$250 Main Event | 2026 RPT Casino State Championship

01-04-2026 11:48 UTC-6

Leibfried Turns the Nuts to Bust Vandevoort; Ellis Runs Into Kings

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Daniel Vandevoort moved all in for 110,000 from the button and was up against Albert Leibfried in middle position.

Daniel Vandevoort: 8♥8♠ All in
Albert Leibfried: A♦Q♦

The K♥10♣2♣ flop gave Leibfried a straight draw to go with his overcards, and he spiked the nut straight on the J♥ turn. The river was the 5♣ and Vandevoort was eliminated.

At another table, Kevin Ellis was all in for 100,000 from the big blind and up against Greg Passa under the gun.

Kevin Ellis: Q♣Q♥ All in
Greg Passa: K♥K♦

Ellis had run his queens into Passa's kings, and the J♠3♠10♣4♦10♠ board was no help as he also headed to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Albert Leibfried	320,000 44,000	44,000
Greg Passa	250,000 60,000	60,000

Daniel Vandevoort	Busted
Kevin Ellis	Busted

01-04-2026 11:41 UTC-6

Rickford Decimates Han on the River

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

A massive pot was brewing between Keith Rickford in early position and Nga Han in the small blind as they each got all their chips in the middle before the flop.

Keith Rickford: A♣K♣ All in
Nga Han: J♥J♦

The two opponents were racing, and Han remained in the lead with her jacks through the turn on a board of 10♠5♠6♠10♥. The river, though, was the A♥ and Rickford spiked two pair to win the pot.

The stacks were counted down, and Han had Rickford's remaining 281,000 covered by just 15,000 as Rickford earned the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Keith Rickford	600,000 264,000	264,000
Nga Han	15,000 253,000	253,000

Tags: Keith Rickford Nga Han

01-04-2026 11:37 UTC-6

Payouts

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

The 1,655 entries in this event built a prize pool of $331,000, the largest in NOrth Dakota poker history. The champion will earn $49,300, plus a $10,700 WSOP Main Event package.

Payouts

Place	Prize	Place	Prize	Place	Prize
1	$49,300	13-15	$3,200	73-81	$620
2	$30,000	16-18	$2,700	82-90	$580
3	$23,000	19-21	$2,240	91-99	$525
4	$17,000	22-24	$1,900	100-108	$500
5	$13,000	25-27	$1,600	109-117	$470
6	$10,000	28-36	$1,165	118-135	$440
7	$7,770	37-45	$900	136-153	$400
8	$6,200	46-54	$820	154-165	$375
9	$4,300	55-63	$730
10-12	$3,800	64-72	$640

01-04-2026 11:32 UTC-6

Westerman Spikes a Set to Bust Hehr

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Chad Hehr moved all in for 160,000 from the small blind and Wilfred Westerman put him at risk in early position.

Chad Hehr: A♦K♥ All in
Wilfred Westerman: Q♥Q♠

Hehr caught the A♠ right in the window, but it was followed by Q♣5♦ as Westerman hit a set. The board ran out 10♣K♣ and Hehr finished with a no-good two pair as he headed off to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wilfred Westerman	750,000 182,000	182,000
Chad Hehr	Busted

Tags: Wilfred Westerman Chad Hehr

01-04-2026 11:28 UTC-6

Tame Shoves on Komrosky

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 4♣K♦Q♠, Kraig Komrosky bet 21,000 from the hijack and Tyson Tame called in the big blind.

The turn was the 7♥ and Komrosky bet another 75,000. Tame then moved all in for 180,000, and Komrosky took a minute before folding.

At another table, Mike Schultz moved all in for 110,000 from the hijack and Marlin Leidholm called in the big blind.

