Tulsa, OK — The RunGood Poker Series has officially crowned Craig Welko as the champion of the 2025/26 RunGood Player of the Year Race powered by The Hendon Mob after a season-long battle across the RunGood Grand Prix Season and RunGood Passport Season schedules. Welko secured the title through consistent performances and deep runs throughout the season, ultimately finishing atop one of the most competitive Player of the Year races in recent RunGood history.
The final Top Five finishers in the 2025/26 standings included:
Craig Welko – 1880.78 pts
Nick Rigby – 1839.68 pts
Robert Gardner – 1298.46 pts
William Stanford – 1104.24 pts
Carl Masters – 1092.61 pts
As part of their accomplishments, the Top Five players will each receive a $500 travel stipend and a two-night hotel stay at Thunder Valley Casino Resort this July where they will compete in the $600 Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship $500,000 Guaranteed event. The five finalists will also be inducted into the prestigious RunGood Hall of Rings, becoming a permanent part of RunGood legacy while receiving a custom-crafted RunGood Player of the Year Ring commemorating their season-long achievements.
In addition to the championship honors, Craig Welko will receive a custom traveling Player of the Year banner that will be showcased at RunGood tour stops throughout the upcoming season, recognizing his achievement as the reigning RunGood Player of the Year. The RunGood Player of the Year Race powered by The Hendon Mob has become one of the tour’s defining season-long competitions, rewarding consistency, dedication, and performance across the national RunGood schedule.
“This race represents everything the RunGood community is built on: commitment, consistency, and competing throughout an entire season,” said Tana Karn, President of the RunGood Poker Series. “Craig Welko earned this title through perseverance and strong performances across the tour, and we’re excited to celebrate all five finalists this summer at Thunder Valley.”
The 2025/26 RunGood Player of the Year Race was powered by The Hendon Mob and tracked throughout the RunGood Grand Prix Season and RunGood Passport Season.