$250 Main Event Day 1ab | 2026 RPT Casino State Championship

01-02-2026 00:37 UTC-5

Taylor Wins a Classic Flip

David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 12: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Andrew Taylor was in the big blind and three-bet to 15,000. Kellen Hunter then moved all in for 80,000 in the small blind, and Taylor called.

Kellen Hunter: A♦K♥ All in
Andrew Taylor: Q♣Q♥

It was a classic flip, and the Q♦J♠4♦ flop gave Taylor top set and Hunter outs to a straight. The turn was the 2♦, while Taylor remained in the lead on the 8♥ river to send Hunter to the rail.

"Gotta win those flips," Taylor said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Taylor (CA)	320,000 40,000	40,000
Kellen Hunter	Busted

Tags: Andrew Taylor Kellen Hunter

01-02-2026 00:27 UTC-5

Choleva Flops a Monster For a Massive Double

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 12: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Around 40,000 was in the pot as Brent Slaubaugh and John Choleva went heads-up to a flop of 10♥9♦9♠. Slaubaugh then bet 35,000 from early position, Choleva moved all in for 170,000 in the small blind, and Slaubaugh called.

John Choleva: 9♣9♥ All in
Brent Slaubaugh: Q♣Q♠

Slaubaugh showed down two queens, but Choleva had flopped quads as he was poised for a massive double up. The rest of the board ran out 3♥5♦ and Choleva scooped the pot worth nearly 400,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Choleva	380,000 60,000	60,000
Brent Slaubaugh	105,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: John Choleva Brent Slaubaugh

01-02-2026 00:23 UTC-5

Thury Picks Up Jacks in Three-Way All In

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 12: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Chase Lardy moved all in for 20,000 in early position and Kraig Komrosky called in middle position. Jeremy Thury then reshoved for 51,500 in the hijack, and Komrosky once again called.

Chase Lardy: 8♠8♦ All in
Jeremy Thury: J♠J♣ All in
Kraig Komrosky: A♠Q♠

Thury was ahead with his jacks going to the flop, which came 9♥6♣2♥. The 3♣ turn kept him in the lead, while the river was the 6♥ and Thury scooped the pot. He doubled up off Komrosky, while Lardy was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremy Thury	130,000 35,000	35,000

Kraig Komrosky	100,000
Chase Lardy	Busted

Tags: Chase Lardy Jeremy Thury Kraig Komrosky

01-02-2026 00:17 UTC-5

Level 12 Begins

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Blinds have increased to 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante.

01-02-2026 00:11 UTC-5

Meidinger Flips Kolness to the Rail

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 11: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Tyler Kolness moved all in for 25,000 from the big blind and Jamie Meidinger called in the cutoff.

Tyler Kolness: 8♠8♦ All in
Jamie Meidinger: A♥Q♣

Meidinger took the lead on the 5♠10♠A♠ flop with top pair, while the turn was the 2♣. Kolness needed help on the river, but he couldn't connect with the J♣ river as Meidinger scored another knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jamie Meidinger	210,000 50,000	50,000
Tyler Kolness	Busted

Tags: Jamie Meidinger Tyler Kolness

01-02-2026 00:04 UTC-5

Taylor Stuns Hjelmstad on the River

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 11: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

A few hands after he busted Cody Krause, Eric Hjelmstad opened to 9,000 on the button and Andrew Taylor three-bet to 26,000 in the big blind. Hjelmstad then moved all in for 75,000, and Taylor quickly called.

Eric Hjelmstad: 10♠10♦ All in
Andrew Taylor: A♥K♠

Hjelmstad remained in the lead with his tens on the Q♣9♦3♣ flop, while the 10♥ turn improved him to a set. Taylor was left looking to complete a straight draw, and he spiked the J♥ on the river as Hjelmstad shot out of his seat and made a quick exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Taylor (CA)	280,000 100,000	100,000
Eric Hjelmstad	Busted

Tags: Andrew Taylor Eric Hjelmstad

01-01-2026 23:59 UTC-5

Hjelmstad Sends Out Krause

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 11: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Cody Krause moved all in for 25,000 from under the gun and Eric Hjelmstad called in middle position.

Cody Krause: K♦J♠ All in
Eric Hjelmstad: A♦J♥

Krause picked up a straight draw going to the river on a board of Q♦6♠3♠10♦, but he missed the 4♠ and was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Hjelmstad	90,000 40,000	40,000
Cody Krause	Busted

Tags: Cody Krause Eric Hjelmstad

01-01-2026 23:54 UTC-5

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 11: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
John Choleva	320,000 110,000	110,000
Steve Keplin	320,000 120,000	120,000

Harry Anderson	300,000 300,000	300,000
Andrew Taylor (CA)	180,000 30,000	30,000
Jon Maras	160,000 50,000	50,000

Kellen Hunter	160,000
Kevin Selby	160,000 50,000	50,000
Richard Anderson	150,000 30,000	30,000
Calvin Berry	130,000 30,000	30,000
Jeremy Thury	95,000 55,000	55,000

Dana Castaneda	80,000 55,000	55,000

Montie Barth	27,000 48,000	48,000

01-01-2026 23:48 UTC-5

Level 11 Begins

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 11 is underway with blinds of 1,500/3,000 and a 3,000 big blind ante.

There are currently 61 players remaining in this flight.

01-01-2026 23:47 UTC-5

Welk Runs Into Barth's Queens

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David Salituro

Level 16 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Level 10: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Lonnie Barth raised to 6,000 in early position, Jesse Welk moved all in for 40,000 in middle position, and Barth snap-called.

Jesse Welk: A♣J♣ All in
Lonnie Barth: Q♥Q♦

Welk was looking for an ace to overcome Barth's queens and stay alive, while the K♦9♣3♠6♣ board gave him additional outs with a flush draw going to the river. He missed the 5♦, and Barth scored the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lonnie Barth	120,000 17,000	17,000
Jesse Welk	Busted

Tags: Lonnie Barth Jesse Welk