Mike Schultz: 10♥10♦ All in
Marlin Leidholm: Q♠Q♦

Schultz had run his tens into Leidholm's queens, and the board ran out A♥5♣9♠J♣9♦ to send Schultz to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tyson Tame	350,000 90,000	90,000
Marlin Leidholm	250,000 96,000	96,000
Kraig Komrosky	190,000 124,000	124,000
Mike Schultz	Busted

Tags: Kraig Komrosky Marlin Leidholm Mike Schultz Tyson Tame

01-04-2026 11:21 UTC-6

Johnson Claims an Early Knockout

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Justin Heilman moved all in for 60,000 from the button and Bridget Johnson called in the small blind.

Justin Heilman: Q♠10♥ All in
Bridget Johnson: Q♣J♣

Johnson hit top pair on the J♠5♦2♥ flop to take a bigger. lead in the pot, whiile Heilman was left drawing dead after the 6♣ turn. The river was the 6♠ and Heilman was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bridget Johnson	320,000 59,000	59,000
Justin Heilman	Busted

Tags: Bridget Johnson Justin Heilman

Level: 15

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 8,000

01-04-2026 11:03 UTC-6

Action Almost Underway

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David Salituro

The players are in their seats and have unbagged their chips in preparation for Day 2, but first, Brent Slaubaugh, Loren Dilger, and Wade Schlecht will be honored as this year's Roughrider Poker Tour Hall of Fame inductees. Arlie Brandvold will also be awarded his third RPT Player of the Year in the last four years.

Action should get underway within the next few minutes.

01-04-2026 09:29 UTC-6

Winner Will Be Crowned on Day 2 of the Historic RPT Casino State Championship

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David Salituro

History has already been made. Now it’s time to hand out a trophy when Day 2 of the record-shattering $250 Roughrider Poker Tour Casino State Championship begins at 11 a.m. local time.

Just 165 players out of a massive starting field of 1,655 return on championship Sunday to play down to a winner. Skyler Sand sits atop the leaderboard at the start of the day with 789,000, followed by Cody Krause (735,000), Shane Stegora (731,000), Cash Mitchell (724,000), and Steve Keplin (680,000).

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Skyler Sand	United States	789,000	99
2	Cody Krause	United States	735,000	92
3	Shane Stegora	United States	731,000	91
4	Cash Mitchell	United States	724,000	91
5	Steve Keplin	United States	680,000	85
6	Basim Habib	United States	671,000	84
7	Mitch Hogue	United States	644,000	81
8	Preston Dean	United States	636,000	80
9	Jeremy Ensrud	United States	613,000	77
10	Duston Lantz	United States	605,000	76

Other top stacks include Preston Dean (636,000), Jeremy Thury (516,000), Josh Unruh (397,000), Owen Martin (388,000), defending champion Jon Maras (374,000), Weston Wells (360,000), and Tyler Kolness (356,000). Further down the leaderboard are Brent Slaubaugh (279,000), Corey Littlewolf (271,000), Bridget Johnson (261,000), reigning RPT Player of the Year Arlie Brandvold (190,000), Miles Barnum (167,000), and Terence Reid (98,000).

The 1,655 players who came to the Spirit Lake Casino & Resort in St. Michael over six starting flights built up a prize pool of $331,000, the largest in North Dakota poker history. The champion will take home $49,300, plus a $10,700 WSOP Main Event package.

The action on Day 2 picks up on Level 15 with blinds of 4,000/8,000 and an 8,000 big blind ante. Levels will be extended to 40 minutes for the duration of the tournament.

With still 165 players in the hunt, it should be a long night before a champion is crowned. Stay tuned as PokerNews follows the action the entire way until one player is left standing and writes their name in the record books.

