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The final day of the 2026 RGPS Golden Expedition Kentucky series brought a historic result at The Barrel Social Club, as Nashville-area player James Brashear claimed the largest first-place prize in the state’s poker history. Brashear earned $56,804 after a deal was struck among the final four players.
The $800 buy-in Main Event drew 606 entries across six starting flights, generating a record $424,200 prize pool for Kentucky. Brashear reached a four-way ICM deal with Eric Cunningham, John Mingus and Christopher Borinsky before play resumed for the title.
Brashear, who considers poker a hobby, said his first live cash already felt like a win before the deal was made, noting he had only played four live tournaments in the past five years. He described the day as stress-free compared to past tournament experiences.
Three RunGood Ambassadors also competed in the 74-player final field. Heather Alcorn was the first eliminated among them in 50th place, Preston McEwen went out in 44th after a tense hand with Brashear, and Craig Welko finished 16th.
Brashear entered the final table in the middle of the pack before building his stack, eventually eliminating Maxx Dansky in fifth place with a full house. After Borinsky’s elimination in fourth, a secondary agreement awarded Brashear the RGPS ring outright.
Set to marry in about six weeks, Brashear said the winnings would help cover wedding costs, with plans to buy his fiancée a gift and frame the ring as a keepsake from what he called his likely only tournament victory.
