Arnwine Defends RGPS Maryland Main

Justin Arnwine has defended his RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Maryland Main Event title, winning the Golden Expedition festival stop at MGM National Harbor for the second consecutive year. The American pro collected $78,501 for the victory.

A Bigger, Cheaper Field

The Main Event buy-in dropped from $1,700 to $1,300, and the lower price point helped push participation to 329 entries. The resulting prize pool reached $375,060, nearly matching the previous year's figure despite the reduced buy-in.

Forty-three players advanced to Day 2, with Arnwine holding the chip lead. He invested a total of eight buy-ins across the starting flights, a reflection of the aggressive, volume-heavy approach that ultimately paid off.

Final Table Runs Past Midnight

The final table lasted more than six hours and concluded after midnight. The decisive stretch came with three players remaining.

Jimmy Chen moved all-in with A-9 suited and Arnwine called with pocket deuces. The flop brought an ace and two more, giving Chen trips, but the turn completed a full house for Arnwine, eliminating Chen in third place.

Maclaren Chatham entered heads-up play with a slight chip lead, but Arnwine quickly reversed the momentum. In the final hand, Arnwine shoved with pocket eights and Chatham called with A-7. The board ran out without improving Chatham's hand, and Arnwine's eights held to seal his second RGPS Maryland Main Event title.

Final Table Results

• 1. Justin Arnwine (USA) — $78,501
• 2. Maclaren Chatham (USA) — $50,212
• 3. Jimmy Chen (USA) — $38,481
• 4. Nathan Farlow (USA) — $28,637
• 5. Casey Hatmaker (USA) — $21,568
• 6. Michael Stroman (USA) — $16,443
• 7. Valentin Lita (USA) — $12,691
• 8. Mark Wahba (USA) — $9,917
• 9. Boris Kravets (USA) — $7,849

What the Result Means

Back-to-back titles in the same regional Main Event are uncommon, and the result positions Arnwine well in mid-major Player of the Year races. Arnwine himself noted on social media that the result should move him toward the top of the mid-major POY standings once the tournament is reflected in the tracking databases.

For players following the regional tournament circuit, the RGPS Maryland stop illustrates a familiar dynamic: a lower buy-in can widen the field without necessarily shrinking the prize pool, provided the turnout grows enough to compensate. The $1,300 price point drew 329 entries and produced a prize pool within reach of the prior year's total at a higher buy-in.

Strategy Notes From the Final Table

Two hands decided the podium, and both are typical examples of how tournament poker rewards aggression and timing rather than raw card strength.

In the three-handed confrontation, Chen's A-9 suited was ahead of Arnwine's pocket deuces before the flop, and it stayed ahead on the flop when Chen made trips. The turn changed everything, giving Arnwine a full house. This is a standard reminder that in no-limit hold'em, no made hand is safe until the river, and short-handed play forces players to accept these swings.

In the heads-up finale, Arnwine's pocket eights were a favorite against Chatham's A-7, and the board ran out clean. Heads-up poker generally rewards the player who applies pressure with a wider range, and Arnwine's willingness to commit chips with a medium pair reflects that principle.

About the Series

The RunGood Poker Series runs regional festival stops across the United States, with the Golden Expedition branding attached to the Maryland event at MGM National Harbor. The Main Event is the flagship tournament of each stop, and the Maryland edition has now been won by Arnwine in consecutive years.