$1,200 Main Event Day 1ab | 2026 Great Lakes Poker Classic

Mar 19, 2026

Smurr More Than Doubles With An Ace

Liam Gannon

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Tim Ebenhoeh called from early position and Clinton Hubble raised to 2,500 in the cutoff. On the button, Ken Smurr moved all in for 25,400 which saw Henry Zou move all in for more in the big blind. Tim Ebenhoeh called to put himself at risk for 8,000 while Hubble showed an A♦ as he folded.

Tim Ebenhoeh: K♥Q♣
Ken Smurr: A♣4♣
Henry Zou: K♥K♦

The board ran out A♥7♠2♠4♠10♣ and the aces and fours were good for Smurr to more than double, leaving Zou short and Ebenhoeh out.

Tags: Clinton Hubble Henry Zou Ken Smurr Tim Ebenhoeh

Level: 6

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

Mar 19, 2026

Pelekh Doubles Through Ruscitti

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Liam Gannon

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Zinoviy Pelekh raised to 1,300 from the hijack and Terry Kocher called in the small blind. In the big blind, Kevin Ruscitti three-bet to 6,500 to see only Pelekh call.

The flop rolled out Q♦9♠8♥ and Ruscitti moved all in for 16,300 to see Pelekh call.

Zinoviy Pelekh: A♦Q♥
Kevin Ruscitti: J♥J♠

The board ran out 7♠8♠ and the queens up was good for Pelekh to double at the expense of Ruscitti.

At other tables, Stephen Wangler, Graham Gardner, and Dalton Potter, were eliminated in the tournament.

Tags: Graham Gardner Kevin Ruscitti Stephen Wangler Terry Kocher Zinoviy Pelekh

Mar 19, 2026

Stout Takes From Jensen; More Entrants

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Liam Gannon

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Adam Jensen raised to 1,200 from late position and both Steven Stout in the small blind and Cody Stewart in the big blind called.

The flop rolled out A♣A♠Q♦ and action checked around to Jensen who bet 2,200 to see only Jensen call.

Both players checked the turn 7♣ to the river K♦ where Stout bet 3,600 to a quick fold from Jensen.

Thomas Midena was eliminated at another table while players Alec Magdan and Brady Wieland entered the tournament.

Tags: Adam Jensen Alec Magdan Brady Wieland Cody Stewart Steven Stout Thomas Midena

Level: 5

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

Mar 19, 2026

Smurr Gets There Against Midena

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Liam Gannon

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Ken Smurr moved all in for 13,800 in early position and in the big blind, Thomas Midena called.

Ken Smurr: J♠10♥
Thomas Midena: A♦J♥

The board ran out 10♣6♥5♣3♣6♠ and the ten on the flop gave Smurr the best hand to survive.

Tags: Ken Smurr Thomas Midena

Mar 19, 2026

Ruscitti Spikes The River on Gardner

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Liam Gannon

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Action was picked up on the turn in a pot between Graham Gardner in the small blind and Kevin Ruscitti in first position.

The board read 8♠4♦2♥4♠ and Gardner checked over to Ruscitti who bet 3,500. Gardner responded by raising to 8,000 and Ruscitti called.

Gardner led out for 10,000 on the river Q♦ and Ruscitti raised to 33,000, which Gardner called.

Ruscitti turned over Q♥Q♠ for queens full of fours, which was good against Gardner's K♥K♣ for kings up. Ruscitti becomes the first player to cross the six figure mark in the tournament.

Shortly after, Terry Kocher was eliminated from the tournament and rebought to sit down at the same table he was eliminated from.

Tags: Graham Gardner Kevin Ruscitti Terry Kocher

Level: 4

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

Mar 19, 2026