$635 Main Event Day 1a | 2026 RPT Montana State Poker Championship

2 days 10 hours ago

Ellis Runs Into Egle's Aces

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David Salituro

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

Josh Egle raised to 15,000 in the cutoff and was called by Kevin Ellis and Kelly Jonasen in the blinds.

Egle moved all in on the 2♥7♠8♣ flop and Ellis called for his last 40,000, while jonasen got out of the way.

Kevin Ellis: 10♦8♦ All in
Josh Egle: A♦A♠

Ellis had flopped top pair, but Egle showed down two aces. The rest of the board ran out 9♥4♥, and Ellis was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Josh Egle	350,000 80,000	80,000
Kelly Jonasen	40,000 40,000	40,000
Kevin Ellis	Busted

Tags: Josh Egle Kelly Jonasen Kevin Ellis

2 days 10 hours ago

Smith Takes Some Off Lindsey

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David Salituro

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

Heads-up on a flop of 7♦5♠9♣, Leighton Lindsey bet 10,000 from the big blind and Alex Smith called in the cutoff.

The turn was the 2♠ and Lindsey bet another 10,000. Smith again called, and they both checked down the 2♥ river.

Smith showed 8♣7♣ for two pair, and Lindsey tossed 6♥3♥ into the muck. "I appreciate you giving me some of that million stack," Smith told Lindsey after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leighton Lindsey	850,000 50,000	50,000
Alex Smith	120,000

Tags: Alex Smith Leighton Lindsey

2 days 10 hours ago

Luckey Picks Up Aces to Bust Cutler

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David Salituro

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

Chris Cutler in middle position and Brandon Luckey in the hijack got all their chips in the middle before the flop, both players having nearly identical stacks.

Chris Cutler: A♥K♥ All in
Brandon Luckey: A♦A♣

Cutler found himself coolered and needing help against Luckey's aces, but none arrived on the 7♣2♣Q♠2♠J♦ board. Luckey had 140,000 remaining and barely had Cutler covered, earning him the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Luckey	300,000 120,000	120,000
Chris Cutler	Busted

Tags: Brandon Luckey Chris Cutler

2 days 10 hours ago

Gaddis Shoves the River on Hass

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David Salituro

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

After two limps in front of him, Gabe Gaddis raised to 15,000 on the button and was called by John Bailey in the big blind, Jeff Bowen in early position, and Rick Hass in the cutoff.

The flop came 7♣5♣4♥ and Hass bet 25,000. Only Gaddis called.

Both players checked the 9♠ turn, and Hass also checked the 8♠ river. Gaddis then moved all in for 108,000.

"No f**king way," Hass said as he tanked for a minute before folding.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeff Bowen	290,000 10,000	10,000
Gabe Gaddis	220,000 70,000	70,000
John Bailey	150,000 40,000	40,000
Rick Hass	110,000 90,000	90,000

Tags: Gabe Gaddis Jeff Bowen John Bailey Rick Hass

2 days 10 hours ago

Braukmann Survives on the River

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David Salituro

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

Rick Lehman raised to 10,000 in middle position and Penn Swindle called in the hijack. Matt Braukmann then moved all in for 45,000 in the big blind, and only Lehman called.

Matt Braukmann: 10♠10♥ All in
Rick Lehman: A♣Q♠

Lehman took the lead on the 7♣9♦Q♦ flop with top pair, while the turn was the 8♠. The river brought the J♦, and Braukmann improved to a straight to win the pot and double up.

"That works," he said as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Rick Lehman	420,000 20,000	20,000
Penn Swindle	180,000 20,000	20,000
Matt Braukmann	100,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Matt Braukmann Penn Swindle Rick Lehman

2 days 10 hours ago

Playing Down to 22

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David Salituro

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

With late registration closed, tournament officials confirmed that there were 141 total entries today.

Day 1a will end once 22 players remain or at the end of Level 15, whichever comes first. There are currently 41 players remaining.

Level: 13

Blinds: 3,000/5,000

Ante: 5,000

2 days 11 hours ago

Last Break

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David Salituro

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

Players are going on the last 15-minute break of the day. Late registration will close once action resumes.

There are three more 40-minute levels left to play tonight.

2 days 11 hours ago

"The Crippler" Sends One Out

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David Salituro

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

Donovan Thomas moved all in for 20,500 from the cutoff and Leighton Lindsey called on the button.

Donovan Thomas: A♦10♣ All in
Leighton Lindsey: A♣J♣

The Q♠8♣3♣ flop gave Lindsey the nut flush draw, and he hit his flush on the 7♣ turn to leave Thomas drawing dead. The river was the 8♥ and Lindsey scored the knockout to continue building his massive stack.

"You're the crippler," tablemate Kelly Jonasen told him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Leighton Lindsey	800,000 320,000	320,000
Donovan Thomas	Busted

Tags: Donovan Thomas Kelly Jonasen Leighton Lindsey

2 days 11 hours ago

Luckey Triples Up

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David Salituro

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

Brandon Luckey moved all in for 60,000 from early position, James Armstrong reshoved for 70,000 in the small blind, and Henry Silverberg in the big blind put both opponents at risk.

Brandon Luckey: 9♦9♠ All in
James Armstrong: A♥K♦ All in
Henry Silverberg: A♣J♣

The 5♣6♦7♥Q♠10♥ board kept Luckey in the lead with his nines and earned him the triple up. Silverberg began walking away from the table, but the dealer called him back as he still had some chips left after paying off Armstrong in the side pot.

"I don't even know if I want them," Silverberg said.