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

01-02-2026 12:09 UTC-5

McDonough Shows Down Kings

David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Gary Ewald limped in from middle position before Dale McDonough raised to 2,500 in the cutoff. The big blind called, while Ewald also called to see the A♣A♦9♣ flop.

All three players checked to the 4♥ turn, where the big blind led out for 1,500. Ewald folded, but McDonough raised to 5,000. His opponent called, and they checked down the 5♣ river.

McDonough showed K♦K♣, and the big blind mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dale McDonough	45,000 45,000	45,000
Gary Ewald	35,000 35,000	35,000

Tags: Dave McDonough Gary Ewald

01-02-2026 11:59 UTC-5

Thompson Can Win With Kings

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 2♦10♠3♦, Wilfred Westerman bet 3,500 from the cutoff before Gage Thompson raised to 11,500 in the small blind. Westerman called, and the J♥ fell on the turn.

Thompson then moved all in for 9,600, and Westerman called. Thompson turned over K♦K♣, while Westerman had 10♣5♣ and needed to improve on the river.

Thompson instead hit a set on K♥ to secure the pot and double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wilfred Westerman	70,000 70,000	70,000
Gage Thompson	45,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Gage Thompson Wilfred Westerman

01-02-2026 11:55 UTC-5

Perleberg Doubles Off Gates, Nickle Hates Kings

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Four players went to the turn on a board of 4♥7♠J♦8♣ when Austin Gates bet 6,500 from the cutoff. JR Perleberg then moved all in for 9,200 in the small blind. Ryan Nickle folded in early position as action went back on Gates, who quickly called to put Perleberg at risk.

Gates showed Q♣J♠ for top pair, but Perleberg had turned two pair with J♥8♦. The river was the A♦ and Perleberg doubled up.

"I had kings again. Two red kings," Nickle said, explaining that he had already lost a pot with kings earlier.

"Give them to somebody else," Nickle added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Nickle	35,000 10,000	10,000
JR Perleberg	30,000 15,000	15,000
Austin Gates	10,000

Tags: Austin Gates JR Perleberg Ryan Nickle

01-02-2026 11:50 UTC-5

Mikkelson Takes Some Positives From Her Experience

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Claire Leclerc raised to 1,500 in the hijack and Arya Mikkelson called on the button, as did Dan Thompson in the big blind.

Leclerc bet 2,500 on the Q♦2♣J♦ and Mikkelson put in her last 5,000. Thompson folded, while Leclerc called.

Arya Mikkelson: A♠9♠ All in
Claire Leclerc: Q♥J♣

Leclerc had flopped top two pair to take a big lead in the pot, and the board ran out 6♦2♠ to send Mikkelson to the rail.

"Did you have fun?" tablemate Kim Rasmussen asked Mikkelson.

"Yes," Mikkelson replied, still smiling after busting her first poker tournament ever.

"That's the important thing," Rasmussen added.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Thompson	65,000 20,000	20,000
Claire Leclerc	25,000
Arya Mikkelson	Busted

Tags: Arya Mikkelson Claire Leclerc Dan Thompson

Level: 4

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

01-02-2026 11:33 UTC-5

First Break

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Players are going on the first 15-minute break of the day.

01-02-2026 11:33 UTC-5

Paukert Doubles Off Gates

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

With around 15,000 in the pot on a board of K♦5♣5♠2♠, Austin Gates bet 14,500 from early position before Charlie Paukert moved all in for 22,000 in the big blind. Gates took a minute before calling.

Gates showed 6♥6♣, but Paukert had 8♦8♣ and was a favorite to double up. The river was the 2♦ and Paukert took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Charlie Paukert	60,000 34,000	34,000
Austin Gates	10,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Austin Gates Charlie Paukert

01-02-2026 11:33 UTC-5

Nemetchek Takes a Three-Way All In

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Michael Dehen moved all in for 12,000 in middle position, Edward Nemetchek reshoved for 14,800 in the cutoff, and Jason Senger called in the big blind to put both opponents at risk.

Michael Dehen: 10♥7♥ All in
Edward Nemetchek: Q♣J♣ All in
Jason Senger: A♠K♣

Dehen took the lead on the 7♣4♥4♣ flop with two pair, but Nemetchek made a flush on the 6♣ turn. The river was the A♦ and Nemetchek scooped the pot, earning a double up while sending Dehen to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edward Nemetchek	42,000 22,000	22,000
Jason Senger	20,000 5,000	5,000
Michael Dehen	Busted

Tags: Edward Nemetchek Jason Senger Michael Dehen

01-02-2026 11:27 UTC-5

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
David Kvaal	65,000 5,000	5,000
Marlin Leidholm	60,000 60,000	60,000
Wayne Wentz	50,000 20,000	20,000
Ryan Nickle	45,000 13,000	13,000
Dustyn Huber	40,000 10,000	10,000
Tim McFarland	40,000 10,000	10,000
Arlie Brandvold	35,000 35,000	35,000
Michael Williams	35,000 35,000	35,000
Kim Rasmussen	35,000 35,000	35,000
Jesse West	27,000 27,000	27,000
Michael Dehen	25,000 25,000	25,000
Kevin Selby	25,000 156,000	156,000
Kyle Stronski	25,000 5,000	5,000
Steve Belland	24,000 24,000	24,000
Edward Nemetchek	20,000 10,000	10,000
Arya Mikkelson	5,000 30,000	30,000

01-02-2026 11:23 UTC-5

Wingard Fires at Three-Bet Pot

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Patrick Wingard raised to 1,100 under the gun before Cody Krause three-bet to 3,100 in the hijack. The small blind called, as did Cordell Schroeder in the big blind. Wingard also called, and they went four-handed to the J♣Q♥6♦ flop.

Wingard then bet 6,000, and only Krause called. The turn was the 2♠ and Wingard bet another 15,000. Krause folded this time.

"Whew. Thought I might be heading to a new table," Wingard said as he took in the pot.

"I needed a heart to stick around," Krause told him.