button in Safari$800 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 Oklahoma State Poker Championship
$800 Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 175 / 312
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
2
667,000
3
605,000
5
558,000
7
299,000
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Day 1a of the 2026 Oklahoma State Championship $800 Main Event has concluded. The first of two starting flights drew 146 entries, contributing $102,200 to the prize pool. After just over 15 levels, nine players managed to put chips in a bag and advance to Day 2.
Brad Stevens finished the night with the Day 1a chip lead at 888,000. Stevens is most closely followed by Arturo Toscano with 677,000, while Justin Barclay rounds out the top three with 605,000
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Stevens | United States | 888,000 | 111 |
| 2 | Arturo Toscano | United States | 667,000 | 83 |
| 3 | Justin Barclay | United States | 605,000 | 76 |
| 4 | Michael Varnell | United States | 559,000 | 70 |
| 5 | Stephen Culpepper | United States | 558,000 | 70 |
| 6 | Kyle Michael | United States | 308,000 | 39 |
| 7 | Charles Stafford | United States | 299,000 | 37 |
| 8 | Justin Brevik | United States | 296,000 | 37 |
| 9 | Raymond Whitley | United States | 199,000 | 25 |
Day 1a Action
The day began with 49 entries, and the field size grew to 146 after nine levels of late registration, with roughly a third of the field remaining after registration closed. Among the players who joined Day 1a but fell before the money were John Reynolds, Bryce Laymance, and Todd Tucker. Tucker was on the wrong side of a bad beat early in the day after Stephen Culpepper hit running diamonds to make a flush, cracking Tucker’s flopped trips. Culpepper later spiked a three-outer to eliminate Eric Bunch three spots away from the money, and ultimately he finished the night with a top-five stack.
Daniel Hughes brought the Day 1a field into the money after getting the chips in with pocket sixes against pocket jacks on a ten-high flop, only to turn a six to eliminate his opponent. Hughes was among the bigger stacks following the bubble, before running his ace-jack into Stevens' ace-king in a huge pot that saw Stevens take the chip lead, which he held for the rest of the night.
The final elimination of the night came after Daniel Lowery was on the wrong side of two coolers. First, Arturo Toscano doubled through Lowery with top set against Lowery's top pair, leaving Lowery short. Not long after, Lowery got the rest of his chips in with pocket aces against Justin Brevik's pocket sevens, but a seven on the turn sent Lowery to the rail, bringing an end to Day 1a.
Play concluded with 00:15:21 left on Level 16, and the blinds at 4,000/8,000 (8,000). Day 1b, the second and final starting flight, is scheduled tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., before the fields combine for Day 2 on Sunday, May 24 at noon. Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the updates and action here at the 2026 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
888,000
47,000
|
47,000 |
|
||
|
|
667,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
|
605,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
559,000
51,000
|
51,000 |
|
|
558,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
308,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
299,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
296,000 | |
|
199,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
The final nine players have bagged their chips, and play has ended for Day 1a of the Main Event.
Stay tuned for chip counts, and a recap of the night's action.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
On a board reading 4♠10♥5♣, Arturo Toscano was all-in for 278,000, and up against the covering stack of Daniel Lowery.
Arturo Toscano: 10♣10♠ 
Daniel Lowery: A♥10♣
Lowery was crushed with top pair against Toscano's top set. The rest of the board ran out 6♠3♦, confirming the double for Toscano, while Lowery was left extremely short-stacked.
Lowery doubled to around 90,000 immediately after, but he was soon all-in again, facing the covering stack of Justin Brevik.
Daniel Lowery: A♠A♦
Justin Brevik: 7♠7♥
The board ran out 9♥6♣J♦7♦3♦, giving Brevik a turned set of sevens to eliminate Lowery.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
670,000
670,000
|
670,000 |
|
|
296,000
68,000
|
68,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
With the board reading 5♠10♦2♥4♦ and around 75,000 in the middle, Justin Barclay bet 25,000 from the small blind. Mike Hodges shoved for around 90,000 from early position, and Barclay called with a covering stack.
Mike Hodges: A♦5♣
Justin Barclay: Q♥10♣
Barclay was ahead with top pair against Hodges' second pair. The 8♣ river changed nothing, and Hodges was sent to the rail.
Play will conclude after one more elimination, or at the conclusion of Level 18.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
705,000
315,000
|
315,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 16
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The 11 remaining players are going on a 15-minute break.
Action will conclude after two more eliminations, or three more levels.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
935,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
610,000
610,000
|
610,000 |
|
|
591,000
156,000
|
156,000 |
|
|
390,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
348,000
348,000
|
348,000 |
|
|
320,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
292,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
|
|
228,000
113,000
|
113,000 |
|
|
210,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
90,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Jeff Sowell was all-in for around 35,000 from the button, and up against Justin Barclay who covered him from under the gun.
Jeff Sowell: Q♥9♥
Justin Barclay: J♠10♦
The board ran out 2♠8♥7♣10♣K♠, giving Barclay a pair of tens to eliminate Sowell.
Right after at the other table, Trevor Spriggs was eliminated by Stephen Culpepper.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
690,000
255,000
|
255,000 |
|
|
350,000
113,000
|
113,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Brad Stevens raised to 16,000 from the small blind, and Daniel Lowery defended from the big blind.
The flop came 9♥10♦6♠. Stevens check-called a 20,000 bet from Lowery.
Stevens check-called a 25,000 bet from Lowery on the 7♠ turn. On the 4♦ river, Stevens checked, Lowery bet 60,000, and Stevens folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
935,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
340,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
