2026 RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship

$1,140 Main Event
Day: 1c
1a1b1c2
Event Info
2026 RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,140
Prize Pool
$671,000
Total Entries
671
Players Left
58
Average Chip Stack
346,034
Total Chips
20,070,000
Level Info
Level
18
Blinds
5,000 / 10,000
Ante
10,000
Players Info - Day 1c
Entries
293
Players Left
38
Players Left 58 / 671
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Valenzuela Raises the River

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

A player in middle position limped in before Leonardo Valenzuela raised to 500 in the hijack. The small blind called, as did the middle-position player.

The flop came K♦2♥9♥ and Valenzuela continued for 1,100. Only the middle-position player called.

The 10♥ fell on the turn and the middle-position player led out for 1,200. Valenzuela called to the Q♠ river, where he was faced with a bet of 2,000 from his opponent. Valenzuela came back with a raise to 7,500, and his opponent quickly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Leonardo Valenzuela us
Leonardo Valenzuela 		38,000

Tags: Leonardo Valenzuela

Shields Undettered by Big Flop Raise

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante
Jeremiah Shields
Jeremiah Shields

A player in the small blind led out for 1,200 on a flop of J♣A♥2♦ before Jeremiah Shields raised to 3,200 in the hijack. The button then reraised to 9,200, and action folded back around to Shields who called.

Both players checked the 9♥ turn. Shields then bet 6,000 on the 9♦ river, and his opponent quickly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jeremiah Shields us
Jeremiah Shields
45,000
45,000
 45,000

Tags: Jeremiah Shields

Haase Smacks the Flop to Crack Kohner's Queens

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

Ron Haase raised to 600 on the button, Ron Kohner three-bet to 2,100 in the big blind, and Haase called.

The flop came 7♠2♥J♣ and Kohner bet 3,000. Haase then raised to 6,000, and Kohner called.

The turn was the 6♣ and Haase bet another 6,000. Kohner again called, and both players checked down the 5♦ river.

Kohner showed Q♦Q♠, but Haase had flopped top set with J♥J♦ to win the big pot. "Whew. I needed it," Haase said.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ron Haase us
Ron Haase 		45,000
45,000
 45,000
Profile photo of Ron Kohner us
Ron Kohner 		15,000
15,000
 15,000

Tags: Ron HaaseRon Kohner

Lehman Fires Away With a Flush

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 1 : Blinds 100/100, 100 ante

A player under the gun raised to 500 and picked up three callers, including the hijack, small blind, and Janet Lehman in the big blind.

The under-the-gun player continued for 1,000 on the J♥10♠2♥ flop, and the small blind and Lehman both called. The turn was the 3♥ and Lehman opened the betting with 2,000. Both opponents called.

Lehman bet another 2,000 on the 8♠ river, and the under-the-gun player and small blind again called. Lehman then showed Q♥8♥ for a flush, and the small blind mucked 2♣2♠. The under-the-gun player also sent his cards into the muck, and Lehman took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Janet Lehman us
Janet Lehman
40,000
10,000
 10,000

Tags: Janet Lehman

Level: 1

Blinds: 100/100

Ante: 100

Records Set to be Smashed as Massive Field Expected on Day 1c of the RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship

David Salituro
David Salituro
RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship
RPT South Dakota State Poker Championship

History is on the cusp of being made when the third and final starting flight of the $1,140 Roughrider Poker Tour South Dakota State Poker Championship begins at 3 p.m. local time.

A total of 378 players have already packed into the Silverado Casino in historic Deadwood over the first two flights, but that number is expected to increase significantly today on Day 1c. The field is currently on track to surpass last year’s total of 602 entries and make this the biggest event in South Dakota poker history.

Heath McAllister leads the field after two days with 667,000. Blain Ovind (538,000), Josh Matti (489,000), Alan Curl (452,000), and Spike Smith (408,000) round out the top five as 55 players have already secured their spots on Day 2.

Current Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip Count
1Heath McAllisterCanada667,000
2Blain OvindUnited States538,000
3Josh MattiUnited States489,000
4Alan CurlUnited States452,000
5Spike SmithUnited States408,000
6Lorri RileyUnited States404,000
7Mikiyo AokiUnited States400,000
8Monty KlistoffUnited States384,000
9Rick LeonardUnited States353,000
10Jon WurdenUnited States348,000

Others already through include Mikiyo Aoki (400,000), Corey Zedo (333,000), Preston Dean (303,000), Steve Buell (282,000), Miles Barnum (130,000), 2024 champion Nate Shervheim (120,000), last year’s runner-up Alex Smith (84,000), and three-time RPT Player of the Year Arlie Brandvold (78,000).

Players on Day 1c begin with a 30,000 starting stack. Blinds kickoff at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante, and levels will be 40 minutes long. The action will conclude after either 15 levels or when 12 percent of the field remains, whichever comes first.

All surviving players return tomorrow at 11 a.m. local time to play down to a champion. Day 2 will pick up on the earliest starting time from one of the opening flights, which currently stands as 32 minutes remaining in Level 14 with blinds of 2,000/4,000 and a 4,000 big blind ante.

PokerNews will be following along throughout the day and providing live updates, so stay tuned for all the action.

Tags: Alan CurlAlex SmithArlie BrandvoldBlain OvindCorey ZedoHeath McAllisterJosh MattiMikiyo AokiMiles BarnumMonty KlistoffNate ShervheimPreston DeanSpike SmithSteve Buell

$1,140 Main Event

Day 1c Started

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