RPT Jackpot Junction Main Event | Rob Wazwaz wins on his birthday, taking home 1TP, 4T, 44,600, and a WPT slot.

On August 4, 2026, the Roughrider Poker Tour (RPT) Jackpot Junction $640 Main Event concluded with the championship match. Rob “Waz” Wazwaz, the 2022 WSOP bracelet winner, took over the match in the latter half of the final table, ultimately defeating AJ Thompson to claim the $44,600 champion prize and a WPT Wynn Main Event seat worth $10,400.

This victory held special significance for Wazwaz. The final day coincided with the seventh birthday of his twin daughters, and he was unable to celebrate with his family because he stayed at the tournament. Ultimately, however, he lifted the championship trophy thanks to the "birthday magic" brought by his daughters.

507 participants, prize pool exceeds $270,000

The RPT Jackpot Junction main event featured three starting groups, attracting 507 entries and generating a total prize pool of over $270,000.

On Day 2, 86 players returned to Jackpot Junction Casino and Hotel, with the top 77 making it into the money, with a minimum prize of $1,000.

Daniel Kennedy's prize money is now a bubble; 77 people have secured their winnings.

The pace was relatively slow at the beginning of Day 2, with short-stack players generally hoping to get past the bubble phase first.

Ultimately, Daniel Kennedy went all-in with pocket twos, only to run into his opponent's pocket kings. The community cards failed to bring a comeback, and Kennedy became the bubble player for the event, while the remaining 77 entrants received at least $1,000.

After the bubble burst, the elimination rate accelerated significantly. Players such as Tyler Kolness, Kaden Becker, and Leo Pinamonti all left before the final three tables were formed.

RPT stars gathered at the nine-person final table

This Final Four features several players who have been active in the Roughrider Poker Tour for a long time, including Weston Wells, the all-time leader in the tour's history.

Rob Wazwaz also secured a WPT Wynn Main Event entry worth $10,400.

Justin Deutsch's short code stopped at ninth place.

Justin Deutsch entered the game with the shortest chip stack at the final table. Despite his attempts to double up, he failed to improve his ranking and ultimately finished in ninth place, earning $6,300.

Thai Dinh had a large chip stack early on Day 2, but failed to maintain his advantage at the final table, finishing in eighth place and earning $7,300.

Weston Wells AK hits pocket K

RPT Tour all-time leader Weston Wells faced a clash of strong hands in the seven-player stage.

Wells held AK, while his opponent had pocket kings. The community cards failed to give Wells an Ace or other winning combination, and he finished in seventh place, earning $8,300 and continuing to accumulate his record in RPT tournament winnings.

Justin Carlson then advanced to sixth place with a more cautious play. From this stage onwards, Wazwaz gradually took over the final table.

Wazwaz defeats two high-scoring opponents.

Wazwaz first defeated Terence Reid in the high-stakes chip battle, eliminating the latter in fifth place.

He then won a significant number of chips from Jamie Meidinger. Meidinger was unable to regain his competitiveness and ultimately finished in fourth place, earning $13,000.

In the three-player phase, Wazwaz faced a turning point, but quickly won another large pot, squeezing Paul Jain down to a very short chip stack.

Jain then completed several consecutive double-ups in an attempt to rejoin the championship competition, but his pocket Ks were eventually overtaken, and he finished third with $16,400.

Thompson rallied in a one-on-one battle, but Wazwaz regained the lead.

AJ Thompson entered heads-up play as the chip leader, but he quickly closed the gap and even took the lead at one point.

Wazwaz didn't let losing the lead change his rhythm. He gradually caught up in the chips, regained the advantage, and brought the championship battle into a final, large pot.

A straight on the river beats three of a kind, and the final hand decides the championship.

In the decisive hand, Thompson made a set, while Wazwaz hit a straight on the river.

Both players poured all their chips into the pot on the river, and Wazwaz beat Thompson's trips with a straight, securing the final elimination. Thompson won the $25,000 runner-up prize, while Wazwaz officially clinched the championship.

The original article did not disclose the complete starting hands, community cards, and betting process on each street for both players, therefore this article will not supplement unconfirmed hand details.

Another live champion joins the 2022 gold bracelet winners.

Wazwaz has long been active in the Minnesota poker community and is known for his distinctive, outgoing poker table style.

He won a WSOP gold bracelet in 2022, a victory that brought him over $350,000, the highest single live tournament winnings of his career. Now, he has secured another title at the RPT Jackpot Junction, proving that tournament victories still hold special significance after years of competing.

In addition to the $44,600 prize money, Wazwaz also secured a $10,400 WPT Wynn Main Event seat, which will allow him to travel to Las Vegas to challenge for the higher buy-in International Main Event.

Daughter's birthday becomes champion's day

For Wazwaz, this championship is more than just about prize money and a place in the competition.

He missed his twin daughters' seventh birthday because of the final, but ultimately turned the day into an important celebration for both his family and his poker career. After winning the championship, he attributed the victory to the good luck his daughters brought him on their birthdays and said he now has a larger budget to prepare birthday gifts.

Rob Wazwaz built up an advantage from the six-player stage, and after being overtaken in heads-up play, he regained the lead and ultimately finished the tournament with a straight on the river, taking home the RPT title, $44,600 in prize money, and a WPT Wynn seat.

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