Tags: Arlie Brandvold Brent Slaubaugh Bridget Johnson Cash Mitchell Cody Krause Corey Littlewolf Jeremy Thury Jon Maras Josh Unruh Miles Barnum Owen Martin Preston Dean Skyler Sand Steve Keplin Terence Reid Tyler Kolness Weston Wells

01-04-2026 08:29 UTC-6

Day 2 Seat Draw

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David Salituro

Table	Seat	Player	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	1	Katie Fowler	325,000	41
1	2	Skyler Sand	789,000	99
1	3	Nathan Wangler	249,000	31
1	4	Eli Egli	300,000	38
1	5	Mark Ihringer	232,000	29
1	6	Tucker Salander	407,000	51
1	7	Justin Heilman	57,000	7
1	8	Bridget Johnson	261,000	33
1	9	Kyle Shipman	348,000	44

2	1	Eric Hjelmstad	243,000	30
2	2	Cody Krause	735,000	92
2	3	Tim McFarland	210,000	26
2	4	Dayton Gehrig	113,000	14
2	5	Basim Habib	671,000	84
2	6	Jeremy Ensrud	613,000	77
2	7	Jesse Haabak	189,000	24
2	8	Dale McDonough	190,000	24
2	9	Tim Erban	77,000	10

3	1	Gil Temme	277,000	35
3	2	Justin Fowler	107,000	13
3	3	Nate Anderson	54,000	7
3	4	Steve Kelly	159,000	20
3	5	Nick Boyum	449,000	56
3	6	Harry Anderson	222,000	28
3	7	Blain Ovind	124,000	16
3	8	Jill Schlecht	149,000	19
3	9	Jon Maras	374,000	47

4	1	John Choleva	590,000	74
4	2	Jessica Kendall	405,000	51
4	3	Kyle Stronski	133,000	17
4	4	Adam Desroches	65,000	8
4	5	Chad Weldon	208,000	26
4	6	Ryan Nickle	114,000	14
4	7	Jeremy Thury	516,000	65
4	8	Duston Lantz	605,000	76
4	9	Nick Thomas	82,000	10

5	1	Robert O'Connell	240,000	30
5	2	Albert Leibfried	276,000	35
5	3	Nga Han	268,000	34
5	4	Anthony Uhlir	346,000	43
5	5	Daniel Vandevoort	158,000	20
5	6	Keith Rickford	336,000	42
5	7	Eric Hanson	387,000	48
5	8	Riley Vareberg	382,000	48
5	9	Brent Slaubaugh	279,000	35

6	1	Preston Dean	636,000	80
6	2	Tyler Kolness	356,000	45
6	3	Ashton Wendland	218,000	27
6	4	Dusty Caspers	378,000	47
6	5	Brad Pausch	335,000	42
6	6	Corey Littlewolf	271,000	34
6	7	Daryl Ellis	203,000	25
6	8	Jacob Yankton	112,000	14
6	9	Eric Nordstrom	367,000	46

7	1	Kevin Ellis	165,000	21
7	2	Cash Mitchell	724,000	91
7	3	Greg Passa	190,000	24
7	4	Justin Azure	187,000	23
7	5	Dave Ouellette	454,000	57
7	6	Roger Isla	279,000	35
7	7	Doug Yankton	145,000	18
7	8	Mitch Hogue	644,000	81
7	9	Norbert Rosario	177,000	22

8	1	Mark Britton	265,000	33
8	2	Mark Dufner	119,000	15
8	3	Alex Aemisegger	64,000	8
8	4	Tanner Larson	184,000	23
8	5	Carl Wallin	175,000	22
8	6	Michael Dehen	305,000	38
8	7	Dallas Opiola	137,000	17
8	8	Jason Senger	210,000	26
8	9	Cameron Wierson	483,000	60

9	1	Kamden Keleher	246,000	31
9	2	Robert Anderson	457,000	57
9	3	Cody Kessler	130,000	16
9	4	Jackson Skjerseth	208,000	26
9	5	Chase Lardy	93,000	12
9	6	Andrew Taylor	348,000	44
9	7	Ryan Berndt	137,000	17
9	8	Gary Ewald	372,000	47
9	9	Roberta Kent	73,000	9

