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$1,100 NorCal Championship Event
Day 2 Completed
2026 NorCal Poker Championships
$1,100 NorCal Championship Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 NorCal Poker Championships
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$567,450
Total Entries
582
Places Paid
74
Level
27
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Entries
74
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 582
Filter
Level 27
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The inaugural $1,100 NorCal Poker Championship Main Event wrapped up with a seven-way chop as Nicholas Elder was declared the first-ever champion at Graton Casino Resort. Elder took home a first-place prize of $47,205. The Main Event hosted a total of 582 entries, which created a prize pool of $567,450.
Elder spoke to PokerNews to give his reaction to becoming the first-ever NorCal Poker Championship Main Event winner. In a continued theme of firsts, Elder shared that this was his first time at Graton after a long hiatus from poker entirely. Originally from Minnesota, Elder moved to the Sacramento area in California two years ago and got married and started a family. This prompted Elder to take a break from poker.
“I was just focused on my family and home. Building a solid foundation gave me the ability to just come out and play the game,” said Elder. “It feels like I did some things right to earn it.”
Elder’s run can be traced back to a critical moment when he went all in and was at risk against Victor Paredes. Elder was well behind as Paredes had his hand dominated, but a fortunate turn hit Elder’s kicker to take the lead. Elder recognized that he was fortunate in spots when his back was against the wall to accomplish the feat of taking home the title.
“I got lucky when I was down to about six big blinds,” said Elder. “I just tried to be as monotone as possible, and I was like, no matter what happens, it’s just a game.”
Elder doesn’t plan to change his recent, more distant relationship with poker despite winning the title.
“I’ve got a busy fall coming up, but maybe this winter I’ll go travel and play some tournaments,” said Elder.
NorCal Poker Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicholas Elder | United States | $47,205* |
| 2 | Michael Hubbard | United States | $46,730* |
| 3 | Ramin Malekian | United States | $45,690* |
| 4 | Ryan Tuttle | United States | $41,980* |
| 5 | Antonio Ma | United States | $41,715* |
| 6 | Vy Nguyen | United States | $39,845* |
| 7 | Jason Beahm | United States | $36,825* |
| 8 | Peter Yang | United States | $12,000 |
| 9 | Richard Lockmanese | United States | $9,400 |
*Denotes seven-way ICM chop
Day 2 Action
A total of 74 players returned on Day 2 of the Main Event. Notables Charles Himes, Bradley Anderson, and Phil Hellmuth were among the first to fall in the opening rounds of the final day. The action was swift as 45 players remained by the first break of the day.
By the time the tournament reached the dinner break after eight levels of play, only 14 players were still vying for the title.
The players came back from the extended break with a bang as Walid Fahmy and Michael Persky fell after the first hand back to bow out of the tournament in 13th and 14th place, respectively.
Just a half hour later, Rifki Yazid, Jeff Hoffman, and Don Ro fell in that order as the final table was set in a flash.
Tuttle entered the final table as the chip leader, with Elder over a million in chips behind in second, but it was Jason Beahm who scored the first knockout of the final table when he dispatched Richard Lockmanese in ninth place.
Peter Yang was the final to go when he fell to Ryan Tuttle after his fives were outrun when Tuttle paired his jack and sent Yang to the rail.
The final table would play for another 40 minutes before rumbles of an ICM chop began to surface. The players asked to stop the clock, and a deal was struck as the remaining seven players took home their respective chunks of the pie to wrap up the first $1,100 NorCal Poker Championship Main Event.
This concludes the PokerNews coverage here at Graton Casino Resort. Check back here for all your poker coverage needs.
Level 27
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The remaining seven players have decided to ICM chop to end the $1,100 NorCal Poker Championship Main Event. Stay tuned here at PokerNews for official numbers and a recap of today's action.
Level 27
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The clock is paused as the remaining seven players discuss a chop.
Level 27
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Ryan Tuttle opened from the cutoff before Jason Beahm went all-in from the small blind for 1,675,000. Tuttle called to put Beahm at risk.
Jason Beahm: K♣J♣
Ryan Tuttle: A♦10♦
The flop gave Beahm the best hand when it came 5♦2♠J♥, to give him a pair of jacks.
Beahm held on the 9♥ turn and the 5♠ river to secure the double.
Level 27
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Antonio Ma shoved for his final 1,610,000from early position before Jason Beahm made the call out of the big blind to put Ma at risk.
Antonio Ma: A♥J♦
Jason Beahm: Q♠Q♥
Beahm appeared poised for a knockout, but Ma flopped an ace when it came 5♠8♣A♠ to vault into the lead.
Beahm was unable to find his queen on the 8♥ turn or the 3♠ river to award Ma the double.
Level: 27
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Level 26
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Ryan Tuttle opened to 225,000 from the hijack before Peter Yang opted to go all-in for 1,340,000 out of the small blind. Tuttle called to put Yang at risk.
Peter Yang: 5♣5♥
Ryan Tuttle: K♣J♠
Yang held the lead, but the flop turned the tables on him when it came 6♦J♣8♦, pulling Tuttle into the lead.
The K♥ turn improved Tuttle to two pair, and the 7♥ river sealed Yang's fate.
Yang earned $12,000 for his eighth-place finish.
Level 26
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Peter Yang opened to 200,000 from early position before Vy Nguyen made it 500,000 from middle position.
Yang called and checked the flop of A♠3♠6♠. Nguyen followed with a check.
Both players checked the 2♦ turn to usher in the 7♣ river.
Yang put out a bet of 800,000 and was quickly called by Nguyen.
Yang showed K♦Q♦ for king high. Nguyen revealed he was sitting on an ace when he tabled A♦J♦ to claim the pot.
Level 26
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Richard Lockmanese shoved for his final 1,000,000 from under the gun and was snap-called by Jason Beahm from the big blind to put Lockmanese at risk.
Richard Lockmanese: K♦6♦
Jason Beahm: K♠K♥
Lockmanese was in a tough spot as Beahm had his hand crushed.
The flop gave Lockmanese some chop possibilities when it came 9♥Q♦10♣.
Lockmanese turned a flush draw when it came 3♦ on the turn.
Lockmanese would see the final card of his tournament when the J♥ peeled to award Beahm the pot and eliminate Lockmanese in 9th place.
Lockmanese earned $9,400 for his finish.
