Unusual Finale: Nine Cards Decide the Fate of the RGPS Lake Erie Champion

The main RGPS tournament with a $200,000 prize pool was held at the Lake Erie Poker Room. The winner was determined in a unique hand with nine cards.

The Main Event of the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Golden Expedition Ohio, with a $600 buy-in, has wrapped up at the Lake Erie Poker Room. For the first time in the venue’s history, players competed not only for a substantial $200,000 prize pool but also for the prestigious RGPS champion’s ring. The tournament drew 360 entrants, and the final day crowned the winner of the top prize—$40,875 and the championship ring. Final Table: Battle for the Title and a Surprising Finish Thirty-seven players returned for the final day, but only nine reached the money at the final table. The top three in chips were Antonio Ndoja, Michael Barlow, and David Hanna—these three would ultimately decide the fate of the main prize and the ring. Antonio Ndoja came out strong at the final table, quickly building his lead by eliminating three opponents: James Garr finished ninth, Nicholas Lanzi took eighth, and Jonathan Tackett exited in seventh. After that, the battle intensified, and the next eliminations came at a slower pace. Joel Brink was knocked out in sixth place after a hand where Barlow and Hanna checked all the way to showdown, with Hanna revealing the winning hand. Patrick Beatrez was next to go, again eliminated by David Hanna, who secured fifth place. Joffrey Gaetz finished in fourth. Deal Agreement and an Unusual Way to Decide the Champion When play was down to three—Ndoja, Barlow, and Hanna—the idea of a deal came up. Although initial negotiations stalled, the players eventually agreed to an even chop, splitting the remaining prize money equally regardless of chip counts. Michael Barlow, who had the shortest stack at the time, noted that he usually doesn’t favor deals, but the terms were too good to pass up. In his words, “turning down the deal wouldn’t have been the most profitable decision.” That left the question: who would take home the RGPS champion’s ring? Barlow suggested deciding it with a “flip”—a random draw for the winner. David Hanna declined to participate, but Antonio Ndoja agreed to take his chances. The final flip was played with a unique format: each player was dealt nine cards, then five community cards were placed on the table. The winner would be whoever made the best five-card hand using any combination of their nine cards and the five community cards. In this unusual showdown, Barlow made a full house, tens full of aces, while Ndoja had a full house, tens full of jacks. As a result, Michael Barlow claimed the RGPS championship ring. Final Table Results and Payouts Below is the complete list of payouts from the RGPS Ohio $600 Main Event final table: 1st place — Michael Barlow — $40,875* 2nd place — Antonio Ndoja — $40,875* 3rd place — David Hanna — $40,875* 4th place — Joffrey Gaetz — $19,000 5th place — Patrick Beatrez — $14,500 6th place — Joel Brink — $11,200 7th place — Jonathan Tackett — $8,900 8th place — Nicholas Lanzi — $7,200 9th place — James Garr — $5,900 * Payouts for 1st through 3rd place were determined after an even chop among the three finalists. Finalists’ Comments: Motivation and Future Plans After his win, Michael Barlow noted that while he usually doesn’t support deals, this time the stacks weren’t in his favor and the offer was too attractive to refuse. He also highlighted that this is his second RGPS title—his first came alongside his brother Matthew in the RGPS Resort Ohio Tag Team event in 2024. Antonio Ndoja, who lost the flip for the ring, shared that he initially didn’t want to agree to a deal, but once the stacks evened out, he started to consider it. He said he didn’t want to leave $10,000 to chance, and after his chip lead shrank, he decided to accept the deal. After the tournament, Ndoja remarked that this would likely be his last chop, and going forward he plans to improve his game to become a tougher opponent at the table. “No more deals,” he emphasized, adding that he aims to become a prominent figure in the poker community over the next two years. Context: The RunGood Poker Series and Its Significance The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is a major poker tournament series held at various venues across the United States. The series is known for its accessible buy-ins, large guarantees, and a unique atmosphere that brings together both professionals and recreational players. The RGPS Golden Expedition Ohio Main Event with a $600 buy-in was the first of its kind at Lake Erie Poker Room, drawing attention from both local and traveling players. Michael Barlow’s victory and the unusual method of determining the champion—a nine-card flip—provided a memorable conclusion to a tournament that will be remembered by both participants and spectators. For Barlow, it’s his second RGPS title; for Antonio Ndoja, it’s a valuable experience and motivation to keep improving. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a great example that even tournaments with relatively modest buy-ins can offer substantial prizes and prestigious titles. The strategies used at live final tables—such as negotiating deals, realistically assessing your stack, and not shying away from unconventional decisions—are often just as relevant in online clubs. It’s also worth noting the flip format used to decide the winner. PPPoker clubs offer various formats of quick all-ins and flips, which can help resolve close situations or simply add variety to the game. This can be an interesting experience for those looking to try not only classic tournaments but also unique formats. Finally, Antonio Ndoja’s experience shows that even new players can achieve success quickly if they’re willing to learn and make tough decisions. For PPPoker club members, it’s a strong incentive to keep working on their game, participate in both team and individual tournaments, and seize opportunities to shine at final tables.