$250 Main Event | 2026 RPT Casino State Championship

01-04-2026 15:05 UTC-6

Brandvold Can't Connect Against Lantz

David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

In a blind versus blind battle, Arlie Brandvold moved all in for 300,000 on a flop of 8♠6♦9♦ and Duston Lantz put him at risk.

Arlie Brandvold: 8♦3♦ All in
Duston Lantz: 9♠6♣

Lantz had flopped two pair, while Brandvold had a pair and flush draw. The turn was the 2♣, while the J♥ completed the board on the river to secure Lantz the pot.

The rest of the room gave the now-three-time RPT Player of the Year a round of applause as he headed to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Duston Lantz	800,000 300,000	300,000
Arlie Brandvold	Busted

Tags: Arlie Brandvold Duston Lantz

01-04-2026 15:03 UTC-6

Ewald Finds a Set in a Big Flip

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Gary Ewald in the cutoff and Caden Coleman in middle position got all their chips in the middle before the flop, Coleman having Ewald's remaining 370,000 covered.

Gary Ewald: Q♠Q♦ All in
Caden Coleman: A♣K♠

Ewald spiked a set on the Q♣9♦4♠ flop to take a big lead, while the K♦ turn arrived too late for Coleman. The river was the 9♥ and Ewald doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gil Temme	1,200,000 923,000	923,000
Gary Ewald	800,000 428,000	428,000
Caden Coleman	400,000 350,000	350,000

Tags: Caden Coleman Gary Ewald

01-04-2026 14:57 UTC-6

Meidinger Runs Pure; Habib Sends Out Mount

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Patrick Wingard moved all in for 525,000 from early position and was up against Jamie Meidinger under the gun.

Patrick Wingard: 9♣9♦ All in
Jamie Meidinger: A♣K♠

Wingard was racing for his tournament life but quickly fell behind on the 7♣A♦2♥ flop. The rest of the board ran out J♠Q♠ and Meidinger scored the massive knockout.

"You run so pure," a tablemate told Meidinger.

At another table, Isaac Mount was all in for 250,000 from the button and up against Basim Habib in the hijack.

Isaac Mount: A♥3♥ All in
Basim Habib: 8♠8♥

Mount received no help on the 10♦6♦5♠J♠2♠ board, and he joined Wingard at the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jamie Meidinger	1,700,000 850,000	850,000
Basim Habib	1,200,000 700,000	700,000
Bob Stephens	600,000 394,000	394,000
Jeremy Ensrud	250,000 363,000	363,000

Patrick Wingard	Busted
Isaac Mount	Busted

Tags: Basim Habib Isaac Mount Jamie Meidinger Patrick Wingard

01-04-2026 14:49 UTC-6

Kendall Suddenly Can't Buy a Pot

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Duston Lantz moved all in for 250,000 in the small blind and Jessica Kendall called in early position.

Duston Lantz: 9♥9♦ All in
Jessica Kendall: J♥J♦

Kendall had Lantz crushed with her jacks, but Lantz spiked a set on the 6♣4♠9♠ flop to take the lead. The rest of the board ran out 5♠K♥ and Kendall handed another opponent a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jessica Kendall	1,400,000 700,000	700,000
Duston Lantz	500,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Duston Lantz Jessica Kendall

Level: 20

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

01-04-2026 14:43 UTC-6

Maras Scores a Knockout; Schlecht Doubles Off Thury

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Carter Archibald moved all in for 300,000 from early position and Jon Maras put him at risk in the small blind.

Carter Archibald: A♣K♦ All in
Jon Maras: 2♦2♥

Archibald was racing for his tournament life as the flop came 3♦5♥8♦, but Maras spiked the 2♣ on the turn to make a set. Archibald was drawing dead going to the Q♠ river, and the defending champ earned the knockout.

Meanwhile, Wade Schlecht was all in for 360,000 from the hijack and up against Jeremy Thury in early position.

Wade Schlecht: K♣K♦ All in
Jeremy Thury: A♦K♠

Schlecht picked up kings and needed to avoid an ace to stay alive. The board ran out 6♠5♥6♦7♣J♣ and Schlecht doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wade Schlecht	750,000 450,000	450,000
Jon Maras	700,000

Jeremy Thury	600,000 200,000	200,000

Carter Archibald	Busted

Tags: Carter Archibald Jeremy Thury Jon Maras Wade Schlecht

01-04-2026 14:39 UTC-6

Start-of-Day Chip Lead Falls; Ouellette Barks For the Last Time

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Skyler Sand raised to 235,000 under the gun and Kyle Simpson moved all in from the button. Sand tossed in his last few chips.

