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

01-03-2026 23:57 UTC-5

Hanson Flips Sperber to the Rail

David Salituro

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

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

Shawn Sperber raised to 7,500 in middle position before Eric Hanson reraised to 60,000 in the small blind. Sperber spent a minute in the tank until he eventually slammed down his last 40,000.

Shawn Sperber: 10♣10♠ All in
Eric Hanson: A♦K♦

Sperber remained in the lead on the 6♣2♥7♣ flop, but Hanson hit the K♠ on the turn to make top pair. The river was the Q♦ and Sperber was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Hanson	120,000
Shawn Sperber	Busted

Tags: Eric Hanson Shawn Sperber

01-03-2026 23:54 UTC-5

Han Leaves Snapp Short; Hawkenberry Wins a Race

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

"I got it in pre with jacks against ace-king, and I won. And it was against the chip leader," Robert Hawkenberry said, explaining how he doubled up off Shane Stegora. Stegora, the Day 1b chip leader, was eliminated shortly after from this flight.

At another table, Nga Han moved all in for 33,000 in middle position and Kelly Snapp called in the big blind.

Nga Han: 8♦8♥ All in
Kelly Snapp: 5♦5♣

Han had Snapp dominated with her eights, and the board ran out A♦6♣10♠10♥K♣ to earn her a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Hawkenberry	120,000 50,000	50,000
Nga Han	70,000 70,000	70,000
Kelly Snapp	10,000 10,000	10,000
Shane Stegora	Busted

Tags: Kelly Snapp Nga Han Robert Hawkenberry Shane Stegora

01-03-2026 23:46 UTC-5

Level 11 Begins

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Blinds have gone up to 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 big blind ante.

The tournament clock currently shows 119 players remaining.

01-03-2026 23:45 UTC-5

Britton Gets Lucky on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Mark Britton moved all in for 27,000 from the hijack and Chad Weldon called under the gun.

Mark Britton: A♦10♦ All in
Chad Weldon: A♥A♠

Britton had run right into Weldon's aces and got no help on the J♠9♣3♦ flop. The turn was the J♦, and the 5♦ river gave Britton a running flush to win the pot and double up.

"Boy, I got lucky on that one," Britton said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Britton	60,000 25,000	25,000
Chad Weldon	55,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Chad Weldon Mark Britton

01-03-2026 23:42 UTC-5

Big Blind Special Gives Anderson a Bustout

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Heads-up on a flop of 5♥5♣Q♠, a player on the button moved all in for 30,000 and Harry Anderson called in the big blind.

All-in Player: Q♦10♠ All in
Harry Anderson: 9♦5♠

The at-risk player had two pair, but Anderson had flopped trips to take the lead. The rest of the board ran out 10♣4♥ and Anderson scored the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Josh Unruh	250,000 250,000	250,000
Harry Anderson	80,000 80,000	80,000

Tags: Harry Anderson

01-03-2026 23:34 UTC-5

Weldon Smacks the Flop

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Chad Weldon raised to 5,000 under the gun and Monte Brekhus called in the cutoff, while Randy Brunelle called all in for less in the big blind.

Weldon bet 6,500 on the K♠Q♠8♥ flop and Brekhus called to create a side pot. Weldon then bet 10,500 on the 9♥ turn, and Brekhus folded this time.

Weldon showed K♥Q♣ for top two pair, while Brunelle had 9♣2♥. The 2♦ river was a cruel tease as Brunelle hit his own two pair, but it wasn't enough for him to avoid heading to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Weldon	80,000 128,000	128,000
Monte Brekhus	35,000 15,000	15,000
Randy Brunelle	Busted

Tags: Chad Weldon Monte Brekhus Randy Brunelle

01-03-2026 23:32 UTC-5

Skead Doubles His Short Stack in Style

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Joven Skead moved all in for 12,500 from the cutoff and Wade Schlecht called in the small blind.

Joven Skead: A♥10♥ All in
Wade Schlecht: Q♦8♦

Schlecht hit trips on the Q♥Q♣J♥ flop, while the turn was the 9♦. Skead needed help on the river to stay alive, and he not only improved but spiked the K♥ to make a Royal Flush.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wade Schlecht	220,000 90,000	90,000
Joven Skead	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Joven Skead Wade Schlecht

01-03-2026 23:26 UTC-5

Playing Down to 43

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Tournament officials announced that there were 342 entries on Day 1f, and play will conclude once 43 players remain.

The final flight brought the total field up to 1,655 entries, setting a new record for largest prize pool in North Dakota poker history.

01-03-2026 23:22 UTC-5

Ihringer Spikes an Ace to Bust Dufner

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Mark Dufner moved all in for 30,000 from the small blind and Mark Ihringer called in middle position.

Mark Dufner: Q♦Q♠ All in
Mark Ihringer: A♥J♥

Dufner remained in the lead with his queens on the K♦2♠9♦ flop, but Ihringer hit the A♠ on the turn as Dufner shot back in his seat in frustration. The river was the 6♣ and Dufner was sent to the rail.