RGPS Kentucky Main Event | James Brashear wins his first career tournament on the money line, taking home $56,804 and a championship ring.

On September 8, 2026, the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Golden Expedition Kentucky $800 Main Event concluded at The Barrel Social Club. This event not only set a new Kentucky poker record with 606 entries, but also produced a rare championship story.

James Brashear, from the Nashville area, had virtually no prior experience in live tournaments. He claimed to have only participated in about four live tournaments in the past five years, and this was his first time entering the tournament money bubble.

As a result, Brashear went straight from the first Cash game to the championship.

After nearly 12 hours of competition on the final day, he reached a four-way ICM deal with Eric Cunningham, John Mingus and Christopher Borinsky, ultimately winning $56,804 and the RGPS championship ring.

606 entries, creating the largest poker prize pool in Kentucky history.

This marks the first time RunGood Poker Series has visited Kentucky.

The $800 Main Event has six starting groups, and the final attraction is:

606 participants

Creating:

Total prize pool of $424,200

This also became the largest poker tournament prize pool in Kentucky history.

Key event data

The first cash payment was enough; everything after that was "extra bonus".

At the start of the final day, a total of 74 players returned to the competition venue.

Brashear was in the middle of the scoreboard at the time, but for him, the real goal had already been achieved.

He told PokerNews that he felt like he had "won" when he successfully sealed the bag the night before and made it into the money for the first time.

Having participated in very few live tournaments before, winning prize money for the first time this time was already beyond his expectations.

That's why he didn't have much of a psychological burden when he entered the final day.

As the tournament progressed, his chip ranking steadily rose, progressing from the middle to the last two tables, and finally securing a spot in the Final Table.

RGPS's three brand ambassadors have all stopped their work.

The final day lineup also included three RunGood brand ambassadors.

Heather Alcorn was the first to be eliminated, finishing in 50th place and earning $1,616.

Preston McEwen faced Brashear early in the final day and managed to pull off a comeback on the river, but ultimately finished in 44th place, earning $1,836.

Craig Welko fought his way to the last two tables, ultimately finishing in 16th place and earning $4,191.

Compared to these players with extensive RGPS experience, Brashear, a player who mainly participates in cash games and rarely plays in tournaments, has made it all the way to the deepest stage.

Starting from fifth place at the final table, Brashear steadily climbed the ranks.

When the final table was entered with 9 players, Brashear was ranked 5th on the scoreboard.

He did not enter the final with a huge lead, but continued the rhythm of the final day, gradually eliminating other players while accumulating his scoreboard.

With five players remaining in the match, he made a crucial elimination.

Brashear crafted a gourd and sent Maxx Dansky out in 5th place.

Dansky obtained:

$22,003

This hand also left only 4 players in the game.

Four players reached an ICM agreement, with the largest prize going to Brashear.

With four players remaining, Brashear, Eric Cunningham, John Mingus, and Christopher Borinsky began discussing the allocation agreement.

Ultimately, the four agreed to redistribute the remaining prize pool according to the ICM data.

The bonuses upon completion of the agreement are as follows:

The original plan was for the four players to continue competing for the RGPS championship ring after the prize money was distributed.

However, with Borinsky's elimination in fourth place, the remaining three reached a second agreement, ultimately allowing Brashear to directly win the championship and ring.

The three players then shook hands to end the match.

James Brashear sets a new Kentucky State Main Event prize money record.

Brashear ultimately received:

$56,804

This was not only his first live tournament prize money, but also the highest single-event first-place prize in Kentucky poker history.

The fact that the RGPS Kentucky Main Event went from being the first cash winner to a state record winner also left a very special record for the event.

2026 RGPS Kentucky Main Event Final Table Results

*The top four winners will have their prize money redistributed through the ICM agreement.

Brashear, who usually plays cash games, admitted that he changed his mind this time.

Brashear describes poker as a hobby, not a full-time profession.

He usually prefers cash games and has been playing at The Barrel Social Club for about a year and a half, but has only recently started to increase his participation.

He has not had ideal experience with tournaments in the past and believes that he has not played well before.

But this time, after entering the reward zone for the first time, he became very relaxed.

Brashear said he enjoyed the tournament experience more than expected and admitted that he did get some luck along the way, but after this victory, he will likely participate in more tournaments in the future.

His fiancée thought he was already out of the picture.

There's another interesting side story to this championship tale.

Brashear was planning to get married in the fall, while his fiancée was away on her bachelor/bachelor party trip.

As the final day progressed, Brashear updated the match schedule less and less frequently.

His fiancée knew he had made it to the Final Table, but after sending him messages multiple times without receiving a reply for a long time, she thought Brashear had already been eliminated.

In fact, he not only didn't get eliminated, but he fought his way to the championship.

Brashear anticipates that his fiancée will be quite surprised when she learns the result the following morning.

The $56,804 prize money will be used for the upcoming wedding.

Brashear has already figured out how to use the champion's prize money.

He revealed that an international wedding will be held in about six weeks, and the related expenses may not have been fully paid yet, so part of the prize money will be directly used for wedding expenses.

In addition, he also plans to prepare a gift for his fiancée.

As for the RGPS championship ring he just received, Brashear is considering framing it and hanging it on the wall of his new home as a memento.

Cash became the RGPS champion in his first tournament.

For most poker players, making it into the money for the first time is probably just the first small record in their career.

James Brashear, however, took this step directly to the championship.

With 606 entries, a prize pool of $424,200, and 74 players making it to the final day, he fought his way from the middle to the final table and then won the highest prize through a four-person ICM agreement.

Ultimately, this player, who usually plays mainly cash games and has only played about four live tournaments in five years, completed his first tournament cash with $56,804 and an RGPS ring.

As for whether this will truly be his "only" tournament victory, even Brashear himself seems to be less certain after this Kentucky journey.

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