Skyler Sand: A♣7♦ All in
Kyle Simpson: A♠K♣

Both players hit top pair on the J♠6♣10♠A♦3♠ board, but Simpson's king-kicker played to send the start-of-day chip leader to the rail.

At another table, Dave Ouellette and his small dog moved all in for 320,000 in the hijack and were up against Mitch Hogue in the small blind.

Dave Ouellette: 2♠2♣ All in
Mitch Hogue: A♥K♣

Hogue hit top pair on the 6♠K♦J♣ flop to take the lead, and the rest of the board came 10♠8♣ to send Ouellette, and the dog, to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mitch Hogue	1,300,000 650,000	650,000
Kyle Simpson	600,000 450,000	450,000
Skyler Sand	Busted

Dave Ouellette	Busted

Tags: Dave Ouellette Kyle Simpson Mitch Hogue Skyler Sand

01-04-2026 14:32 UTC-6

Kendall Doubles Another; Tame Flops the Joint

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Jeremy Thury raised to 50,000 in early position and Jessica Kendall called in the cutoff. Aaron Knudson then three-bet to 150,000 on the button and Thury folded, but Kendall announced all in. Knudson snap-called for 405,000.

Aaron Knudson: Q♠Q♦ All in
Jessica Kendall: A♠10♠

Kendall picked up a flush draw going to the river on a board of K♣6♥3♠2♠, but she missed the 7♦ and Knudson doubled up.

"Make me sweat," Knudson joked with the dealer.

At another table, Tyson Tame was all in for 295,000 in middle position and up against Shane Stegora in the cutoff.

Tyson Tame: A♣J♥ All in
Shane Stegora: J♦J♣

Tame didn't stay behind for long, as the K♠10♦Q♦ flop gave him the nut straight. The board ran out 7♦4♣ and Tame doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jessica Kendall	2,100,000 500,000	500,000
Aaron Knudson	810,000 624,000	624,000
Jeremy Thury	800,000 284,000	284,000

Tyson Tame	600,000 150,000	150,000
Shane Stegora	250,000 550,000	550,000

Tags: Aaron Knudson Jeremy Thury Jessica Kendall Shane Stegora Tyson Tame

01-04-2026 14:27 UTC-6

Habib, Brandvold Double

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Basim Habib moved all in for 250,000 in the cutoff and Cody Krause called in middle position.

Basim Habib: K♠K♥ All in
Cody Krause: A♠Q♦

Habib was ahead with his kings, and Krause couldn't catch up on the Q♥7♥J♦5♦4♦ board as he handed over the double up.

At another table, Arlie Brandvold shoved for 185,000 on the button and Jessica Kendall put him at risk in the big blind.

Arlie Brandvold: A♣J♥ All in
Jessica Kendall: A♠7♠

Both players hit two pair on the A♥8♣2♣5♦2♥ board, but Brandvold's jack-kicker continued to play to earn him the double up.

Despite dropping that pot, Kendall has continued her ascent to the top of the chip counts and currently sits with more than 2,000,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jessica Kendall	2,600,000 800,000	800,000
Basim Habib	500,000
Arlie Brandvold	400,000 80,000	80,000
Cody Krause	260,000 475,000	475,000

Tags: Arlie Brandvold Basim Habib Cody Krause Jessica Kendall

01-04-2026 14:22 UTC-6

Leibfried Leaves O'Connell on Fumes

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Robert O'Connell moved all in for 230,000 from middle position, Albert Leibfried called for his last 195,000 in the hijack, and the rest of the table folded.

Albert Leibfried: K♥Q♠ All in
Robert O'Connell: K♣10♥

Leibfried had O'Connell dominated going to the flop, which came J♣5♦6♣. The Q♣ turn gave Leibfried top pair but O'Connell straight and flush draws, and Leibfried held on the 7♥ river to earn the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Albert Leibfried	400,000 150,000	150,000
Robert O'Connell	40,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Albert Leibfried Robert O'Connell