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

01-03-2026 11:24 UTC-5

Brunelle Cracks Aces in Three-Way All In

David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Bridget Johnson bet 5,000 from early position on a board of J♦J♣9♣Q♥ and Eric Kalfell called in middle position. Randy Brunelle then raised to 11,500 in the big blind. "Alright, I'll rebuy," Johnson said as she stuck in her last 15,300. Kalfell also shoved for 35,000, and Brunelle called all in for less.

Johnson showed A♥A♦, while Kalfell had K♣10♠ for a straight. Brunelle, though, had Q♣J♠ for a full house, and the 10♣ river gave him the entire pot.

"After yesterday, I'm never playing that hand again," tablemate Robert Hawkenberry said to Johnson, harkening back to his cruel bustout on the money bubble during yesterday's late flight.

Player	Chips	Progress
Randy Brunelle	70,000 70,000	70,000
Eric Kalfell	21,000 21,000	21,000
Bridget Johnson	Busted

Tags: Bridget Johnson Eric Kalfell Randy Brunelle

01-03-2026 11:17 UTC-5

Thury Snaps One Off With Aces

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

After a player in middle position limped in, Jeremy Thury raised to 2,000 in the hijack before another opponent in the small blind shoved for 10,000. The middle-position player folded, but Thury snap-called.

All-in Player: A♣J♥ All in
Jeremy Thury: A♠A♦

Thury had picked up two aces, and his opponent was already leaving the table as the flop came 8♠2♠4♥. The rest of the board ran out 8♥7♦ and Thury scored the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremy Thury	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Jeremy Thury

01-03-2026 11:07 UTC-5

Wallin Trips Up an Opponent

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Carl Wallin bet 2,000 from the button on a flop of Q♣9♣4♣ and an opponent in the big blind called.

The turn was the 9♠ and the big blind led out for 5,500. Wallin then moved all in, and his opponent called off his last 12,000.

The at-risk player showed A♠Q♦ for two pair, but Wallin had turned trips holding 10♣9♦. The river was the J♣ and Wallin scored the knockout.

"Just an absolute cooler," Wallin said as he stacked up the chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Carl Wallin	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Carl Wallin

Level: 3

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 400

01-03-2026 11:00 UTC-5

Wingard Fills Up For a Double Knockout

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Patrick Wingard, Kevin Tumey, and Gaylin Schmidt saw a flop of 8♥4♦3♥. Tumey then got in his last 10,000 from the hijack, Schmidt shoved for 16,000, and Wingard put both opponents at risk in the small blind.

Kevin Tumey: 7♠6♠ All in
Gaylin Schmidt: J♣8♣ All in
Patrick Wingard: 3♦3♣

Wingard was ahead with his set of threes, but Tumey hit a straight on the 5♠ turn. The river, though, brought the 8♠, giving Wingard a full house and sending both opponents to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Patrick Wingard	55,000 55,000	55,000
Kevin Tumey	Busted
Gaylin Schmidt	Busted

Tags: Gaylin Schmidt Kevin Tumey Patrick Wingard

01-03-2026 10:57 UTC-5

Thompson Bets Big on the River

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Mark Britton bet 1,800 from early position on a flop of 6♥8♠Q♠ and Dan Thompson called in the hijack, as did Michael Williams in the cutoff.

The turn was the 7♠ and Britton checked over to Thompson who bet 4,000. Only Williams called to see the 3♥ river, where Thompson bet 12,000.

Williams spent a minute muttering to himself before tossing his cards into the muck, surrendering the pot to Thompson.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Thompson	45,000 15,000	15,000
Mark Britton	27,000 3,000	3,000
Michael Williams	15,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Dan Thompson Mark Britton Michael Williams

01-03-2026 10:50 UTC-5

Short Bets Out Ewald on the River

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Heads-up on a flop of J♠8♥8♠, Gary Ewald bet 3,000 from the hijack and Niles Short called in early position.

Ewald bet another 3,300 on the 5♠ turn, and Short again called. The river was the A♠ and Short led out for 5,500. Ewald quickly folded.

"I didn't have a spade," Ewald said.

"I didn't even notice the spades. I wasn't paying attention," Short replied with a laugh.

Player	Chips	Progress
Niles Short	40,000
Gary Ewald	20,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Niles Short Gary Ewald

01-03-2026 10:46 UTC-5

Stambaugh Hits a Set to Double

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

Tom Stambaugh and Brian Hamski went to the turn on a board of 8♦6♦2♠Q♥ when Stambaugh got in his last 22,000 from the big blind. Hamski put him at risk under the gun.

Stambaugh turned over 6♥6♣ for a set, and Hamski could only show Q♠J♦ for top pair. The river was the 5♠ and Stambaugh doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tom Stambaugh	50,000
Brian Hamski	6,000 6,000	6,000

Tags: Brian Hamski Tom Stambaugh

01-03-2026 10:41 UTC-5

Neb a Man of His Word, To His Own Detriment

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante

More than 20,000 was already in the middle going to the turn on a board of K♦A♦5♥8♦ when Dennis Davis bet 7,000 from middle position. Kevin Neb called in the small blind, but Brent Slaubaugh then moved all in for 27,000 from early position.

Davis took a minute before folding, but Neb quickly called and turned over 5♦5♠ for a set. Slaubaugh, though, showed Q♦J♦ for a flush, and he held on through the 2♠ river to secure the pot.

Neb was narrowly covered and was sent to the rail. "I hope I get another table. I told you I was going to give you all my chips. I'm a man of my word," Neb told Slaubaugh on his way to get another stack at the registration desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brent Slaubaugh	65,000 214,000	214,000
Kevin Neb	30,000 2,000	2,000
Dennis Davis	20,000

Tags: Brent Slaubaugh Dennis Davis Kevin Neb

Level: 2

Blinds: 200/300

Ante: 300