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Level: 7
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
2026 NorCal Poker Championships
$1,100 NorCal Championship Event
Day: 1ab
Players Left 78 / 453
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
6
609,000
8
483,000
Level 6
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
This hand swelled to approximately 15,000 on a board that read 8♦2♠5♦J♦ when this hand was picked up.
Thomas Tran checked his option from the small blind before the big blind chose to bet 6,400. Tran was unfazed and chose to check-raise to 16,500 as a response.
The big blind shoved and was snap-called by Tran, to be at risk as they went to a showdown with one card to go.
Opponent: J♣8♥
Thomas Tran: A♦Q♦
Tran had the goods as he turned the nut flush to take the lead. Tran had to fade six outs once as his opponent held two pair as they went to the river.
Tran would not be let down when the 9♠ river completed the board to award Tran the pot and eliminate his opponent.
Level 6
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
This hand was picked up on the flop of J♥10♥5♣ with approximately 8,000 already in the middle.
A player from early position chose to bet 15,000 on the flop, which put Simon Hong to a decision on the button. Hong responded with an all-in for 23,500, and his opponent called, putting Hong at risk for his tournament life.
Simon Hong: 5♠5♦
Opponent: 7♥6♥
Hong had the lead with a set of fives, but he was far from out of the woods yet, as his opponent held the flush draw with two cards to go.
The turn was a red card, but the wrong suit when it came the 4♦, keeping Hong in the lead.
Hong would hold when the river bricked as the 10♣ peeled to improve Hong to a full house to take down the pot.
Level: 6
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Level 5
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
This hand began with a limp from the under-the-gun players before Edmundo Aureus also joined with a limp on the button. The small blind called, and the big blind checked to create a four-handed pot preflop.
The 4♣J♥10♠ flop led to a pair of checks from the blinds before the player under the gun also checked. Auereus put out a bet 1,200 and was called only by the big blind.
The big blind checked the 4♦ turn before Aureus kept his foot on the gas with a wager of 2,500. The big blind didn't take as he folded, awarding the small pot to Aureus.
Level 5
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Noah Curhan got the action started with an open to 1,400 from early position. Denis Lee followed with a call from two seats over before Henri Perez Lopez decided he wanted to play for more and three-bet to 6,800 from the big blind.
Curhan responded with an all-in for approximately 43,400. Lee opted to go with his hand as he also went all-in for approximately 11,000 total. Lopez was in the tank for a considerable time as he questioned Curhan to try to get more information. Lopez eventually chose to call, putting Curhan and Lee at risk.
Denis Lee: A♠2♠
Noah Curhan: A♦K♣
Henri Perez Lopez: A♥K♦
Curhan and Lopez held the same hand, as both had Lee in rough shape as they went to a runout.
The 7♣8♦3♥ flop did not change much, as Curhan and Lopez were both still in the lead.
Lee failed to find his deuce on the Q♥ turn or the 4♦ river, which led to both Curhan and Lopez chopping the pot as Lee was eliminated.
Level: 5
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Level 4
: Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
Players are on a 15-minute break. A total of 105 entrants have registered for Day 1a of the 2026 NorCal Championship Main Event.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
This hand was picked up on a complete board of 2♥9♠10♣J♥A♠.
Matthew Kreeger chose to bet 5,000 on the river, but Paul Wong wanted to play for more. Wong chose to go all-in for 28,000 in response. Kreeger made the call to put himself at risk for less as they went to a showdown.
Wong had the goods as he tabled K♠Q♣ for a straight, while a disappointed Kreeger tabled J♠10♠ for a two pair that was no good, as Wong eliminated Kreeger.
Level 4
: Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
This hand was picked up in a four-way pot on the flop of K♦9♠5♣ with over 12,000 in the middle. Jim Halverson opted to bet 7,000 from the hijack and was called by the cutoff before both the button and big blind folded.
Halverson did not slow down on the 3♣ turn as he chose to bet 7,000 again. The cutoff called.
The 5♥ river was checked by both remaining players to go to a showdown.
Halverson tabled K♠Q♠ for a pair of kings with a queen kicker. The kicker ended up being crucial, as his opponent showed K♥10♠ for a pair of kings with an inferior kicker. Halverson took down the pot.
