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

01-04-2026 01:48 UTC-5

Salander Hits the River in Classic Flip

David Salituro

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

Level 14: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Tucker Salander was in middle position with a raise of 50,000 in front of him before Eric Zietz moved all in for 111,000 in early position. Salander called to put him at risk.

Eric Zietz: Q♣Q♥ All in
Tucker Salander: A♣K♣

It was a classic flip and Zietz remained in the lead on the 8♣8♥3♦ flop. The 3♣ turn gave Salander additional outs with a flush draw, and he spiked the 9♣ on the river to make his flush and send Zietz to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tucker Salander	300,000 190,000	190,000
Eric Zietz	Busted

Tags: Eric Zietz Tucker Salander

01-04-2026 01:44 UTC-5

Azure Binks the Turn to Bust Magnus

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David Salituro

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

Level 14: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Justin Azure and Andrew Lynch limped in before Brad Magnus moved all in for 80,000 in the cutoff. Azure called, while Lynch got out of the way.

Brad Magnus: Q♥J♥ All in
Justin Azure: 6♣6♠

"You got a bigger pair?" Azure asked Magnus after turning over his sixes.

"No, but it will be," Magnus predicted. The flop came J♠4♣5♣ and Magnus hit top pair to take the lead, but Azure caught the 6♥ on the turn to make a set. The river was the A♣ and Azure sent Magnus to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Azure	150,000
Andrew Lynch	150,000 100,000	100,000
Brad Magnus	Busted

Tags: Andrew Lynch Brad Magnus Justin Azure

01-04-2026 01:40 UTC-5

"Ship It!" Coleman Triples Up

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David Salituro

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

Level 14: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Gary Ronholm raised to 12,000 on the button and Caden Coleman moved all in for 17,000 in the small blind. Chad Weldon called in the big blind, while Ronholm also called.

Ronholm and Weldon checked down the 7♣J♦10♠4♥6♥ board. "Bing! Ship it!" Coleman shouted, turning over J♣10♥ for two pair to win the pot and triple up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Weldon	150,000 95,000	95,000
Caden Coleman	60,000 180,000	180,000
Gary Ronholm	60,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Caden Coleman Chad Weldon Gary Ronholm

01-04-2026 01:36 UTC-5

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

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

Level 14: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Hanson	340,000 60,000	60,000
Riley Vareberg	310,000 170,000	170,000
Cameron Wierson	230,000 20,000	20,000
Cameron Law	220,000 220,000	220,000
Jon Maras	220,000 50,000	50,000

Gary Ewald	210,000 210,000	210,000
Eric Nordstrom	200,000
Edward Nemetchek	200,000 198,000	198,000
Dale McDonough	200,000 140,000	140,000
Nga Han	160,000 90,000	90,000
Mark Britton	150,000 90,000	90,000
Vu Truong	120,000 70,000	70,000
Lee Cavanagh	110,000 30,000	30,000
Tucker Salander	110,000 30,000	30,000
Silas Sneed	80,000 10,000	10,000
Chad Hehr	60,000 10,000	10,000

01-04-2026 01:31 UTC-5

Level 14 Begins

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David Salituro

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

Players are back from break with blinds going up to 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 big blind ante.

01-04-2026 01:15 UTC-5

Break Time

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David Salituro

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

The remaining 69 players are going on a 15-minute break.

Play will conclude once 43 players remain.

01-04-2026 01:15 UTC-5

Balson Doubles His Short Stack, Habib Takes a Bigger Chunk Off Thury

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David Salituro

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

Level 13: 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Tom Balsdon was down to just 5,000 when he moved all in from early position. Basim Habib then reshoved for 40,000 in the cutoff, and Jeremy Thury called under the gun to put both opponents at risk.

Tom Balsdon: 8♦8♥ All in
Basim Habib: A♦Q♠ All in
Jeremy Thury: A♥5♥

Habib had Thury dominated in the much-larger side pot, while Balsdon was racing with his eights. The 6♣4♠3♣10♣3♠ board kept him in the lead for a triple up, while Habib took the side pot off Thury.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeremy Thury	250,000 220,000	220,000

Basim Habib	90,000 50,000	50,000
Tom Balsdon	10,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Basim Habib Jeremy Thury Tom Balsdon

01-04-2026 01:06 UTC-5

Kelly Checks Back His Aces

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David Salituro

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

Level 13: 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 6♥3♠J♣, Steve Kelly bet 45,000 from middle position and Dave Delaplane called in the big blind.

The turn was the 6♣ and Kelly bet another 75,000. Delaplane again called, and the 10♣ fell on the river.

Delaplane checked over to Kelly once more, and Kelly checked back this time. He turned over A♣A♦, and Delaplane mucked A♥J♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steve Kelly (ND)	340,000 200,000	200,000
Dave Delaplane	170,000 170,000	170,000

Tags: Dave Delaplane Steve Kelly

01-04-2026 01:00 UTC-5

Kent Catches Runner-Runner to Bust West

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David Salituro

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

Level 13: 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 7♦6♦5♥, Jesse West moved all in for 60,000 from the big blind and Sheldon Kent put him at risk in middle position.

Jesse West: 8♥4♦ All in
Sheldon Kent: 10♦10♣

West had flopped a straight against Kent's tens as the 10♠ turn gave Kent some hope with a set. The river was the 6♣ and Kent improved to a full house to win the pot and send West to the rail.