RGPS Golden Expedition debuts in Maryland: $250,000 in the Main Event

The RGPS poker series is making its debut on the East Coast of the USA. The Main Event will take place at MGM National Harbor with a $1,300 buy-in and a $250,000 guarantee.

The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) continues to expand the geography of its prestigious poker festivals, and this year the series is heading to the East Coast of the USA for the first time. From September 21 to 27, one of the region’s most renowned poker rooms — MGM National Harbor in Maryland — will host the RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland stop. The highlight of the week will be the Main Event with a $1,300 buy-in and a $250,000 guarantee . PokerNews reporters will be covering the action in the Main Event, providing detailed updates on the tournament. Venue: MGM National Harbor — the center of poker life on the East Coast MGM National Harbor is one of the largest poker rooms on the East Coast, located in Maryland. This poker room has long earned a reputation as a gathering place for the region’s top players. Earlier this summer, PokerNews journalists visited MGM National Harbor and noted the venue’s high level of organization and infrastructure. Now, the new RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland series will kick off right here. The festival opens on September 21 with the $300 Tag Team Ring Event , where the buy-in is $150 per team member. Organizers expect many regular participants of the RunGood Poker Series to attend this event. Series schedule: 12 ring events in 7 days During RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland, players can look forward to a packed week — a total of 12 tournaments are scheduled, each awarding the signature RGPS rings. The schedule features both classic and unique formats, so every player can find an event that suits them. $400 Seniors NLH Ring Event with a $25,000 guarantee — a tournament for players above a certain age, traditionally attracting an experienced field. $400 PokerNews PowerStack Ring Event — two starting flights, $50,000 guarantee. The PowerStack format features increased starting stacks, giving players more room to maneuver in the early levels. For mixed game enthusiasts, there are tournaments like the $500 Five Card PLO Ring Event (Omaha with five hole cards) and the $500 Big O Ring Event (a five-card Omaha variant with split pots). The Main Event — $1,300 Main Event with a $250,000 guarantee — starts on September 24 and includes three starting flights. The winner will be determined on September 27 during the second day of play. On the final day of the series, there will also be a $500 Black Chip Bounty NLH Ring Event with a $25,000 guarantee and a $300 Send-Off NLH Ring Event . Results of the April RGPS Passport Maryland 2026 series: standout players This is not MGM National Harbor’s first experience hosting major RGPS tournaments. In April 2026, the RGPS Passport Maryland stop was held here, featuring a Main Event with a $1,300 buy-in . That tournament drew 307 entries, with a prize pool reaching $349,980. The winner of the April Main Event was Arash Asadabadi , who defeated John Major heads-up to claim the top prize — $73,037 and his first RGPS championship ring. Before the final duel, Asadabadi noted that he felt confident in his victory from the start of the final table and didn’t want to agree to a deal, being convinced of his success. Other notable finalists included RunGood ambassador Julie Cornelius , who stood out to the audience with her vibrant presence. Final Table of the Main Event RGPS Passport Maryland 2026 Place Player Prize 1 Arash Asadabadi $73,037 2 John Major Not specified 3 Julie Cornelius Not specified 4 Brian Mahler Not specified 5 Clint Houck Not specified 6 Yuan Ting Not specified 7 Tyson Warren Not specified 8 Jeffrey Proctor Not specified 9 Ake Ngamsaard Not specified The full prize payouts, except for first place, were not specified in the source. Features of the RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland format and tournaments RGPS (RunGood Poker Series) is a tournament series where signature RGPS rings are awarded at each stop, and winners earn the right to participate in the season’s final tournament. The schedule at MGM National Harbor includes both standard No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) tournaments and events for mixed game fans — such as Five Card PLO and Big O. Tournaments with increased starting stacks (PowerStack) allow players to stay in the game longer and implement a wider range of strategies. Bounty tournaments, where players earn extra rewards for knocking out opponents, add excitement and are popular among fans of aggressive play. The series also caters to different player categories: there are special events for seniors and team tournaments, which helps diversify the field. What this means for PPPoker club players For PPPoker club members, the news about RGPS Golden Expedition Maryland is a great reason to pay attention to modern trends in live poker. The formats used in the series (PowerStack, Bounty, mixed games) are also actively developing in online clubs. This is an opportunity to learn new disciplines and expand your strategic arsenal to stay competitive both online and live. Pay attention to the structure of tournaments with increased starting stacks and multiple starting flights — these formats are also common in PPPoker clubs. Practicing in such events will help you better prepare for major live series if you plan to test your skills offline. Finally, success stories like Arash Asadabadi’s are inspiring: regular play, self-confidence, and readiness for new challenges are qualities valued in online poker as well. Keep an eye on the schedules of major series, participate in qualifiers, and don’t miss your chance to reach final tables — both on PPPoker and in live tournaments.