$250 Main Event | 2026 RPT Casino State Championship

01-04-2026 18:46 UTC-6

Kelly Doubles Off Westerman; Bailey Takes Two Hits

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Steve Kelly moved all in for 1,200,000 in the cutoff and Wilfred Westerman called on the button.

Steve Kelly: A♦K♣ All in
Wilfred Westerman: A♥10♥

Kelly had Westerman dominated and was a favorite to double up. The 2♠6♦5♦5♣ board offered some chop opportunities, but Kelly scooped the pot after the 3♥ river to double up.

At another table, Jonathan Bailey and Riley Vareberg went to the river on a board of A♦6♠8♦Q♠10♣ when Bailey led out for 100,000 from the big blind. Vareberg then raised to 500,000, and Bailey snap-called.

Vareberg showed K♥J♥ for a running straight. "God, you're killing me," Bailey said.

Kamden Keleher then three-bet to 315,000 in the big blind and Bailey called on the button. Keleher moved all in on the 3♣2♦9♠ flop. "I have a suited jack. Jack-ten," Bailey said as he mucked, taking another hit to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kamden Keleher	2,600,000 1,100,000	1,100,000
Riley Vareberg	2,400,000 700,000	700,000
Jonathan Bailey	700,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Tags: Jonathan Bailey Kamden Keleher Riley Vareberg Steve Kelly Wilfred Westerman

01-04-2026 18:34 UTC-6

Ashton Wendland Eliminated in 22nd Place ($1,900); Kevin Selby Eliminated in 21st place ($2,240)

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Ashton Wendland moved all in for 550,000 in the cutoff and Wilfred Westerman called on the button.

Ashton Wendland: J♥10♣ All in
Wilfred Westerman: Q♠Q♣

Wendland was far behind Westerman's queens, andn the K♦5♠3♣3♠J♠ board offered no help as he was sent to the rail in 22nd place.

At another table, Kevin Selby was forced all in from the big blind the next hand after losing the flip to Gary Ewald but woke up with K♦K♥ to double up off Kyle Shipman's A♥J♦.

Selby shoved again for 250,000 the next hand and Riley Vareberg called in the big blind.

Kevin Selby: K♣8♣ All in
Riley Vareberg: K♥10♥

Vareberg hit top pair on the 10♥2♠9♠ flop, and the rest of the board ran out 4♠3♣ to send Selby to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Riley Vareberg	1,700,000 600,000	600,000
Wilfred Westerman	1,200,000 700,000	700,000
Ashton Wendland	Busted
Kevin Selby	Busted

Tags: Ashton Wendland Kevin Selby Riley Vareberg Wilfred Westerman

01-04-2026 18:31 UTC-6

Ewald Survives a Big Flip

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Gary Ewald on the button and Kevin Selby under the gun got all their chips in the middle before the flop.

Gary Ewald: 10♦10♣ All in
Kevin Selby: A♥K♦

It was a big flip, and Ewald's tens stayed in the lead through the 4♦7♦7♣5♦9♣ board to earn him the pot.

The stacks were counted down and Selby had Ewald's 970,000 covered by just 90,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gary Ewald	2,000,000 1,200,000	1,200,000
Kevin Selby	250,000 860,000	860,000

Tags: Gary Ewald Kevin Selby

01-04-2026 18:20 UTC-6

Aaron Knudson Eliminated in 23rd Place ($1,900)

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Steve Kelly raised to 150,000 in middle position, Aaron Knudson shoved for 230,000 in the small blind, and Kelly called.

Aaron Knudson: A♦J♠ All in
Steve Kelly: J♥J♣

Knudson was looking for an ace to stay alive, but he missed the 6♥3♦2♦8♣7♥ board and was eliminated in 23rd place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve Kelly (ND)	1,300,000 100,000	100,000
Aaron Knudson	Busted

Tags: Aaron Knudson Steve Kelly

01-04-2026 18:16 UTC-6

Kelly's Turn For a Dramatic Double

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Steve Kelly was all in for 600,000 from the button and up against Kim Rasmussen in early position.

