$650 Main Event | 2025 RPT Tri-State Poker Championship

10-05-2025 17:39 UTC-6

Rockets for Fink

Nick Becker

Level 25 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Kim Rasmussen raised to 250,000 under the gun with Q♦Q♥ and Mark Fink three-bet to 750,000 in the hijack holding A♠A♦. Rasmussen made the call.

The flop came J♣K♥10♣ and both players checked to the 8♥ turn. Rasmussen bet 500,000 and Fink called.

On the 3♥ river, Rasmussen checked and Fink elected to check back to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Fink	6,825,000 975,000	975,000
Kim Rasmussen	3,475,000 1,250,000	1,250,000

Tags: Kim Rasmussen Mark Fink

10-05-2025 17:32 UTC-6

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Fink	5,850,000 400,000	400,000
Kim Rasmussen	4,725,000 555,000	555,000
Bridget Johnson	4,275,000 190,000	190,000
Paul Johnson	2,350,000 350,000	350,000
Keith Kemper	2,200,000 555,000	555,000
Cody Slusher	1,175,000 465,000	465,000

Chad Knoblauch Eliminated in 7th Place ($6,600)

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Nick Becker

Level 25 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Paul Johnson raised to 175,000 under the gun and Chad Knoblauch three-bet jammed for 425,000 in the hijack to put himself at risk. Johnson made the call.

Chad Knoblauch: 3♠3♥ All in
Paul Johnson: 10♦9♦

The flop came 6♥4♥Q♠ with Knoblauch's pair of treys still in the lead. The turn landed the 4♦ and the river brought the 9♥ with Johnson pairing his nine to send Knoblauch packing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Johnson	2,000,000 1,540,000	1,540,000
Chad Knoblauch	Busted

Tags: Chad Knoblauch Paul Johnson

10-05-2025 17:11 UTC-6

James Girouard Eliminated in 8th Place ($5,500)

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Nick Becker

Level 25 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Mark Fink raised to 175,000 in the cutoff and and James Girouard three-bet jammed in the big blind for 485,000 to put himself at risk. Fink made the call.

James Girouard: A♦10♥ All in
Mark Fink: A♥8♦

The flop came 7♥9♥5♠ with Fink picking up additional outs with a gutshot. The turn landed the 3♦ and Girouard was in great shape to double up.

That was until the 8♥ landed on the river, ending his impressive tournament run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Fink	6,250,000 1,525,000	1,525,000
James Girouard	Busted

Tags: James Girouard Mark Fink

Level: 25

Blinds: 50,000/75,000

Ante: 75,000

10-05-2025 16:59 UTC-6

Dustin Benda Eliminated in 9th Place ($4,400)

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Nick Becker

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Dustin Benda limped in the small blind and Keith Kemper moved all in to put Benda at risk. Benda had right around ten big blinds to start the hand and made the call.

Dustin Benda: A♣4♣ All in
Keith Kemper: Q♦4♠

Kemper pulled ahead on the Q♥J♣9♣ flop, pairing his queen but Benda still had outs with an ace or a club.

The K♠ turn and 5♠ river offered no help to Benda and he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Keith Kemper	2,755,000 620,000	620,000
Dustin Benda	Busted

Tags: Dustin Benda Keith Kemper

10-05-2025 16:50 UTC-6

Rasmussen Scores Big Double

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Nick Becker

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Keith Kemper raised to 125,000 in early position and Kim Rasmussen three-bet to 350,000 in late position. Kemper called.

The flop came 4♠5♣Q♣ and Kemper checked-raised to 800,000 over Rasmussen's bet of 250,000. Rasmussen then moved all in for 2,215,000 total and Kemper quickly called.

Kim Rasmussen: Q♥Q♦ All in
Keith Kemper: K♣J♣

Rasmussen locked up the win on the 5♥ turn, improving to queens full of fives. The meaningless 8♠ completed the board.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kim Rasmussen	5,280,000 2,500,000	2,500,000
Keith Kemper	2,135,000 2,415,000	2,415,000

Tags: Keith Kemper Kim Rasmussen

10-05-2025 16:35 UTC-6

Is This the End of Poker Content on YouTube? | PokerNews Podcast #919

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Nick Becker

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

In the 919th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are joined by Connor Richards to talk about the latest stories from the poker world, including a discussion about the current poker content landscape on YouTube. If Brad Owen's recent experience is any indication, things don't look good.

The trio then discusses Martin Kabrhel's gold bracelet win at the 2025 World Series of Poker Europe, Michael Mizrachi's "Grinder's Game" coming to Venetian Poker Live, and All In with Jason Koon slated to take place during November's NAPT (info on hotel rates here). Speaking of which, Chad reveals another code word for this year's NAPT Gold Pass giveaway valued at $10,000! There are not many up for grabs this year, so you won't want to miss out on this limited opportunity to win one just by listening to the PokerNews Podcast and MSPT Podcast Presented By PokerNews.

You will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the recent Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) St. Jude, learn about winners from the 2025 Poker Masters and WSOPE, a new poker room coming to Las Vegas, and Chad's personal adventures involving the Miami Dolphins and Mötley Crüe. It's a fun episode that you won't want to miss, so tune in now!

A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

10-05-2025 16:16 UTC-6

Break Time

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Nick Becker

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

The final 9 players have been sent on a 15-minute break. Play will resume at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time.

10-05-2025 16:09 UTC-6

Final Table Redraw

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Nick Becker

Level 24 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Paul Johnson	United States	460,000	8
2	Kim Rasmussen	United States	2,780,000	46
3	Mark Fink	United States	4,725,000	79
4	Chad Knoblauch	United States	715,000	12
5	Cody Slusher	United States	1,640,000	27
6	James Girouard	United States	710,000	12
7	Bridget Johnson	United States	4,085,000	68
8	Dustin Benda	United States	1,110,000	19
9	Keith Kemper	United States	4,550,000	76

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Fink	4,725,000 775,000	775,000
Keith Kemper	4,550,000
Bridget Johnson	4,085,000 1,165,000	1,165,000
Kim Rasmussen	2,780,000 195,000	195,000
Cody Slusher	1,640,000 120,000	120,000
Dustin Benda	1,110,000 270,000	270,000
Chad Knoblauch	715,000 60,000	60,000
James Girouard	710,000 515,000	515,000

Paul Johnson	460,000 540,000	540,000