button in Safari$1,140 Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2026 RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship
$1,140 Main Event
Day: 1b
Players Left 154 / 620
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
9
302,000
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Heath McAllister built up a big stack on yesterday’s opening flight of the $1,140 Roughrider Poker Tour South Dakota State Poker Championship, but he busted a few spots shy of making it through. Today on Day 1b, he made no such mistake.
McAllister built up a massive stack when he spiked a full house on the river to bust Eric Hanson, ending up with 667,000 and an overwhelming chip lead as 36 players survived to make it to Day 2. Blain Ovind, celebrating his 27th wedding anniversary today, followed behind with 538,000, while Mikiyo Aoki (400,000), Monty Klistoff (384,000), and Jon Wurden (348,000) round out the top five.
Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heath McAllister | Canada | 667,000 | |
| 2 | Blain Ovind | United States | 538,000 | |
| 3 | Mikiyo Aoki | United States | 400,000 | |
| 4 | Monty Klistoff | United States | 384,000 | |
| 5 | Jon Wurden | United States | 348,000 | |
| 6 | Corey Zedo | United States | 333,000 | |
| 7 | Kevin Clyde | United States | 325,000 | |
| 8 | Preston Dean | United States | 303,000 | |
| 9 | Noah Borchard | United States | 302,000 | |
| 10 | Steve Buell | United States | 282,000 |
Preston Dean, the RPT Casino State champion from January, scored a quadruple knockout with a rivered straight on his way to bagging up 303,000. John Schroer, the 2023 champion of this event, brought the night to a close when his pocket tens won a flip to score a double knockout. He finished with 204,000, while Steve Buell (282,000), Miles Barnum (130,000), Mikiyo's brother Nobu Aoki (84,000), three-time RPT Player of the Year Arlie Brandvold (78,000), and Brent Slaubaugh (43,000) also made it through the day.
Among those to fall over the course of Day 1b were Joshua Reichard, 2019 champion Sergio Mireles, Silas Sneed, Robert Hawkenberry, and Terence Reid. They’ll have to try again on tomorrow’s Day 1c flight if they hope to take home the trophy.
The Silverado Casino poker room was packed today as 230 players took their shot at the title. The total field stands at 378 entries through two starting flights, with tomorrow’s flight expected to be the biggest one yet which would surpass last year’s total of 602 and make this the biggest poker tournament in South Dakota history. Day 1b ended with 32 minutes remaining in Level 14 with blinds of 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante, which is currently projected to be the starting point for Day 2 at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 19.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow from what promises to be another busy day in historic Deadwood as another crop of hopefuls join what is shaping up to be a massive field.
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
667,000
117,000
|
117,000 |
|
||
|
538,000
158,000
|
158,000 |
|
400,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
384,000
184,000
|
184,000 |
|
348,000
98,000
|
98,000 |
|
333,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
|
325,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
303,000
133,000
|
133,000 |
|
|
302,000
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
282,000
282,000
|
282,000 |
|
268,000
268,000
|
268,000 |
|
266,000
146,000
|
146,000 |
|
|
249,000
249,000
|
249,000 |
|
208,000
98,000
|
98,000 |
|
204,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
152,000
152,000
|
152,000 |
|
|
142,000
112,000
|
112,000 |
|
130,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
124,000
24,000
|
24,000 |
|
|
122,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
|
|
117,000
117,000
|
117,000 |
|
104,000
104,000
|
104,000 |
|
|
102,000
118,000
|
118,000 |
|
97,000
97,000
|
97,000 |
|
|
95,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
John Schorer raised to 11,000 in the hijack before Michael Campbell moved all in for 61,000 on the button. The small blind also called for his last 18,000, and Schorer went into the tank.
"My son told me you're a solid player," Heath McAllister said to Schorer.
"He's wrong," tablemate Alex Smith joked.
"I'm starting to question your son's judgement," Schorer added. He eventually called to put both opponents at risk.
Small Blind: A♦K♣ 
Michael Campbell: A♠J♣
John Schorer: 10♦10♣
The 3♣8♥2♠9♠7♥ board improved neither at-risk player, and Schorer's tens took the pot to send both to the rail.
With 36 players remaining, action has concluded on Day 1b.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
200,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Nicholas Hammerstrom moved all in for 60,000 from the hijack and Kevin Clyde put him at risk on the button.
Nicholas Hammerstrom: 7♦7♥
Kevin Clyde: Q♦Q♣
Clyde had Hammerstrom crushed with his queens, and the A♦4♣6♠3♣9♥ board kept him in the lead to send Hammerstrom to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
350,000 | |
|
|
320,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 14
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante
Heads-up on a flop of K♠J♠2♥, Blain Ovind bet 15,000 from the cutoff and an opponent in middle position called.
Both players checked the 9♣ turn, and Ovind then bet 23,000 on the 9♦ river. His opponent again called, and Ovind showed A♥9♠ for running trips to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
380,000
380,000
|
380,000 |
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante
Three players went to a flop of 10♦4♥J♦ where Damon Muehl bet 13,000 from under the gun. An opponent in the hijack raised to 30,000, and action folded back to Muehl who moved all in for 81,000.
His opponent went deep into the tank, taking around three minutes as he alternated between getting the chips to call or tossing his cards away. He eventually folded, and Muehl took down the pot without a showdown.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
140,000 |
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante
Tournament officials have confirmed that there were 230 entries into this flight. Play will conclude at the end of Level 15, or when the field reaches 36 players, whichever comes first.
There are currently 49 players remaining.
