No Deal, No Doubt: Arash Asadabadi Fights Back to Win RGPS Maryland Main Event

Confidence can be a powerful weapon in poker and for Arash Asadabadi, it made all the difference.

After turning down a potential deal at the final stage, he battled through a tough heads-up match to claim victory in the RunGood Poker Series Passport Maryland Main Event, walking away with $73,037 and his first RGPS ring.

A Hard-Fought Path to the Title

Held at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, the event marked another successful stop for the RunGood Poker Series.

Key details:

• $1,300 buy-in

• 307 total entries

• $349,980 prize pool

• Final day field trimmed down to just 40 players

After multiple starting flights and a long Day 2 grind, only the strongest remained.

Heads-Up Drama: No Chop, Just Play

In the final showdown, Asadabadi faced off against John Major in a tense, back-and-forth duel.

At one point, discussions of a deal (chop) came up, a common practice where remaining players agree to split the prize pool.

But Asadabadi wasn’t interested.

Instead of locking in a guaranteed payout, he chose to play it out, trusting his instincts and momentum.

That decision paid off.

Belief That Paid Off

After closing out the match and securing the win, Asadabadi admitted the journey took its toll but his confidence never wavered.

Despite the swings of the final table, he maintained a strong belief that the title was his to win even when negotiations for a deal were on the table.

Final Thoughts

Poker often comes down to key decisions at critical moments and for Arash Asadabadi, saying “no” turned out to be the best move he could make.

His win at the RunGood Poker Series Passport Maryland Main Event is a reminder that sometimes, backing yourself is the biggest edge at the table.