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$1,100 Arizona State Poker Championship
Day 1b Completed
2026 Arizona State Poker Championship
$1,100 Arizona State Poker Championship
Day: 1b
Players Left 447 / 2,881
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
5
849,000
7
786,000
10
645,000
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Another strong turnout was assembled today as a total of 951 hopefuls descended upon the Talking Stick Resort for the second of four starting flights in the 2026 Arizona State Poker Championship.
This brings the cumulative entries through two Day 1s to 1,767, contributing $1,767,000 to the growing prize pool, far ahead of last year's pace. However, just the final 114 players today were fortunate enough to bag up their chips at night's end, and they have advanced to Monday's restart, bring the total number of bags to 212 thus far.
Leading the way from Day 1b was Andrew Crookston with 1,278,000, good enough for second place on the overall leaderboard. The Utah native has already accumulated over $500,000 in live tournament earnings, and he will have the chance to reach one million here in Scottsdale.
Only one other player crossed the seven-figure threshold today in Peter Fox (1,106,000), while Sahib Purewal (993,000) and Joseph Osterbauer (915,000) also bagged healthy stacks.
End of Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Crookston | United States | 1,278,000 |
| 2 | Peter Fox | United States | 1,106,000 |
| 3 | Sahib Purewal | United States | 993,000 |
| 4 | Joseph Osterbauer | United States | 915,000 |
| 5 | Eltorna Gant | 849,000 | |
| 6 | Curtis Phelps | United States | 835,000 |
| 7 | George Stojic | 786,000 | |
| 8 | Evan Sandberg | United States | 776,000 |
| 9 | Scott Stewart | United States | 659,000 |
| 10 | Steven Carroll | 645,000 |
Others to find a bag from today's flight include John Riordan (477,000), Tyler Hancock (459,000), Alexis Cruz Martinez (422,000), Viet Van Vo (392,000), Lexy Gavin-Mather (311,000), Dan Matsuzuki (277,000), Matt Salsberg (228,000), Joshua Remitio (218,000), Hayley Hanna (188,000), Adam Walton (185,000), Hunter Cichy (106,000), Christopher Vitch (91,000), and Eric Bunch (50,000).
Play concluded in Day 1a with 5:40 remaining in Level 16 with blinds of 4,000/8,000. This was the earlier finish of the two flights, so play will resume here on Monday unless another flight concludes sooner.
Cumulative Day 1ab Top Five Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gregory Brown | United States | 1,354,000 | 169 |
| 2 | Andrew Crookston | United States | 1,278,000 | 160 |
| 3 | Nicholas Julia | United States | 1,138,000 | 142 |
| 4 | Peter Fox | United States | 1,106,000 | 138 |
| 5 | Vinny Tran | United States | 1,050,000 | 131 |
For those who were unable to survive through today, there are still two additional opportunities to advance on Saturday and Sunday. Both of these flights start at 10:15 a.m. and will follow the same structure as today, with the final 12% (rounded up) making it to Day 2.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates from start to finish in the 2026 Arizona State Poker Championship. Day 1c coverage will begin at the first shuffle at 10:15 a.m. as we find out who will join the 212 survivors thus far.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Play has been completed for the night with 114 players putting chips into a bag.
Full chip counts and a recap of the day will be available later tonight.
Play concluded with 5:40 remaining in Level 16 with blinds of 4,000/8,000.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
There were two all in and calls on the stone bubble.
At one table, Evan Sandberg from under the gun was tangled with the big blind in a single-raised pot.
On the 6♥5♣2♥ flop, the big blind got the rest of his 185,000 stack into the middle, at risk against Sandberg who called.
Big Blind: 10♥10♦ 
Evan Sandberg: K♠K♣
Sandberg had the dominating overpair and held through the 5♠7♠ runout to send out his opponent on the stone bubble.
At another table on the same hand in another single-raised pot, James Smith from middle position called after the big blind check-jammed for his 69,000 stack on a flop of Q♦9♥7♥.
Big Blind: A♣Q♥
James Smith: K♥10♥
Smith had a gutshot and flush draw against the top pair, top kicker of his opponent. The J♣ turn completed his straight, and Smith also hit the 5♥ on the river for good measure.
The final 114 players are now bagging their chips for Monday's restart.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
A player opened from the hijack and Keith Pomonis called in the small blind.
On the J♠9♠6♣ flop, Pomonis checked to the hijack who jammed for 81,000, and Pomonis snapped it off.
Hijack: 5♥5♦
Keith Pomonis: K♠J♣
Pomonis was in good shape to score the knockout, and he held through the 3♦9♦ runout to bring the tournament to the stone bubble.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
With 11:40 remaining at the 4,000/8,000 level, there are 117 players remaining and 115 advancing to Day 2. Play will continue hand-for-hand at 13 tables until two more players are eliminated.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Facing an open, Alberto Sabogali three-bet to 65,000 on the button. The small blind then jammed for 224,000. It folded back to Sabogali who put in the call after some deliberation as the covering stack.
Small Blind: A♠A♣
Alberto Sabogali: Q♠Q♦
Sabogali found himself with the dominated pair as the 8♠5♦3♠ flop offered no backdoor equity. The 9♠ turn was no help as his opponent had the spades covered, but the Q♣ landed on the river, giving Sabogali top set and sending out the small blind in brutal fashion just a few spots from the money.
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
It folded to Garry Gurevich on the button who committed 110,000 of his 122,000 stack. Andrew Crookston jammed in the small blind, and Gurevich called off the final few chips.
Garry Gurevich: A♣8♣
Andrew Crookston: K♦Q♦
Gurevich was in the lead until the Q♠8♠6♥ flop vaulted Crookston into the lead, but also paired Gurevich's kicker. Unfortunately for him, he found no additional help on the 5♠J♦ runout, and he was eliminated.
The field now sits with 123 players, just eight spots away from the money.
Level: 16
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