Steve Kelly: 9♣5♣ All in
Kim Rasmussen: Q♥J♣

Kelly hit two pair on the K♣9♦K♥ flop to take the lead, but the 10♠ fell on the turn to give Rasmussen a straight. The river, though, was the K♠ and Kelly improved to a full house to double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kim Rasmussen	2,400,000 1,065,000	1,065,000
Steve Kelly (ND)	1,200,000 360,000	360,000

Tags: Kim Rasmussen Steve Kelly

01-04-2026 18:15 UTC-6

Shipman Takes a Page From Ewald's Notebook

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Kyle Shipman moved all in for 660,000 under the gun and Jonathan Bailey called in early position.

Kyle Shipman: J♣J♠ All in
Jonathan Bailey: A♦Q♠

Shipman was racing for his tournament life as the flop came 7♣3♦7♦. The 6♦ turn gave Bailey more outs with a flush draw, and he hit his flush on the J♦ river. The same card, though, gave Shipman a full house and a double up.

"What was up with that?" Bailey said as he gave Shipman a hand shake.

"I learned it from you," Shipman told tablemate Gary Ewald.

"No coaching," Kamden Keleher added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jonathan Bailey	2,200,000 495,000	495,000
Kyle Shipman	1,300,000 195,000	195,000

Tags: Jonathan Bailey Kyle Shipman

01-04-2026 18:11 UTC-6

Ewald Finds a Jack to Survive

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 50,000/75,000, 75,000 ante

Gary Ewald moved all in for 385,000 in the hijack and Kamden Keleher called in the cutoff. "I got it," Keleher warned Ewald before they turned over their cards.

Gary Ewald: J♥J♣ All in
Kamden Keleher: A♠A♥

Ewald had run into aces, but the J♦6♥9♦ flop gave him top set as he let out a big fist pump. The board ran out 4♦10♥ and he doubled up.

"You had it, you mean," Ewald told Keleher.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kamden Keleher	1,500,000 605,000	605,000
Gary Ewald	800,000 60,000	60,000

Tags: Gary Ewald Kamden Keleher

Level: 24

Blinds: 50,000/75,000

Ante: 75,000

01-04-2026 18:04 UTC-6

Cash Mitchell Eliminated in 24th Place ($1,900)

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Cash Mitchell moved all in for 315,000 in the hijack and Jamie Meidinger called in the cutoff.

Cash Mitchell: A♣J♠ All in
Jamie Meidinger: K♣Q♦

Mitchell remained in the lead on the 8♦5♠4♥ flop, but Meidinger hit the Q♣ on the turn to move in front. The river was the 4♠ and Mitchell was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jamie Meidinger	2,000,000 200,000	200,000
Cash Mitchell	Busted

Tags: Cash Mitchell Jamie Meidinger

01-04-2026 17:56 UTC-6

Hogue Shoves on Meidinger; Knudson Doubles Off Westerman

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Jamie Meidinger raised to 160,000 in the hijack, Mitch Hogue three-bet to 460,000 in the big blind, and Meidinger called.

Both players checked the Q♠J♣A♠ flop. Hogue then bet 400,000 on the 5♣ turn, and Meidinger called.

The river was the 9♦ and Hogue moved all in. Meidinger took a minute before folding, and Hogue took the big pot.

Aaron Knudson was all in for 250,000 from the big blind at another table and up against Wilfred Westerman.

Aaron Knudson: K♦K♥ All in
Wilfred Westerman: A♠7♦

Knudson needed to avoid an ace to stay alive, and he dodged the 7♥2♠9♠4♦5♦ board to double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mitch Hogue	3,500,000 1,500,000	1,500,000
Jamie Meidinger	1,800,000 1,595,000	1,595,000
Aaron Knudson	500,000 100,000	100,000
Wilfred Westerman	500,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Aaron Knudson Jamie Meidinger Mitch Hogue Wilfred Westerman