button in SafariGebhart Bags Overall Chip Lead in Day 1b of Oklahoma State Poker Championship Main Event
The second and final starting flight of the 2026 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker $800 Main Event has concluded here at the Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino. Day 1b drew 271 entries, bringing the total field to 417 and prize pool to $291,900. 20 players managed to put chips in a bag and advance to Day 2 after 18 40-minute levels.
Richard Gebhart ended the night with the overall chip lead going into Day 2 with 905,000. Gebhart is most closely followed by Bobby Randolph with 810,000, while Kiran Suresh rounds out the top three with 720,000.
Doug Paxton, who won the first-ever edition of this event in 2006, also ended the night with a top ten stack.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Gebhart | United States | 905,000 | 113 |
| 2 | Bobby Randolph | United States | 810,000 | 101 |
| 3 | Nick McGuire | United States | 720,000 | 90 |
| 4 | Kiran Suresh | United States | 650,000 | 81 |
| 5 | Tandi Stevens | United States | 588,000 | 74 |
| 6 | Doug Paxton | United States | 536,000 | 67 |
| 7 | Anthony Finley | United States | 516,000 | 65 |
| 8 | Dylan Murrell | United States | 501,000 | 63 |
| 9 | Randall Courville | United States | 415,000 | 52 |
| 10 | Billy Rodriguez | United States | 382,000 | 48 |
Day 1b got off to a quick start, surpassing Day 1a's attendance of 146 by the first break. Some players to fall before the money today include Daniel Lowery, Mike Travis, Brian Garner, and William Scarsdale.
Tyler Barnes took one of, if not the worst bad beats of the day shortly after late registration closes, getting his chips in with pocket kings against Randolph's ace-king suited in a pot worth well over 200 big blinds. Randolph turned a Broadway straight to deal a mortal blow to Barnes, ultimately finishing the night with the second-largest stack.
Jim Wilson earned the unfortunate title of bubble boy after running queens into Shane Fuller's pocket aces. Players to make the money today but fall before the end of the night include Daniel Hughes, Will Berry, and Eric Salazar.
The final 29 players will return at 12 p.m. on Sunday for the restart. Play resumes with 00:15:21 left on Level 16, and the blinds at 4,000/8,000 (8,000). The action will continue in 40-minute levels until a winner is crowned. Payout information is still being finalized and will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Stay tuned to PokerNews tomorrow for all your live coverage needs until a winner is crowned in the 2026 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker Main Event!