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The inaugural RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) event at Lake Erie Poker Room reached its conclusion as 37 returning players battled for the $600 buy-in Main Event title. The tournament drew 360 entries, building a $200,000 prize pool, with the top prize set at $40,875 along with a championship ring.
Michael Barlow ultimately emerged as champion, but not before an unusual finish. With three players remaining, Barlow, Antonio Ndoja, and David Hanna agreed to an even chop of the remaining prize money. Barlow, who held the short stack at the time, said the deal made more sense than risking it all at the tables.
Rather than ending play there, Barlow proposed a flip to determine who would walk away with the ring itself. Hanna declined to participate, leaving Barlow and Ndoja to battle it out. Each player was dealt nine cards and had to construct the best possible hand using five community cards. Barlow’s tens full of aces outlasted Ndoja’s tens full of jacks, securing him the title.
This marks Barlow’s second RunGood Poker Series title, having previously won the RGPS Resort Ohio Tag Team event in 2024 alongside his brother Matthew.
Ndoja, who entered the final table with the largest stack, had an active day, eliminating three opponents before the deal was made. He noted that as stacks evened out, his edge diminished, prompting him to accept the chop rather than risk a larger share of the prize pool.
Hanna also contributed to the final table action, eliminating two players before finishing third in the event.
