guarantee. Four starting flights are scheduled for August 20-22, with the final day on August 23. You can follow the main event action thanks to PokerNews live coverage. Who covers the events: the PokerNews team All stages and key tournaments of the series are covered by the PokerNews team, including reporter Calum, who joined the editorial staff in September 2021. Since then, he has worked at the biggest poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and regularly publishes analytical pieces and on-site reports. Thanks to his work, players and fans get the latest news, interviews, and detailed tournament updates. What this means for PPPoker club players For PPPoker club members, the PowerStack Leaderboard series experience can be a great example of how regular tournament participation and consistent results can lead to significant achievements. Even if you’re not a professional, steady play and striving to improve your performance can earn you invitations to major live events. The leaderboard format, which takes into account cumulative results across a series of tournaments, can be adopted for organizing your own club races. This encourages player activity, keeps interest in the series high, and helps identify the strongest players not just by a single win, but by consistency. Finally, playing satellites is an excellent way to get into major tournaments with minimal expense. PPPoker clubs can use similar formats to reward their players, providing extra opportunities for growth and the development of poker skills.