10	1	Jonathan Bailey	373,000	47
10	2	Josh Unruh	397,000	50
10	3	Claire Leclerc	198,000	25
10	4	Jesse West	73,000	9
10	5	Cordell Schroeder	58,000	7
10	6	Josh Dahlstrom	201,000	25
10	7	Sheldon Kent	300,000	38
10	8	Ron Haase	120,000	15
10	9	Lonnie Barth	253,000	32

11	1	Richard Anderson	214,000	27
11	2	Aaron Knudson	186,000	23
11	3	Kodey Hammer	192,000	24
11	4	Carter Archibald	94,000	12
11	5	Cameron Law	306,000	38
11	6	Jake Croghan	401,000	50
11	7	Chris Salveson	239,000	30
11	8	Zach Byers	233,000	29
11	9	Deb Gullickson	140,000	18

12	1	Andrew Lynch	138,000	17
12	2	Mike Schultz	131,000	16
12	3	Shane Koenig	409,000	51
12	4	Lee Cavanagh	129,000	16
12	5	Eric Kalfell	113,000	14
12	6	Marlin Leidholm	156,000	20
12	7	Miles Barnum	167,000	21
12	8	Shane Stegora	731,000	91
12	9	Bradley Craig	252,000	32

13	1	JoAnn Counts	311,000	39
13	2	Terence Reid	98,000	12
13	3	Dave Delaplane	156,000	20
13	4	DJ Haman	195,000	24
13	5	Wayne Weiss	213,000	27
13	6	Kellen Hunter	310,000	39
13	7	Randy Smith	57,000	7
13	8	Bob Stephens	206,000	26
13	9	Daryl Oppelt	356,000	45

14	1	Leah Harper	452,000	57
14	2	Trent Sorenson	212,000	27
14	3	Tyson Tame	260,000	33
14	4	Anthony Schreier	197,000	25
14	5	Justin Smith	131,000	16
14	6	Kim Rasmussen	161,000	20
14	7	Kraig Komrosky	314,000	39
14	8	Caden Coleman	275,000	34

15	1	Justin Yankton	167,000	21
15	2	Chastity Askvig	212,000	27
15	3	Leonardo Valenzuela	441,000	55
15	4	Phil Whitsitt	192,000	24
15	5	Wayne Wentz	353,000	44
15	6	Scott Grasse	230,000	29
15	7	Charlie Paukert	234,000	29
15	8	Chad Fowler	131,000	16

16	1	Edward Nemetchek	138,000	17
16	2	Dan Thompson	145,000	18
16	3	Patrick Wingard	310,000	39
16	4	Chad Hehr	173,000	22
16	5	Wade Schlecht	397,000	50
16	6	Isaac Mount	240,000	30
16	7	Sam Smith	129,000	16
16	8	Wilfred Westerman	568,000	71

17	1	Kevin Selby	493,000	62
17	2	Anthony Scarborough	157,000	20
17	3	Owen Martin	388,000	49
17	4	Robert Urbatsch	452,000	57
17	5	Tom Stambaugh	149,000	19
17	6	Tim Rice	380,000	48
17	7	Duff Diseth	316,000	40
17	8	Todd Wentz	216,000	27

18	1	Calvin Berry	214,000	27
18	2	Arlie Brandvold	190,000	24
18	3	Jarett Lovcik	372,000	47
18	4	Weston Wells	313,000	39
18	5	Josh Duchscherer	117,000	15
18	6	Julie Wadena	55,000	7
18	7	Loren Dilger	247,000	31
18	8	Bill Shalhoob	446,000	56

19	1	Kyle Simpson	451,000	56
19	2	Nessa Christensen	173,000	22
19	3	Steve Keplin	680,000	85
19	4	Jamie Meidinger	336,000	42
19	5	Masaki Ova	67,000	8
19	6	Tim Montgomery	82,000	10
19	7	Casey Julson	64,000	8
19	8	Vu Truong	264,000	33